Giant diggers, ships you can explore, trails galore, an aerial park, waterslides and spray parks… Fort McMurray is a hidden gem for families. This vibrant city offers a plethora of exciting activities and attractions that cater to every interest and age group. Whether you’re a nature lover, history buff, or simply seeking adventure, Fort McMurray has something for you.
Land Acknowledgement
This land has welcomed First Nations from across Turtle Island, and settlers and visitors from around the world. Alberta lands are part of Treaties 4, 6, 7, 8 and 10, and the homeland of the Métis.
Alberta Mamas respects and celebrates the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems and cultures of all Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit nations. We are striving to better listen, understand, and learn from the Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.
We are all Treaty people.
Table of Contents
Educational Attractions
One of the main reasons I travel to places is to learn about them. The combination of these attractions will give you a better understanding of how Fort McMurray started, what it has become today, and where it’s going.
Oil Sands Discovery Centre
- Location: 515 MacKenzie Blvd.
- Operating hours: 10am-5pm, Wednesday to Sunday
- Age range: All ages (plenty of interactive displays for non-readers)
- Prices: Free/6 and under, $7/7-17yrs, $11/adult, $8/65+, $29/family
- Discounts available for: Military/CFOne card holders (Free), Alberta History Pass (Free), Cultural Access Pass (Free)
Find your bearings with Fort McMurray jargon with a stop at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre. This city lives and dies by the oil sands, and the Discovery Centre gives you a great starting point for conversations about the topic. Be sure to go out back to check out some of the old machinery and take in the demonstration of how to separate oilsands.
Expect your visit to take about 2 hours. Read our detailed guide to the Oil Sands Discovery Centre.
Giants of Mining
- Location: Head north on Highway 63 and follow the signs (or type “Giants of Mining” into your favourite Maps program). You’ll see the machines on the left. There isn’t an official address.
- Operating hours: Never closes
- Age range: All ages
- Prices: Free
Now that you know the basics of the oil sands, get up close to them! Head 30 minutes north of Fort McMurray along Highway 63. You’ll loop past Syncrude’s main plant before arriving at the Syncrude Giants of Mining outdoor museum.
The ultimate giant roadside attraction, these massive machines were decommissioned from active duty (being replaced by even larger, more effective tools) in 1999. The star attractions are the Bucketwheel Reclaimer (running north-south to the east of the exhibit) and Discovery Dragline (running east-west south of the exhibit area). Be sure to also check out the sheltered information display, massive chain (each link weighs 250lbs), and fossils while you’re stopped.
Expect to spend 10-30 minutes at Giants of Mining. Be sure to read our detailed guide to the Giants of Mining.
Bison Viewpoint & Reclamation Interpretive Site
- Location: Head north on Highway 63 and follow the signs (or type “Bison Viewpoint” into your favourite Maps program). The paddock will be on the right. There isn’t an official address.
- Operating hours: Never closes
- Age range: All ages
- Prices: Free
On your way back to town, stop at the Reclamation Site, see the bison, and learn about Syncrude’s efforts to return the former East Mine to nature.
Expect to spend about 10-30 minutes.
Heritage Village
- Location: 1 Tolen Drive
- Operating hours: Tuesday to Friday: 9am–5pm; Saturday: 10am-6pm (Last admission at 4pm)
- Age range: All ages
- Prices: Free/3 and under, $10/4-18yrs, $13.50/adult
Fort McMurray got its start as a trading post. Take a step back in time at the Heritage Village to the days before oil made McMurray a big deal and explore 17 historic buildings, including the home of famous bush pilot “Wop” May.
Expect your visit to take 2 hours.
Heritage Shipyard
- Location: 8404 Clearwater Drive
- Operating hours: Monday to Sunday: 9am-5pm (seasonally Victoria day to Labour Day)
- Age range: All ages
- Prices: Free/3 and under, $9/4-18yrs, $11.50/adult
Until I started researching things to do in Fort McMurray I had no clue there was such a strong shipping history in the province! Learn all about it at Heritage Shipyard where you can see explore seven ships, two cabooses, three workshops, and an incredible themed playground.
Expect your visit to take 1-2 hours (though the playground could easily add another hour!).
Aerial Tour
- Location: Most flights operate out of the Fort McMurray Airport
- Age range: 5+, depending on the operator
- Prices: Varies
Get an idea of the scale of the mining operations, the vastness of the land torched by “The Beast”, and just how much forest covers the north with a plane or helicopter tour. Some operators include:
Most flights are 1.5-2 hours, but time commitment will vary based on the package you book.
Other Attractions
The Alley
- Location: 15, 8528 Manning Avenue, Fort McMurray
- Operating hours:
- Monday-Thursday: 11am-11pm
- Friday-Saturday: 10:30am-12:30am
- Sunday: 10am-10pm
- Age range: All ages, though best for 4+
- Prices: A laser tag game is about $9/per person
Open later, The Alley is a great way to wrap up your day. Play a game of laser tag, then sit down for a massive 24″ pizza. Let the kids burn off some energy in the arcade, and round out the night with a game of either a 5- or 10-pin bowling.
The length of your visit will depend on what you’re doing. Bowling is typically 1-2 hours, laser tag is booked in 20 minute rounds. Read about our visit!
Beyond Adventures
- Location/Operating hours: various
- Age range: Best for kids old enough to enjoy intense outdoor activities
- Prices: $20/hr and up
Be sure to visit Beyond Adventures at Gregoire Lake to rent a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard (PDFs included in the rental).
Rentals start at 1 hour and can extend to multiple days. Beyond Adventures also offers tours.
MacDonald Island
- Location: 1 CA Knight Way
- Operating hours:
- Leisure Centre: Monday to Friday: 5am-11pm; Saturday/Sunday/Statutory Holidays: 7am-11pm
- Aquatics Centre Leisure Swimming: Daily 10 am – 8 pm
- Indoor Playground: Daily 8 am – 9 pm
- Age range: All ages
- Prices: Free/2 and under, $8/3-12yrs, $11.50/12-17yrs, $17/18-54yrs, $27/1-adult family; $31/2-adult family
- Discounts available for: AMA/CAA/AAA members, military/CFOne card holders (Free), Alberta History Pass (Free), Cultural Access Pass
I truly can’t express how AMAZING MacDonald Island Park is and the VALUE of the family pass. You can easily spend a full day here.
The water park in the Syncrude Aquatic Center is one of the best I’ve ever visited. The library dwarfs all but the main branch in Edmonton. Then there are the skating arenas, indoor playground, climbing centre, winter curling club, summer golf course, fitness centre, walking trails, and so much more!
Vista Ridge All Seasons Park
- Location: 1 Spruce Valley Drive
- Operating hours:
- Summer: 8am to dark Wednesday to Monday (closed Tuesdays)
- Winter: Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday: 10am-4pm; Friday/Saturday: 10am-8pm
- Age range: 3+
- Prices: Pump track, skateboard park and playground are free; Check Summer and Winter rates for other activities
- Discounts available for: AMA/CAA/AAA members, military/CFOne card holders (Free), Alberta History Pass (Free), Cultural Access Pass
Ski in the winter, or try your skill at the aerial park in the summer. There’s also frisbee golf, indoor mini-golf, a skatepark, and a 12-hole golf course. Vista Ridge is a lot of fun!
Plan for a half day of fun at Vista Ridge – if you don’t spend 4 hours on paid activities the playground will easily fill the rest of the time!
Avenue Cafe
- Location: #5 8102 Fraser Ave
- Operating hours: Monday-Thursday: 6am-8pm; Friday: 6am-midnight; Saturday: 7am-midnight; Sunday: 7am-8pm
- Age range: All ages
Up for a board game and a drink? Head into Avenue Cafe where you can order some all-day-breakfast (or get a pizza) and pick a game from their huge selection. This would be a great way to spend a Saturday evening!
Parks & Playgrounds
There are over 60 playgrounds in Fort McMurray! You could visit a new one every week and still have more to see after a year. In the Alberta Mamas quest to document all things water in Alberta, we have a post dedicated to the splash parks of Fort McMurray.
We also love visiting Gregoire Lake for a day at the beach, or a few nights camping, like we did in 2022.
One final playground worth mentioning is Vista Ridge. You aren’t required to pay admission to access the playground or skate park and pump track. Did we mention they have a zip line?
Hit the Trails
Fort McMurray is a forest-lover’s paradise. The city is surrounded by Boreal forest, and pockets are nestled inside the city as well. Plenty of trails have been carved out of the woods all around the city.
Remember that the woods are wild, and you’re in black bear country. Always be BearSmart:
- don’t compromise your hearing by blocking your ears with headphones
- keep kids and pets close
- bring bear spray and keep it accessible (not in your purse or backpack!).
Here are a few spots to get you started!
MacDonald Island Trails
Add these trails onto a trip to the Suncor Recreation Centre, or make them an outing on their own. There is plenty of free parking available and you don’t need to pay admission to walk the trails.
Aboriginal Interpretive Trail
Explore two public art installations along the 2.5km Aboriginal Interpretive Trail, west of the parking lots. With the seven sculptures of the Sacred Teachings Project, and the twenty-eight foxes in the Miquwahkesis Project.
Athabasca & Clearwater Loops
Wrapping through the front-nine (Clearwater) and back-nine (Athabasca) of the Miskanaw golf club the 2.0km or 3.0km Athabasca Loop and 1.1km or 2.9km Clearwater Loops offer pleasant walking trails. Just keep your ears open for “fore!”
Wood Bison Gateway and Matcheetawin Discovery Trails
Grab a photo with the giant landmark of the Wood Bison Gateway (the former entrance to Syncrude Site, but a change in roads means it’s on the way out now) before exploring the trails through the first certified oil sands reclamation site. This would be the perfect final stop after visiting Giants of Mining and the Reclamation Interpretive Site.
Beacon Hill Lookout
This short trail had a mix of gravel, pavers, and dirt when we visited in 2023, but it looked like it was in the middle of improvements and I expect it has improved.
The lookout offers an impressive view of downtown Fort McMurray and the recovering forest on the west side of the city. Located in an area that was hit hard by The Beast, you can get up close to see nature recovering.
Abasand Heights Lookout
Expect to spend 15-30 minutes at Della’s Garden Playground when you visit Abasand Heights Lookout. The views of the Athabasca River off this short walk are impressive and very much worth the detour.
Birchwood Trails
Located between Thickwood and Timberlea neighborhoods, there are 135km of maintained trails to explore on foot, bike, cross-country skis, and even inline skates in the Birchwood Trails. There’s a combination of asphalt, gravel, and natural trails in the area, with multiple access points. A great starting point is next to the Doug Barnes Cabin at 190 Tamarack Way.
Mountain Biking
Beyond the Birchwood Trails, Fort McMurray has the Thickwood River Valley and bike park, Little Fisheries, and more to grind your gears on. Check out the Fort McMurray Cycling Association for lots of information and join a group ride.
Motorized Tours
ATVs, dirt bikes and snowmobiling are super popular around Fort McMurray. Be sure to follow all local regulations and wear your safety equipment! Here are some operators that provide rentals (I can’t seem to find anyone that runs tours – let me know if you do!):
- Pioneer Offroad Rentals
- SRP Equipment (rentals)
- Vault Equipment (rentals)
Golf
Golf and Fort McMurray will always be linked for me. Both my husband and father-in-law were employed by golf courses in Fort Mac when we started dating. Did you know the Fort McMurray Golf Course is one of the most challenging courses in the province (and a must-play for any golfer)?
- Miskanaw Golf Club on MacDonald Island (18 holes)
- Vista Ridge (12 holes)
- Rotary Links (18 holes)
- Fort McMurray Golf Club (27 holes)
Where to Stay in Fort McMurray
While many visitors to Fort McMurray stay with friends or family, here are some other options if you want some of your own space (or are going to see the sites without seeing people – go you!):
- Hotel: Radisson Hotel & Suites Fort McMurray
- I LOVE the super-reasonably priced suites here! Big bonus: a bright orange water slide feeds into the 4’3″ deep pool with a small hot tub beside it – life jackets are available on the pool deck for shorter kids.
- Campground: Gregoire Lake Provincial Park
- Driving in to Gregoire Lake you wonder if there will be any trees – the forest up to the park was razed by The Beast, but the campground and beach were spared! Make your reservations up to 90 days in advance, but sites are usually available.
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