Southern Saskatchewan Trip June 2009 - 3 Cypress Hills
Posted 06-30-2009 at 11:39 PM by bolerama
Updated 06-30-2009 at 11:41 PM by bolerama (trying to add pics AGAIN)
Updated 06-30-2009 at 11:41 PM by bolerama (trying to add pics AGAIN)
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park crosses the Saskatchewan-Alberta border. It is the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. Perhaps because of its altitude, it has virtually no mosquitoes! That made for some lovely outings, since the mosquito is the provincial bird of Saskatchewan!
The hills are covered with a 100-year-old lodgepole pine forest. The height of the trees is amazing, and so was the scent of pine. Hiking can be strenuous at times up the hills, but well worth it. Our little Shih Tzu had to be carried at times, but our Chesapeake Bay Retriever bounded up and down the hills to find rivers and creeks. We didn't have to worry about bears because sadly, the species of grizzly that used to inhabit this area is now extinct.
We stayed in the "Centre Block" of the park on the Saskatchewan side. It is the most developed area of the park. At the visitors center, there is a lovely new eco-museum. It is interactive. The guides will provide you with maps and advice about walking, hiking, and driving tours.
The park facilities are excellent. The roads are paved, and a few campsites have paved pads. The washrooms are clean and well-maintained. For example, the showers are private, tiled, and FREE. Also, throughout the campground are what look like outhouses, but they are not pit toilets. Each one has a flush toilet, a sink, handsoap, and paper towels...all steps from your campsite. They are cleaned and restocked daily.
We definitely will go back to this park.
The hills are covered with a 100-year-old lodgepole pine forest. The height of the trees is amazing, and so was the scent of pine. Hiking can be strenuous at times up the hills, but well worth it. Our little Shih Tzu had to be carried at times, but our Chesapeake Bay Retriever bounded up and down the hills to find rivers and creeks. We didn't have to worry about bears because sadly, the species of grizzly that used to inhabit this area is now extinct.
We stayed in the "Centre Block" of the park on the Saskatchewan side. It is the most developed area of the park. At the visitors center, there is a lovely new eco-museum. It is interactive. The guides will provide you with maps and advice about walking, hiking, and driving tours.
The park facilities are excellent. The roads are paved, and a few campsites have paved pads. The washrooms are clean and well-maintained. For example, the showers are private, tiled, and FREE. Also, throughout the campground are what look like outhouses, but they are not pit toilets. Each one has a flush toilet, a sink, handsoap, and paper towels...all steps from your campsite. They are cleaned and restocked daily.
We definitely will go back to this park.
Tags: alberta, canada, cypress hills, saskatchewan
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Comments
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Just beautiful. Love the pictures. The Airstream. Thanks for sharing. A place we too will try to visit...if, after retirement.Posted 07-02-2009 at 10:03 PM by chbocca 
