Location: Junction of Highways 43 and 32; 110 miles northwest of Edmonton. Population: 9200. Visitor Information: Tourist Information Booth in the Forest Interpretive Centre, 3002 33rd Street; Phone (800) 313-7383 or (780) 778-3433; website: www.whitecourt.ca
Known as the "Gateway to the Alaska Highway and the Fabulous North," Whitecourt is nestled in a peaceful foothills valley near the confluence of the McLeod and Athabasca Rivers. Although much of the vibrant town is new, its history dates back to 1897. The small Hudson’s Bay trading post has evolved into a modern economic hub for agriculture, oil and forestry in northwestern Alberta.
Whitecourt offers several facilities for recreational activities, including an 18-hole golf course. The “Snowmobile Capital of Alberta” lies in an area rich with hunting and fishing opportunities. Visitor services are also abundant.
Whitecourt’s Tourist Information Booth operates in the Forest Interpretive Centre, located at 3002 33rd Street just off Highway 43 across from the Lion's Campground, providing local and regional travel information, area maps, snowmobile and walking trail systems, Alberta Tourism guides, Alberta Accommodation and Campground guides, or they can arrange a free pulp mill tour. The Forest Interpretive Centre multi-media gallery explores the role of the forest in Whitecourt’s growth and development; there is also an interpretive trail that winds through the forest.