Grimshaw: Movement, Water and the Road North

Discover Grimshaw through movement, seasonal water activities and its distinctive road marker. In town, an elevated running track, public ice skating in winter and an outdoor pool that opens annually offer options for different travel interests. The Mile Zero Marker also points to the Mackenzie Highway and, with a historic railway car, provides a reason to stop for a photo. During your stay, you can choose between active pursuits, water play and a glimpse into the town’s history.

Movement and Water in Different Seasons

The Mile Zero Regional Multiplex has a 175.3-metre elevated running track for walking, jogging or running, as well as a well-equipped fitness room for workouts. Grimshaw also has an indoor track that can be used year-round. If you want to add exercise to your daily plans, you’ll find both a specific track length and an indoor option. The multiplex also houses a visitor information centre; Grimshaw’s tourist information centre is located there as well.

The water attractions operate in different seasons. The Grimshaw Outdoor Swimming Pool opens each year from the May long weekend until the third week of August. The Grimshaw Splash Park operates annually from late May to mid-September. It is designed as an inclusive, interactive and playful learning and water-play area. For a trip with children, the large playground in Kinsmen Park and the Splash Park offer different destinations for play and water activities; Kinsmen Park has a variety of play equipment.

The season also changes the activities available: the Mainway Electrical Outdoor Skating Rink operates for public skating every winter. If you’re comparing outdoor exercise with water play, you can take the listed seasonal dates into account. The Grimshaw Off-Leash Dog Park offers another option for dogs, with a designated area where they can roam without a leash and socialize.

Mile Zero and Nearby History

The Mile Zero Marker marks kilometre zero of the Mackenzie Highway. The highway heads north toward Manning, High Level, Hay River, Yellowknife and beyond. A historic Northern Alberta Railway car also stands at the marker, making it a good place to stop for a photo. Kilometre zero and the railway car offer two different points of connection for discovering Grimshaw: the northbound route of a long-distance highway and an object from railway history.

The nearby Lac Cardinal Pioneer Village Museum depicts a typical pioneer village from the 1920s to the 1940s. Each year on the second Saturday in August, the museum hosts its Pioneer Day celebration. If you’re interested in the settlement history depicted there, you can make the museum and event a cultural focus of your trip; for the celebration, the scheduled August date is key.

Grimshaw as a Starting Point for Planning Your Trip

Highway 2 runs through Grimshaw and provides access to the Northwest Territories and beyond. This is distinct from the northern route of the Mackenzie Highway, whose kilometre zero is at the Mile Zero Marker. These road connections make Grimshaw appealing to travellers who want to combine their stay with a journey north, while keeping in mind that the two references are to different highways.

Nearby Lac Cardinal also adds to the range of activities: swimming, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, canoeing and kayaking are available at a campground on the lakeshore. When looking for a vacation rental in Grimshaw, you can consider whether you’d like to focus your stay on attractions in town, seasonal ice skating and water activities, or visits to cultural destinations. The options vary by location, theme and season—from year-round running facilities in Grimshaw to water sports at nearby Lac Cardinal.

More places to explore: Clairmont, Peace River, Grande Prairie, Hythe, Beaverlodge.

Go to the regional travel overview: Division No. 19.