Ifrane's appeal is overwhelmingly outdoors. The cedar forests that surround the town are home to Barbary macaques and some excellent walking. The easiest walk of all is down the Val d'Ifrane, the green river valley below town, to the Cascade des Vierges waterfall. In winter, the Michlifen ski resort draws Moroccan families up the mountain for a day on the slopes — skiing in Morocco surprises nearly everyone who hasn't been. Jbel El Koudiate, an extinct volcanic shield west of town, rewards a short hike with views over the Atlas, and the lake of Dayet Aaoua, 14 km north, anchors the scenic Middle Atlas lake circuit. Al Akhawayn University gives the town an unusual intellectual energy; the campus is attractive and open to visitors. In town, the stone Lion of Ifrane statue in the park is the town's most photographed landmark.