It’s the beginning of summer and what better time to load up the horses and treat your family and friends to a horse vacation out in the mountains. Alberta is fortunate to have a number of areas that welcome trail riders.
Several provincial parks and recreation areas provide equestrian facilities and allow horses on-site. And, equestrian staging areas usually provide loading/unloading ramps and hitching rails. Some also provide corrals, vault toilets, bear-proof garbage containers, picnic tables, water wells, fire rings, and firewood.
Horses All is proud to provide our readers with the following list of provincial parks and protected areas in Alberta that welcome equestrians (list prepared by the government of Alberta in 2005).
Now, get out there and enjoy some time with your friends – both two and four-legged – and explore the trails!
Aylmer
• 11 km south of Nordegg on Forestry Trunk Road (SH 734)
• 7-unit campground
• loading/unloading ramp, hitching rails
• no on-site water supply
• $7.00 per night
Bluerock
• 46 km west of Turner Valley on SH 546
• 17-unit campground
• tie stalls
• $20.00 per night (fee includes 2 horses; $3.00 each additional horse)
• firewood concession
Coliseum Forest
• 4 km northwest of Nordegg
• 12-unit parking lot
• provides access to Coliseum Trail, 6-km trail leads to a panoramic view of the area
• no loading/unloading ramp or hitching rails, but horses are allowed on-site
• no on-site water supply
• free of charge
Cooking Lake/ Blackfoot
• 24 km east of Sherwood Park, south on Hwy 16, directly south of Elk Island National Park
• day use only
• hitching rails, more than 85 km of developed trails
• free of charge
Crescent Falls
• 22 km west of Nordegg on Hwy 11, then 6 km north. No access road
• 31-unit campground, 14-unit parking lot, large equestrian staging area located just above the main campground, equipped with horse corrals, hitching rails and loading ramp
• $15.00 per night
Cutoff Creek Forest
• 90 km south of Nordegg on Forestry Trunk Road (SH 734), then 28 km west on Cutoff Creek Forestry Road (68 km west of Caroline)
• primary staging area for the Upper Clearwater Forest Land Use Zone, where motorized access prohibited
• loading/unloading ramp, hitching rails
• free of charge
Dawson
• 30 km east of Canmore on Hwy 1, 6 km south on Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 40), 11 km east on Hwy 68, then 2 km south on Powderface Trail
• 17-unit campground
• hitching rails
• $17.00 per night
• firewood concession
Etherington Creek
• 45 km southwest of Longview on SH 541, then 7 km south on Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 40)
• 10-unit campground
• tie stalls
• $20.00 per night (fee includes 2 horses, $3.00 each additional horse)
• firewood concession
Fish Creek
• located in Calgary, off 37th Street SW
• day use only
• hitching rails, corrals
• 10 km of equestrian trails at the west end of the park (Shannon Terrace area)
• free of charge
Honeymoon Creek
• 40 km north of Crowsnest Pass on Forestry Trunk Road (SH 734), then 13 km wst on gravel access road
• 10-units group campground, for reservations call: (403) 563-5395
• horse corrals, shelter with stove
• $100.00 per night
Hummingbird Forest
• 64 km south of Nordegg on Forestry Trunk Road (SH 734), then 8 km west on Onion Lake Road (west of Ram Falls)
• 12-unit parking lot
• loading/unloading ramp
• free of charge
Little Elbow
• 50 km west of Bragg Creek along Hwy 66
• 46-unit parking lot
• hitching rails, corrals, loading/unloading ramp
• $20.00 per night
Mesa Butte
• 27 km south of Bragg Creek on SH 762, then 7 km west on SH 549
• 15-unit campground
• hitching rails, corrals, loading/unloading ramp
• $20.00 per night (fee includes 2 horses, $3.00 each additional horse)
• firewood concession
Peppers Lake
• 84 km southwest of Rocky Mountain House on SH 734 (80 km southeast of Nordegg)
• 16-unit campground, 7-unit parking lot
• loading/unloading ramp, hitching rails
• $11.00 per night
Rock Lake
• northwest on Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 40), then 35 km west on access road
• 93-unit campground, 50-unit parking lot
• primary staging area for Willmore Wilderness Park, which contains approximately 750 km of equestrian/hiking trails
• loading/unloading ramps, hitching rails, corrals, holding pens
• $15.00 per night
Sandy McNabb
• 25 km west of Turner Valley along SH 546
• 21-unit campground
• hitching rails, corrals, loading/unloading ramp
• $20.00 per night (fee includes 2 horses, $3.00 each additional horse)
• firewood concession
Strawberry
• 45 km southwest of Longview on SH 541, then 2 km north on Hwy 40
• 18-unit campground
• hitching rails, corrals, loading/unloading ramp
• $20.00 per night (fee includes 2 horses, $3.00 each additional horse)
• firewood concession
• open during hunting season only (September 6 to November 30)
Sulphur Gates
• 5 km north and 7 km west of Grande Cache off Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 40)
• 11-unit campground
• staging area for Willmore Wilderness Park (approximately 750 km of equestrian/hiking trails)
• loading/unloading ramp, hitching rails, horse holding area, water trough
• $9.00 per night
Whitehorse Creek
• 38 km southwest of Robb (south of Cadomin)
• 26-unit campground
• popular starting point for hikers and horse users going to Miette Hot Springs, located in Jasper National Park
• loading/unloading ramp, hitching rails, 8 camping units equipped with corrals
• $11.00 per night
