Elevate your winter at Kinosoo Ridge
Score skiing, snowboarding, tubing fun in Cold Lake
COLD LAKE, AB With its prominent lake, Cold Lake’s summer appeal is well known. But in winter, many locals trade wakeboarding and water skiing for skiing, snowboarding (and tubing) at Kinosoo Ridge Resort, including Rachel Browatzke and her family. Despite jetsetting adventures in her early years, when it came to establishing a family, Browatzke craved the home where she grew up.
“It was travelling that made me appreciate it here even more, how much space we have,” says Rachel, who has called Cold Lake home pretty much her whole life. “My favourite aspect of our community is how much we value getting outside to enjoy life together.”
That emphasis on the outdoors and community also attracted the 2026 Alberta Winter Games to Cold Lake and area.
HIT PLAY > elevated adventures at Kinosoo Ridge
All the action takes place from Feb 13-16, 2026, with over 1800 athletes age 11-16 competing in 18 different sports, including alpine and freestyle skiing, cross-country skiing and more.
Whether you check out the Games or not, the fact remains: there’s good winter action to be had here.
“It always brings a smile to my face to watch new skiers and riders gain confidence," says Rachel.
Her husband Ashley agrees, “If these runs could talk, they’d tell the stories of the thousands of locals who learned to carve and shred right here."
On a bright, sunny afternoon, Rachel and her friend Mandy Watters make sure to stop and take in the view from the top (pictured in banner above).
"That is my favourite view from the hill," comments Rachel.
Mandy agrees, adding, "I usually make my family get up there and make them pose... so we can capture the moment."
Reconnecting on the slopes
Many other families in the region share this attachment to Kinosoo Ridge as well, including members of the military who call the local Air Force base home.
Passionate skiers like Sophie Couture and her family, who first moved to Cold Lake in 2021. Sophie was deployed overseas with the military when they first moved here.
She hadn’t seen her boys in seven months when she arrived home in winter of that year.
As a way to reconnect as a family, they chose skiing. As she tells it: “We needed quality family time that would bring us together while making us appreciate the wonders of winter.
Adrien, who was not even three yet, was introduced to what is now his favourite sport."
My eldest, Alec, also became very proficient and started skiing the park. This slowly became a family challenge where all of us were following Alec through obstacles one after the other."
"We still spend all of our weekends there and feel like we belong," she sums up. "It’s now part of our core family memories.”
Fun and games at Kinosoo Ridge
No doubt there will be many more memories made over the course of the Alberta Winter Games.
But you don’t have to be an elite athlete to enjoy Kinosoo Ridge’s many winter offerings.
With five lifts (two quads and three carpets) and 12 runs meandering down a 300-foot vertical drop, its mostly gentle slopes make learning easy, with ski and snowboard lessons to help you along the way.
You can start on the bunny hill, like Adrien, and end up in the park like Alec. Or even like Sophie—proof that it’s never too late to try something new.
“I will also always remember celebrating my 40th birthday skiing with my boys and doing the biggest jump I have ever done,” she adds, with a laugh, “My big toe is just still recovering from it!”
“Kinosoo was also the stepping stone for the kids to become comfortable enough to attempt skiing on the big mountains.”
The same goes for the Browatzkes, who also enjoy a few tubing runs when the legs are tired from a good day of skiing.
"It's fun to get the whole family together on the hill," says Rachel. "Sometimes not everyone is skiing at the same level ... but on the tubes everyone can jump on and ride together."
Slide into winter fun
Ski, snowboard, tube and reconnect at Kinosoo Ridge
"You get some pretty good speed. It's hard not to be smiling as you cruise down."
And with a full-service restaurant in the Kinosoo lodge, featuring favourites like pulled pork poutine, chili and local craft beers and even special gluten-free options, you and your crew never have to leave hungry.
"I'm usually the mom who is bringing a lot of kids so I don't want to spend a lot of extra money at the hill," says Mandy, "but sometimes it's nice to have a hot meal instead of a sandwich."
She adds, "My kids always want the churros."
Night out in Cold Lake
After dinner, sunset over the frozen lake offers a special charm. And you can ski right into the night on weekends too, rounding out an awesome outing with family or friends.
"We are so blessed to have this cool hill in our Lakeland area," says Mandy, reflecting on the day.
"All my kids started snowboarding there, and they still enjoy it. It's a really sweet spot."
WHEN YOU GO
Kinosoo Ridge is in Municipal District of Bonnyville, part of the Lakeland area of northeast Alberta, host of the 2026 Alberta Winter Games.
Getting here
Kinosoo Ridge Ski Area is just 20 minutes from downtown Cold Lake via Township Road 630.
approx. 3h from Edmonton via HwyAB-28
under 2h from Lac La Biche via AB-55E
2h from Lloydminster via Hwy AB-897N
Kinosoo Ridge hours of operation are Wed-Sun, 10am-4pm, with snow tubing running on Fridays until 7pm, and night skiing on Fridays until 8pm (weather dependent).
For information on booking lessons, lift tickets, rentals and more visit the Kinosoo Ridge website.
Upcoming events
Mar 14 Rail Jam
Mar 28-29 Blizzard Blast
Mar 29 Slush Cup
For more to uncover in the region, check out visitor tips from the MD of Bonnyville.