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Rycroft, the "Hub of the Peace," and Spirit River are agricultural communities Peace Country region of Alberta.
Understand
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Rycroft, population 550 (2021), and Spirit River, population 990 (2021), are neighbouring communities north of Grande Prairie, about 10 minutes from each other.
The name Spirit River comes from the Cree Chepe Sepe, or Ghost River. The original settlement of Spirit River was established in 1891 at the old trading post located between Rycroft and Spirit River and 3 km south, situated along the Spirit River. In the 1910s, the newly constructed railway bypassed the settlement and the early settlers decided to move and it split into two communities; one to the west (present-day Spirit River) and one to the east (present-day Rycroft), with Rycroft being named after a prominent local citizen.
Get in
[edit | edit source]Rycroft is located at the Highway 2/49 junction, 70 km (43 mi) north of Grande Prairie and 510 km (320 mi) northwest of Edmonton. Spirit River is about 9 km (5.6 mi) west of Rycroft and 95 km (59 mi) east of Dawson Creek, BC on Highway 49.
Get around
[edit | edit source]Being in rural Alberta, a private vehicle is the only realistic way to get around.
See
[edit | edit source]- 1 Spirit River & District Museum, 4403 48 St, Spirit River, ☏ +1 780-864-2180. Summer: M-F Noon-4PM, Sa-Su 1-3PM; Winter: Tu-Th 10AM-2PM.
- 2 Historic Dunvegan (Dunvegan Provincial Park), Dunvegan (22 km north of Rycroft on Highway 2), ☏ +1 780-835-7150. A provincial historic site consists of a visitor centre and four historic buildings staffed seasonally by historic interpreters. Alberta's largest suspension bridge crosses the Peace River and overlooks the park. Camping available. The site was the location of one of Alberta's earliest fur trade posts and missionary centres, Fort Dunvegan, which is also a National Historic Site of Canada. It was built in 1805 by Archibald Norman McLeod and named for his family's ancestral home, Dunvegan Castle.
Do
[edit | edit source]- 1 Rycroft Race the 8, Rycroft (Hwy 49 & 51 St), bookings@rycroftag.com. last weekend of July. An annual western heritage and rodeo event hosted by the Rycroft Agricultural Society at the Rycroft Ag Grounds.
- 2 Moonshine Lake Provincial Park (34 km NW of Spirit River). Moonshine Lake Provincial Park offers a lakeside day use area with a beach, playground, picnic areas and hiking/biking trails. The lake allows canoeing, kayaking, and boating with electric motors. Individual and group campsite are available.
Buy
[edit | edit source]Each community has a grocery store, a liquor store, and a few other shops.
Eat
[edit | edit source]- 1 Mikie's Wheel Inn Restaurant, 4910 43 St, Rycroft (St Michaels Inn, Motel Rycroft), ☏ +1 780-765-3372. Daily 11AM-9PM.
- 2 The Moose Crossing, 4925 43 St, Rycroft, ☏ +1 780-380-6963. Daily 8AM-9PM.
- 3 Smitty's, 4919 43 St, Rycroft, ☏ +1 780-765-2114, rycroft-alberta@smittys.ca. Daily 7AM-9PM.
- 4 Penguin Dairy Drive Inn, 4808 50 St, Spirit River, ☏ +1 780-864-3560. M-Sa 7AM-9PM.
- 5 Spirit River Pizza & Donair, 4616 50 St, Spirit River, ☏ +1 780-864-7880. Daily 10AM-10PM.
Drink
[edit | edit source]Sleep
[edit | edit source]- 1 Crossroads Motel, 5419 49 Ave, Rycroft, ☏ +1 780-765-3951.
- 2 Leprechaun Motor Lodge, 4751 53 St, Rycroft, ☏ +1 780-765-0378.
- Rycroft Hotel, 4725 50 St, Rycroft, ☏ +1 780-765-3601.
- 3 St Michaels Inn, Motel Rycroft, 4910 43 St, Rycroft (Jct of Hwy 2 & Hwy 49), ☏ +1 780-765-3366, stmikeinn@gmail.com.
- 4 Motel 49, Highway 49, Spirit River, ☏ +1 780-864-3562.
Connect
[edit | edit source]Cope
[edit | edit source]- 1 Central Peace Health Complex, 5010 45 Ave, Spirit River, ☏ +1 780-864-3993. Hospital with a range of healthcare services including a 24/7 emergency department.
Go next
[edit | edit source]| Routes through Rycroft and Spirit River |
| Peace River ← Fairview ← | N  S | → Grande Prairie → END |
END ← Dawson Creek ← becomes  ← | W  E | → Falher → Valleyview |