Whiteshell is open year-round and has plenty to offer when the leaves have fallen and summertime crowds have left. The park takes on the clean briskness of winter as snow flies, lakes freeze, and northern lights dance in the sky. Many of the park's resident birds can be seen, and they are especially dense at feeders set up at the many resorts. Watch for chickadees, grey jays, pine and evening grosbeaks, and redpolls. The hiking trails are open to those wanting to explore the backcountry. A pair of snowshoes makes walking through snow easy and is a great way to travel quietly through the woods. Skiers have access to more than 70 km (43.5 miles) of cross-country trails with easy to moderate grades, as well as a challenging 10-km (6.2 mile) biathlon track at Falcon Lake. Here there are also facilities for skating, tobogganing, snowboarding, and downhill skiing. The park also maintains over 200 km (124 miles) of snowmobile trails that pass through forests and over frozen lakes. Warm-up huts are located in various locations along the trail. Although the park is open all year, most public facilities such as campgrounds and washrooms are closed for the winter months. Some of the lodges operate on a seasonal basis also, with many closing by October, so it's best to check in advance.

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