Course Difficulty
The Canadian Birkie Ski Festival takes place in the Beaver Hills UNESCO Biosphere, an unique and special environment with gently rolling terrain. Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area has 170 km of trails of which the Birkie uses approximately 75 km. See the detailed winter trail maps along with Alberta Parks’ latest trail conditions.
Age Limits
The Canadian Birkebeiner Society follows Nordiq Canada’s suggested age limits. The Birkie Saturday ski events take place in a remote area. Our organization provides directional signs, about 50 ski patrollers, 10 food stations, and 25 medical attendants along the way. Safety for our skiers, volunteers and spectators is our number one priority. The age limits below are a critical part of safety management.
Birkie Saturday
55 km with or without pack
Children 2 – 11 years of age are not allowed.
Children 12 – 17 years of age are not recommended. If they register, they must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
31 km
Children 2 – 11 years of age are not allowed.
Children 12 – 17 years of age are not recommended. If they register, they must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
13 km
Children 2 – 7 years of age are not allowed.
Children 8 – 11 years of age must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
Children 12 – 17 years old do not need to be accompanied by an adult guardian, but we recommend it.
4/8 km
Children 2 – 11 years of age are not allowed.
Children are allowed to be pulled in a pulk, but must remain in the pulk during the ski.
2/4 km
Children 2 – 7 years of age must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
Birkie Sunday (Barnebirkie)
500 m, 1 km, 3 km
Children 2 – 7 years of age must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
Full Moon Birkie
Children 2 – 7 years old are not recommended. If they register, they must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
Children 8 – 11 years of age must be registered with and accompanied by an adult guardian.
Ages 12 – 100 must go out with at least one other person.