If you are on Facebook check out "Meanwhile in Saskatchewan" and "Saskatchewan Aurora Hunters" for beautiful pictures of Sask. You’ll cross the beautiful Frenchman River Valley twice and #13 is a better road than #18. Best Western Premier Executive Residency Medicine Hat, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Medicine Hat Transcanada Hwy 1, Medicine Hat Lodge, Trademark Collection by Wyndham. A few were a bit rough so not sure how RV would do. The Visitor Centre is open 5 days per week (more during holiday periods) and you can rent skis, skates, snowshoes and kick sleds from our wonderful staff. New daylodge, quad chair and other improvements at “Hidden Valley” ski hill all opened to the public. Elkwater town site, within the Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Alberta, hosts 2 restaurants, a café / bar, toilet and shower blocks for both camper and public use. Prior to this, a cabin was used. The event was the catalyst that brought the North West Mounted Police (NWMP) out West. Alberta; Saskatchewan; Fort Walsh; Camping Camping comes in all shapes and forms and all seasons. Hi we were just camping at Cypress Hills Sask side in July. 1994-present A resurgence of field research in the park- projects ranging from biological to archaeological. Below is the boardwalk long Elkwater Lake. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park has an abundance of camp grounds to suit your needs. 1869-70 The Hudson's Bay Company relinquished its charter to Rupert’s Land, which included the Cypress Hills. Cypress Hills Provincial Park straddles the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan border and is the highest point between the Rockies and Labrador. Hope you realize that you're going to need your warm pj's lol. 1967 Commercial lumbering operations were terminated. 1996 Fort Walsh National Historic Site becomes a part of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. You will also find the “Cypress Hills Riding Academy” located in the Centre Block which offers guided tours and lessons. Below is the boardwalk long Elkwater Lake. Water is a big attraction for most campers so why not make the most of it and go fishing, rent a kayak, try paddle boarding or water skiing? Seasonal opening times vary for regions so please check with the relevant Visitor Centre for more information. In the end all were acquitted because of … 1875-83 Thirty men under Superintendent James Morrow Walsh established Fort Walsh. Bob_Wallace___Thunderheads_at_Reesor___Copy-85.jpg. Thanks for letting me know about Fort Waslh. Jasper National Park Tour: Maligne Valley, Medicine Lake and Spirit Island, Alberta Announces Rapid Testing Trial in Calgary YYC. Only met one other vehicle the whole way there. It has all the beauty of mountain lakes without the crowds…. marina). If staying in MC drive to Fort Walsh. You may have heard her summer Alberta Road Trips column (2017-2019) or seen her on CBC's Gem streaming TV! 1907 Happy Jack Hart opened the first coal mine in the area along the North Shore of Elkwater Lake. I didn’t take any photos of the town for some reason…. Early 1980s: Cypress Hills Provincial Park master plan approved. If you have a sense of adventure or looking to get off the beaten track then Cypress Hills has something for you. 8304 Hwy 41, Cypress County, AB, CANADA T0J 1C0, Visitor Centre (year round): 403-893-3833. Hiking Mount Hoffman, Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park, The Best Spring and Fall Hikes in Kananaskis, 10 Tips for Fall (or Spring) Hiking in Alberta, How to have a fun Girls’ Weekend in Banff this fall, Winter Trails and Trail Reports for Banff and Kananaskis, Experience Afternoon Tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton (and stay the night), Elkwater Lake, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Cypress Hills Provincial Park Shoreline Trail, Cypress Hills Provincial Park West End Day Use Area Beach, Elkwater Mini Golf at East End Day Use Area (Did I mention it is free?! Elkwater and the surrounding area has a host of amenities to cater for you needs. Whether you are into Fly or spin fishing you will find something to enjoy in the park. We saw these turkey vultures on the back road to Fort Walsh. 1952 A dam was constructed on Elkwater Lake for Ducks Unlimited. Photo Credit: Tyler Dixon. 2009 Visitor Centre in Cypress Hills – Saskatchewan opens for year-round visitor services. There is a road that connects Elkwater to Fort Walsh as seen on this google map labelled Graburn Road. Usually restricted to mountains around here…. Do I need to pay an entry fee to visit the Canadian Rocky Mountain national parks? The hills were some of the only land in western Canada to be untouched by glaciation. Canoe and Kayak on one of the lakes in the park, travel by car to the viewpoints overlooking the prairies at the highest point between the Rockies and New Labrador or try one of the programs to get you out into nature. more, Elkwater Tourism and Travel: Best of Elkwater, Create a Trip to save and organise all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. Information on trails can be found below or contact our Visitor Centre. One was 48 km northeast of Fort Walsh, near Maple Creek, and the other was at Head of the Mountain. Fort Walsh was abandoned and the NWMP established detachments at Maple Creek and Medicine Hat. J > I love the simple landscape, the space … For my ‘one day …’ list? The other, Alberta, side of this unique, isolated and spectacular park is commonly accessed from Elkwater, Alberta. 1873- Cypress Hills Massacre A bloody battle took place when a group of American wolf hunters lost some horses and attacked a nearby camp of Assiniboine. Open Wednesday - Sunday 9:30am - 5:00pm; Closed Monday & Tuesday. 1983 Major upgrading of Elkwater facilities took place. ), Horseshoe Canyon Viewpoint, Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Fire Lookout at Tom Trott Memorial Forestry Museum, Head of the Mountain Viewpoint on a rainy day, As we finished our hike, it started to pour, so we took refuge in the. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. (Download a brochure for more information on the Métis). From Bed and Breakfasts to Resorts, and even Ranch Experiences, there is plenty to choose from. There is a variety of types of accommodation and dining available in the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Canadian eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization). Visitor Centre approximately 2.0km from Hwy #41 turnoff, beside Camp Cookhouse and General Store, just past the marina and beach. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-107677537', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Alberta side. I have travel often between Calgary and Regina so looking at exploring off the Trans Canada. Small scale cutting occurs in park for a period of 5 years. Cougars are the “comeback kids” of the Cypress Hills. Police Point slump occurred along the north escarpment of the Cypress Hills plateau. Have you ever been to Cypress Hills Provincial Park? Major upgrading of Elkwater facilities underway (i.e. For region specific information please click below. Unfortunately I didn't have GPS turned on on my camera when taking photos so can't pinpoint where we accessed the reservoir. Regional regulations and permits apply. The Trans Canada Trail spans Saskatchewan and Alberta and fort Walsh gives to Historical context to your journey. . Some of it is very narrow and rough, especially the stretch that straddles the border (about 5 km worth). 1947 Establishment of Elkwater Provincial Park. Yes you can fill up your water at Val Marie. Using Firerock Campground on Elkwater Lake as our home base, we enjoyed a variety of free family-friendly activities. Read about the Cypress Hills Massacre and other interesting stories of the history of Fort Walsh. The Milky Way is so bright. 1920 The first grazing permits were issued in the Forest Reserve. It was before Grassland National Park was created and the quest to get some good pictures of bisons was not yet on the list. I think you want Battle Creek road, which connects Elkwater to Fort Walsh IN the park. This led to an influx of farmers, ranchers and homesteaders. Copyright © 2013 - 2020 Play Outside Guide. In the next few years, the whiskey trade was eliminated, law and order was established, and treaties with First Nations were negotiated. 1911 Forest Reserves and Parks Act expanded Cypress Hills Forest Reserve to 492km2 (190 square miles). "even though the scenery is boring." Here is the Saskatchewan border on the backroad from Reesor Lake to Fort Walsh. The road from Elkwater to Fort Walsh highlighted on your map runs south of the park. (not my photos lol) It was hot and dry when we were there (August 23-25) so the road was fine but I can imagine it it rains that it can be a bit slippery. Fishing is extremely popular within the park and there are many stocked lakes to be had with Rainbow Trout, Brook Trout, Walleye, Arctic Grayling, Northern Pike and Yellow Perch. 1930 Transfer of natural resources control from Dominion Government to the provinces. (Download a brochure for more information on the Métis). Note that snowmobiles are not permitted in the park. 1919 Three stock associations began grazing cattle in Alberta's Cypress Hills. Walking down the road to Fort Walsh. 1913 Elkwater subdivision was surveyed and construction of roads was completed. Always just drove past on the monthly trips to Calgary. Fort Walsh, 1878 In 1875, Assistant-Commissioner James Macleod, James Walsh's superior, was given permission to enter Helena, Montana by the United States government.His job was to investigate the crimes committed and to extradite the people responsible back to Canada to face punishment. 2011 New Observatory in Cypress Hills – Saskatchewan opens for astronom. The town has lakes, a beach, good places to eat, camp or hotel. Fort Walsh was abandoned and the NWMP established detachments at Maple Creek and Medicine Hat. What documentation do I require to enter Canada ? Visitor Centre: Open Wednesday - Sunday 9:30am - 5:00pm; Closed Monday & Tuesday. Alberta Covid predictions for coming weeks. The West Block was maintained as a Wilderness area. Although my home is in Calgary, you can usually find me on the trails or road tripping around Alberta. We are set up to camp for about 3 days with own water/power if needed. Enjoy your road trip... it's a great park. Private bookings available by calling (306) 662-5411 Email us at cypresshills@gov.sk.ca or visit the Government of Saskatchewan website.