Simmons Trail

Simmons Trail, located near Ardrossan in Alberta’s Lakelands region, offers a short but challenging cross-country ski experience through quiet forest. Named for Ellsworth Simmons, one of the five men who helped create the park in 1906, this trail begins at the Shirley Lake Trailhead and winds through peaceful aspen stands and gentle rolling hills. Skiers can enjoy a sense of history as they follow a route that reflects the park’s early days. A few open stretches along the way provide views over wetlands, where patient visitors may spot beavers and muskrats, especially around dusk. With its mix of forest cover, subtle elevation changes and wildlife viewing opportunities, the trail rewards those looking for a compact outing that still feels like an adventure.