With a chill in the air and frost on the windows, the time to lean into winter activities is finally here — and Wakamow Valley has plenty of options for residents to get outside and enjoy the season.
General manager Todd Johnson sat down with the Moose Jaw Express to share all of the fun winter activities that the city’s jewel of nature has to offer, most of which are free and easy to access.
He also shared a few important pieces of advice for those planning on exploring what the valley has to offer this winter. All of the bathrooms in the valley are currently closed, so Johnson encouraged visitors to plan accordingly when they head out.
He urged visitors to be safe while spending time in the park.
Make sure to dress appropriately for the temperature and activities on your schedule, and be cautious about things like wind chill and frostbite. Bring along a warm drink when planning a walk or hike, and make sure to stay hydrated on longer expeditions — dehydration happens in the cold too.
Johnson also reminded visitors to be cautious about the ice on Plaxton's Lake and the river in the valley, as ice safety is very important to keep in mind all winter.
“We’re not recommending people to walk on the river or ski on the river, or anything like that, until we’ve had a good freezing,” said Johnson. “So be careful of that, and watch for neighbours or kids out on the ice and try to shoo them off, with this melting weather.”
The recommended ice thickness safe for individuals walking or skating is at least four inches thick, shared the Wakamow Valley Authority, which requires some more prolonged cold weather than Moose Jaw has seen just yet.
With all of that in mind, Johnson encouraged residents to get out to the valley this winter and enjoy the perks of nature in a respectful way.
“There’s plenty of room down here so just spread out throughout the park, there’s plenty of beautiful areas to see,” said Johnson. “We want everyone to come down and just reconnect with nature, and really explore the valley.”
Here are six activities the Wakamow Valley Authority suggests trying this winter:
- Walking in a winter wonderland: For the first time, the Wakamow Valley Authority will be keeping the paved walking paths cleared of snow this year, for residents to enjoy a calming walk through the valley to escape the hustle of the city.
- Meet and greet the valley’s inhabitants: If a wintertime walk sounds like fun, make it doubly so by stopping by the Moose Jaw Nature Society’s bird feeder along the trails, where a magical moment with a friendly songbird is just waiting to happen. The Nature Society recommends bringing along some pine nuts — a favourite of most species of birds who winter here — to entice a feathered friend to land in your hand for that perfect “nature is amazing” photo for Instagram. The bird feeder is located in the middle of the park and is fairly easy to reach.
- Step it up a notch with snowshoes: Not the type to stick to the paths? That’s fine, because Wakamow Valley has 500 open acres to explore and snowshoes available for those looking for a more adventurous trek through the valley. Visitors can stop at the WVA office to borrow a pair, with donations encouraged but not required. Children's and adult sizes are available.
- Cross-country skiing is the new biking: The winter equivalent of bicycling seems to be cross-country skiing this year, said Johnson, and with a dedicated set of skiing trails, Wakamow Valley has plenty of space perfect to try out the sport once a little more snow falls. Residents will have to provide their own equipment, which has been very popular and flying off shelves recently. Try local sporting good stores to find some.
- Ice skating is better outdoors: The outdoor skating oval in Kiwanis River Park has become a winter staple in the city, playing the role of Moose Jaw’s own Rockefeller Centre. Hitting the ice is free and open to the public, although residents will have to provide their own skates. The ice is not currently in, as the WVA is waiting for some chillier weather to properly set the ice surface, but will be as soon as temperatures drop low enough.
- Disc golf all year ‘round: The WVA will be leaving the extremely popular disc golf course in Paashkwow Park East up throughout the winter this year, which creates a perfect opportunity for a fun game paired with a great wintery outing. An additional nine more holes will be installed in the next few weeks. Golfers can either bring along their own frisbee or disc golf putters to play with or stop by the WVA office to loan out a set.
The Wakamow Valley Authority office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and can be contacted at 1 (306) 692-2717 for more information.
