Wild West meets tranquil getaway

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"Share the natural beauty of our home" is the theme of the Silver Birch Resort, located on the shores of Whitefish Lake on the Kikino Metis Settlement, an hour-and-a-half drive northeast of Edmonton.

The staff at Silver Birch is well known for the warm welcome they extend to guests. They go out of their way to make the campgrounds and beach area family friendly. The resort has campground attendants on duty 24 hours a day during the peak season (May long weekend to September long weekend).

The jewel in the crown of Silver Birch Resort are four rustic log cabins on the beach that feature all the comforts of home. The cabins are heated by propane furnaces and have kitchenettes, running water, bathrooms with showers, bedroom lofts, covered decks, and barbecue pits. The cabins are fully winterized and are available for rent year-round.

The camping area has 29 campsites with power and 23 without power, plus an overflow camping area. A centrally-located shower and bathroom facility is available to all campers and day users of the beach.

The resort also has a convenience store and gas bar for those items campers forget to bring along on their holidays.

Activities at the resort include excellent fishing for pike, perch and pickerel, as well as boating, swimming, beach volleyball, excellent bird watching with a wide variety of species in the area, and hiking on trails along the lakeshore and through the boreal forest. Some regular visitors to the resort bring their horses and camp in a special area that is "horse friendly," with grazing areas and extensive riding trails along the lakeshore and in the backcountry.

The highlight of summer activities at Silver Birch is the annual rodeo, one of the biggest in rural Alberta. The rodeo and Kikino Celebration Days are set for Aug. 10, 11 and 12 this year.

Silver Birch Resort was opened in 1995 and has been certified by the Wildrose Tourism Association since 1995. It is open year-round, and the fully winterized cabins are an attraction for ice-fishing or snowmobile winter getaways.

For reservations and information phone (780) 623-3252