Hiking - Visit Cypress Hills

Cypress Hills
Interprovincial Park
trail guide
Contact
General Information
Visitor Centre
Open Year Round
Phone: (403) 893–3833
Web: cypresshills.com
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park sits on a
rise about 600 meters (1970 feet) above the
vast Great Plains between Saskatchewan and
Alberta, making it the highest point between the
Rocky Mountains and Labrador.
General Provincial Park Information
Web: albertaparks.ca
Toll Free: 1–866–427–3582
Phone: (780) 427–3582
Campsite Reservations
Toll Free: 1–877–537–2757
Web: reserve.albertaparks.ca
There is something unique to discover in every
season - from over 700 species of plants and
orchids bursting to life in spring to the trophy
fishing, interpretive programming and guided
walks in the summer. Witness a dramatic
landscape painted in fall colours or trek through
the snow-blanketed woods during winter.
Group Use Reservations
Phone: (403) 893–3835
Trails
Fire Bans in Alberta
Web: albertafirebans.ca
Elkwater Trail System
Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Phone: 911
24 Hour Park Help Line
Phone: (403) 893–HELP (4357)
884
To Calgary
Bow Island
41
1
Redcliff
Medicine
Hat
Seven
41
Persons
3
To Lethbridge
599
Elkwater
To
Montana
1
AB SK
Cypress Hills
Interprovincial
Park
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta
ISBN: 978–0–7785–9575–5
Printed June 2011
Beaver Creek Loop (1.3 km loop) begins at the
southwest corner of Beaver Creek Campground
and winds through poplar and spruce forest
past a beaver pond, ending near the bottom of
Old Baldy where you can cross the footbridge
back to Beaver Creek Campground.
Firerock Trail (1.6 km one way with 46 m
elevation gain) begins across the road south of
the West Central Day Use area and emerges
at the “D” loop of Firerock Campground. It
climbs steeply to an open grassy area passing
a large glacial erratic, and climbs gently through
mature poplar and spruce forest. Approximately
midway this trail links with Horseshoe Canyon
Trail and Old Baldy Trail.
informal viewpoint 1/3 of the way up overlooks
Elkwater Lake.
Plateau Trail (2.6 km one way) joins Horseshoe
Canyon Trail and Mitchell Creek Trail.
Spruce Coulee Trail System
Spruce Coulee Trail (8.4 km one way with
126 m elevation gain) begins at Spruce Coulee
Trailhead by the parking lot by the Rodeo
Grounds and follows an abandoned road
meandering through woodland and open fields
to eventually meet the Bull Trail road, continuing
across this road and ending at Spruce Coulee
Campground. This is a good route for an
overnight hike as toilets, firepits, drinking water,
a picnic shelter, and tenting sites are available at
the campground. Excellent for the experienced
mountain biker.
Rodeo Loop Trail (2.2 km one way) meanders
through aspen, pine and spruce.
Highline Trail (1.3 km one way with 77 m
elevation gain) provides a moderate hike
through lodgepole pine forest.
Horseshoe Canyon Trail (4.1 km one way with
190 m elevation gain) starts at the roadway
into Old Baldy Campground and climbs along
an abandoned road through open fields and
mixed forest. When you reach the top, there is
a spectacular view of the Horseshoe Canyon
landslide and the rolling rangeland to the north.
This trail is excellent for mountain biking.
Mitchell Creek Trail (2.8 km one way with
174 m elevation gain) starts at the south end of
Elkwater Campground and ends at Murray Hill
Road at the top of the plateau. Climbing steadily
through mixed and lodgepole pine forest, an
Lakeside Trail (2 km loop) starts near the Spruce
Coulee Reservoir boat launch. The trail meanders
through spruce and lodgepole pine forests along
the west shoreline and back to the campground.
Park at the Spruce Coulee parking lot.
Trans Canada Trail (8.3 km one way with
127 m elevation gain) joins Reesor Lake, Reesor
Viewpoint and Spruce Coulee. The trail begins
at the Reesor Lake Campground causeway
parking lot and climbs to the top of the plateau.
The climb is moderately strenuous for the hiker
and biker, and has spectacular views of the
surrounding countryside along the trail and from
the plateau. The trail then follows an abandoned
Shoreline Trail (2.4 km one way) which follows
the south shoreline of Elkwater Lake, connects
the West End and East End Day Use areas and
is accessible by wheelchair, stroller and bicycle.
This asphalt pathway has boardwalks over
marshy sections. Plenty of parking is at both
ends.
Soggy Bottom Trail (1 km loop) is a
continuation of the Shoreline Trail and is
accessible by wheelchair, stroller and bicycle.
It is an easy stroll on asphalt and boardwalk
through an open field, forest and marsh.
Sunset Trail (1.1 km one way) is an easy trail
adjacent to our Park Administration Office. It
continues on across the road from the east
end of the Soggy Bottom Trail and extends to
Highway 41 where you can access the Spruce
Coulee Trail.
road before veering off to follow the grassland
to Reesor Viewpoint. Continuing north, the trail
winds through a mixture of forest and grassland
before emerging at Spruce Coulee Reservoir.
Trail Safety
• Trails are multi-use; be prepared to share the
trail with others.
• Stay on designated trails.
• Respect all trail and area closures.
• Select trails based on your ability and the
degree of difficulty shown on the map.
• Weather can change quickly; many of the
trails are remote and are not patrolled on
a regular basis; it is important that you be
prepared.
• Please advise someone of your plans. Take
along a map and a basic survival kit.
• Never forget that all wildlife can be
dangerous so keep your distance; Do not
approach, harass or attempt to feed wildlife
or livestock.
• Report any wildlife sightings, encounters or
any unusual observation to park staff.
• Garbage receptacles are not available along
the trails. Please pack out your litter.
• Dogs must be kept on leash at all times in a
Provincial Park.
• Ride under control at all times and reduce
your speed on corners, narrow spaces or
when approaching pedestrians.
• 24 Hour Park Help Line: (403) 893–HELP
(4357).
Spruce Coulee Trail System
Spruce Coulee Trail
1.3 km
5.0 km
2.0 km
Lakeside
Trail
Rodeo
Loop
Trail
Road
To Elkwater
Townsite
(0.5 km)
[Elev: 1250m] 2.2
Spruce Coulee
Campground
[Elev: 1310m]
Trans Canada
Trail
1.8 km
2.2 km
Reesor
Viewpoint
[Elev: 1405m]
Spruce Coulee
Reservoir
Gravel
Road
km
km
Reesor
Dock
Trans Canada
Trail
8
0.
1.3 km
0.3 km 0.5 km Highline
Archaeology
Trail
Site
d
ake Roa
4.2 km
L
Reesor
Reesor Lake
Campground
[Elev: 1230m]
Hidden
Valley
Ski Area
Bull Trail
(RR23)
Re
es
o
rL
ak
e
Ro
ad
41
Murray
Hill
Road
Camping
Area
Telephone
Visitor
Centre
Viewpoint
Parking
Beginner
Trail
Intermediate
Trail
Advanced
Trail
41
N
0
Gravel Road
Graburn Road
300m
Elkwater Trail System
41
Elkwater
Lake
West End
Day Use
Firerock
East End
Day Use
Spruce
Coulee
Trail
Soggy
Bottom
Trail
1.0 km
Sunset Trail
[Elev: 1230m]
Shoreline Trail
Elkwater Marina
2.4 km
Lakeview
West Central
Day Use
0.5 km
1.0 km
Old Baldy
Trail
Firerock
Old Baldy
Beaver
Creek
Loop
[Elev: 1300m]
Elkwater
Beaver
Creek
0.6 k
m
0.5 km
Firerock
Trail
1.1 km
Hidden Valley
Ski Area
[Elev: 1440m]
0.7 km
Ferguson
Hill
0.7 km
Horseshoe
Canyon
Trail
41
Lodgepole
3.6 km
Ferguson
Hill Road
Mitchell
Creek Trail
2.8 km
Horseshoe
Canyon
Viewpoint
[Elev: 1450m]
Camping
Area
Telephone
Visitor
Centre
Viewpoint
Parking
Beginner
Trail
Intermediate
Trail
Advanced
Trail
Plateau Trail
0.7 km
1.0 km
N
0.9 km
Murray
Hill Road
Willow
Creek Road
To Hwy 41
0
250m