Southeast Alberta Regional Map

Find a balance of exciting activities and quiet spaces in the Southeast corner of Alberta. Hit the highway, and road trip through the badlands, coulees, rolling hills, and prairies. You’ll notice waves of land that aren’t always flat. Wildlife walks through the tall prairie grass, soars the blue sky, and floats the rivers. Bask in areas that hold history, in your car, on your bike, in your kayak, or while casually strolling each location. Southeast Alberta

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Empress

Estuary

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Dinosaur Provincial Park

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635

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Rosemary

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Duchess

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876

Deer Forks

Iddesleigh

Patricia

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545

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Burstall

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

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Redcliff Campground 403.548.3232 | redcliff.ca/recreation Nestled in greenspace between the town’s famous greenhouses, where you can find fresh produce to add to your camp sandwiches, Redcliff Campground is surrounded by activity. The recreation hub of the town, including the baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and aquatic centre, is nearby. Situated only two blocks from downtown, few places can compete with the Redcliff Campground for convenience and price. 1

Cowoki Lake

Brooks

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Hilda

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CFB Suffield

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Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

Prairie Coulees Natural Area

Tilley

Richmound

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Lake Newell

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Mr Burnside Mountain Bike Trail trailforks.com/trails/mr-burnside

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Riding the gentle edge of the South Saskatchewan River’s northern slope, Burnside is a short green run that connects to Redcliff’s rugged terrain and series of blue and black runs. It’s a wide, flowy trail that runs in both directions, so even if Redcliff isn’t the ultimate destination, there’s plenty of room for a quick there-and-back. Round-trip is about 11 kilometres, making it an easy way to get a quick run in.

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Scots Lake

Rolling Hills Lake Johnson Reservoir

Schuler

Red Rock Coulee albertaparks.ca/parks/south/red-rock-coulee

S o u t h

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Scandia Take the thirty-minute drive from Medicine Hat to Mars. Maybe not Mars, but the landscape at Red Rock Coulee can sure look similar. The large, red, round boulders are said to be among the largest in the world and are formed from shale, sandstone and sediment millennia ago when the land was the bottom of a prehistoric sea. 36

Redcliff Riverview Golf Club 403.548.7118 | golfriverview.com

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Ralston CFB Suf fi eld

Redcliff Riverview Golf Club tracks the South Saskatchewan River and delivers on the promise made by its name. Perched on cliffs overlooking the river, even experienced golfers may need another practice swing before sending their Calloway over a rugged, hoodoo-filled coulee. Admire the view, take a breath, and swing for the fairway.

Rolling Hills

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Gas City Campground 403.529.8158 | medicinehat.ca

Redcliff

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Perched high above the South Saskatchewan River, just minutes by foot from one of the best views of Medicine Hat’s river valley is Gas City Campground. It is also the starting point for a path that tracks the bench above the South Saskatchewan River to Echo Dale Regional Park, an easy stroll for any family looking to spend a day together. The fully treed, 97-site, full-service campground is only minutes from the TransCanada Highway. Eagle Butte Road cypress.ab.ca Novels, poems and love songs have been written about life on the road. If those novels were written in Southern Alberta, Eagle Butte Road would have been the chapter about solitude and reflection. Cyclists tackle this road to reach Little Plume Church. It’s a slow grind to reach Little Plume, but the reward is a near-constant downhill returning home, to Medicine Hat. Eagle Butte. Little Plume. Medicine Hat. If those don’t sound like names from Zane Grey’s pen, then nothing does. But they’re real, and they’re here for you. Cavan Lake Campground cypress.ab.ca Ideal for the fisherman or anyone looking to set up camp and relax, choose from large sites in a well-treed loop surrounding a playground and open park. Or alternatively, take a site with a view of the small prairie lake and watch the sun rise with coffee in hand. Cavan Lake provides firewood, non-potable tap water, 30 amp service and a boat launch for those looking to catch their dinner. 8 9

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Medicine Hat

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Irvine

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Dunmore

Redcliff Mountain Bike Trails trailforks.com/region/redcliff Interwoven into the hoodoos and rugged, dusty cliffs of the South Saskatchewan River are the Redcliff mountain bike trails. In fact, it is these cliffs – many red from oxidization – from which the town of Redcliff gets its name. There are multiple access points in Redcliff to the green, blue, and black runs. 3

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O Etzikom Museum 403.666.3737 | facebook.com/etzikommuseum ld M a

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Sherburne Lake 40 Mile Park is set along a reservoir and has become one of Southern Alberta’s most popular boating, fishing, and RVing spots. The sites are big, the boat launch can handle dozens of vehicles, and the reservoir is big enough for everyone to get on the water. The Saint Mary River Irrigation District diverts nearly one billion cubic metres of water every year to farmers, ranchers and municipalities who need it and also provides recreation opportunities for everyone at this Park. Bow Island Centennial Park 403.545-2522 | bowisland.com Found just blocks from the Crowsnest Highway, this campground has two playgrounds, two outdoor cooking areas, free shower house, beach volleyball, and a well-maintained soccer field. Visit during the week to browse “Market in the Park”, which takes place every Wednesday from July to August. Bow Island Swimming Pool 403.584.0276 | bowisland.com/bow-island-swimming-pool Swimming pools are a welcome oasis during the Southeast Alberta summers. Being mere blocks from the Crowsnest Highway, near Bow Island’s downtown, the swimming pool features a shallow kiddie pool, hot tub, diving board, and climbing wall. The climbing wall is equally challenging for any age to reach the top. 16 17 Fincastle Lake These early windmills once populated the Southern Alberta prairie, providing the ability for early homesteads to pump water and run basic operations. The rest of the museum is housed in a converted school, and houses a library with rare books. The Etzikom Museum is one of the best places to learn about renewable energy’s humble beginnings, born out of necessity on a dry, windy landscape. 40 Mile Park 40mile.ca/departments/parks-and-recreation/40-mile-park 15 Horse fl y Lake Reservoir Taber Lake 61 513

Seven Persons

Taber 30 Kms

Bow Island

Eagle Butte Rd

887

41

Murray Lake

Yellow Lake

877

Cypress County

Bullshead Reservoir

Elkwater Lake

Rush Lake

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877

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Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

879

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Red Rock Coulee

Elkwater

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885

887

County of Forty Mile

Echo Dale Regional Park 403.529.8333 | medicinehat.ca

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Black & White Trail

Echo Dale Regional Park is one of Medicine Hat’s most popular family destinations. Situated in the South Saskatchewan River valley with badlands views, two reservoirs provide swimming or watersport activities. The swimming is served by a cafeteria offering ice cream, snacks and even burgers and fries. Echo Dale Farm is a well-preserved early pioneer settlement complete with a wooden house, barn, blacksmith shop, and former entry to an early-era coal mine. Together, the grounds provide a glimpse into early pioneer life on the prairies.

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Cypress Hills Mountain Bike Trails 403.893.3833 | albertaparks.ca/parks/south/cypress-hills-pp Starting the descent and hitting the drop offs, laying down some crazy lines on the “Last Grizzly”, getting to grips with some cross country adventure through montane forest high above the prairies…this is mountain biking in the Cypress Hills. There are over 50 km of trails with 240 meters of elevation gain, ranging from beginner-friendly to intermediate. 10

Etzikom

Foremost

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Orion

Manyberries

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Distance in kilometers 20

889

885

887

Trans-Canada Highway

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879

Pakowki Lake

504

41

Major Highway

Verdigris Lake

Alberta

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Secondary Highway

Gravel & Unimproved Road

Pinto McBean bowisland.com

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501

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Cypress Hills Cabins 403.893.3833 | albertaparks.ca/parks/south/cypress-hills-pp Wake up to the morning sunshine and bird song in secluded settings. Feel like you are the only ones around for miles. Get a taste of adventure in the comfort of a cabin. There are over half a dozen Cypress Hills Backcountry and Front Country Cabins situated around the Provincial Park. Cypress Hills Dark Sky Preserve 403.893.3833 | albertaparks.ca/parks/south/cypress-hills-pp The night sky tells an ancient story and in a few places you can see the details of that story more clearly than others. Cypress Hills Provincial Park is a Dark Sky Preserve where this story can be seen loud and clear. Look in the Galaxy and search for shooting stars or see if you can recognize constellations or the planets in our own solar system. 11 12

Onefour Rangeland Natural Area

Milk River The world’s largest and most armed pinto bean, Pinto McBean celebrates the town’s role in Southern Alberta’s agriculture industry, which is a leader in beans and lentils. Agriculture exists in Southeast Alberta due to the human-engineered canal system that delivers nearly a billion cubic meters of water to farmers. Pinto McBean is a deserving point of pride for the town. Sandy Point cypress.ab.ca The South Saskatchewan river valley at Sandy Point highlights the Canadian Badlands. After driving alongside Alberta prairies, you’ll descend into the valley with hoodoos that stretch East and West. Along the riverbank is a sleepy little campground, a great place to spend the night. 19 M i l k R i v e r 4

Map Region

Echo Dale Campground 403.529.8333 | medicinehat.ca

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Community Parks and Natural Areas

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M i l k R i v e r

Escape solely into pure prairie lands with coulees that surround and protect. Set up a tent or park your trailer and have a fire to indulge in s’mores. This space is beautiful, peaceful, and quiet. With activities nearby, the swim lake, river, and multi-use trails, you’ll never bore.

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Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

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Milk River Natural Area

Onefour Rangeland Natural Area

Coutts

Wild Horse Border Crossing

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CANADA UNITED STATES

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Sweetgrass