Located in northern Alberta's oil sands region, this industrial city has grown from a 1,000-person town in 1964 to a key Canadian energy hub with 66,000 residents.
Fort McMurray lies in northeastern Alberta at the junction of the Athabasca and Clearwater rivers, surrounded by dense boreal forest. This area is recognized globally for its oil sands operations but balances industrial activity with nearby wild areas. You can walk the Athabasca Sand Dunes, see the Northern Lights in Wood Buffalo National Park, or study oil extraction methods at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre. Cast a line in the Clearwater River, follow 135 km of hiking paths, or attend a Fort McMurray Oil Barons hockey match. The region’s past includes fur trading posts and Cree settlements, and today you can experience both adventure and learning opportunities tied to its natural resources.
Oil Sands and Industry
Fort McMurray’s economy centers on the Athabasca oil sands, which hold the planet’s largest reserves of bitumen. At the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, interactive displays explain how oil extraction evolved from early shovel-and-bucket methods to today’s steam-based technology. Keyano College prepares students for careers in energy through specialized programs and hosts theater productions in its 500-seat auditorium. The main highway linking the region to Edmonton sees frequent convoys of trucks hauling machinery to remote work sites. Residents still recall the 2016 wildfire that forced 88,000 people to evacuate, an event that tested the community’s ability to rebuild.
Forests, Rivers, and Wildlife
Wood Buffalo National Park, a short drive north, covers an area larger than Switzerland and shelters over 5,000 wood bison. Trails like the Birchwood system let you hike or bike through spruce forests and past small lakes, with routes marked for different skill levels. Guided jet boat trips on the Athabasca River take you past beaver dams and eagle nests, while McMurray Aviation’s 45-minute aerial tours highlight the oil sands’ vast mining pits. From December to March, Vista Ridge Activity Park operates ski lifts and a 300-meter zipline over snow-covered slopes. Anglers can book flights to Andrew Lake, where northern pike strike at lures near rocky shorelines.
Hockey, Festivals, and Local Hangouts
Hockey games at Centerfire Place arena draw passionate fans cheering for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons, a junior team competing in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The arena shares the MacDonald Island Park complex with a wave pool, a climbing gym, and indoor soccer fields. In July and August, the Fort McMurray Giants baseball team plays weekend games at Shell Place Stadium, a venue that also holds outdoor concerts with Canadian artists. Every September, the interPLAY festival transforms downtown into a stage for magicians, musicians, and food trucks. For a relaxed evening, the Snye Boardwalk provides benches to watch boats pass on the Athabasca River.
Indigenous Culture and Early History
The Fort McMurray Heritage Shipyard displays restored barges and engines from the 1930s, when river transport connected the Arctic to southern markets. Local Indigenous groups, including the McMurray Métis, share traditions through workshops on beadwork and drumming at the Nistawoyou Association Friendship Centre. Artifacts at the Fort Chipewyan Bicentennial Museum reveal how Dene and Cree communities traded furs with European settlers in the 1800s. A seasonal ice road allows winter drives to Fort Chipewyan, where guided walks explain the lasting impact of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s trading posts.
Getting Around and Where to Stay
Fort McMurray International Airport offers daily flights to Calgary and Edmonton on Air Canada and WestJet. While public buses run between downtown and suburbs like Thickwood Heights, renting a car simplifies trips to parks or work camps outside the city. Pack insulated layers if visiting between November and March, when temperatures often drop below -30°C. The Pomeroy Hotel downtown places you within walking distance of pubs and sushi restaurants, while Pearson Lake Lodge has cabins with kayaks for paddling calm waters. Try butter chicken at Surekha’s on the Snye or share nachos at The Alley, where pool tables and arcade games keep the mood lively.
