The 97 square kilometre Cooking Lake- • For the safety of yourself and others please Cooking Lake- Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area contains respect and obey all signage within the provincial Contact forests, pastures and wetlands. It is a multiple recreational area. Blackfoot Provincial use area that supports a variety of activities, • If you encounter a steel animal trap, do not remove Park Office including agriculture, wildlife management, or tamper with it. A registered trap line is used to Phone: Phone: 780–922–3293 Recreation Area natural gas extraction and outdoor recreation. manage problem wildlife, especially (beavers breed rapidly, cause extensive damage to trails and other General Provincial Park Information Summer recreational activities include hiking, facilities, and are responsible for flooding nearby Web: albertaparks.ca mountain biking and horseback riding. Active wildlife farms and residential lands). Phone: 1–877–537–2757 management programs in the area have created a Summer Guide wide range of habitats that support numerous wildlife Fire Bans in species. As a result, there are excellent wildlife viewing Safety Web: albertafirebans.ca opportunities along the area’s trail systems. Travel on recreation area trails can be hazardous. Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) Multiple pairs of nesting trumpeter swans have resided • Garbage receptacles are not provided along trails or Weather can change quickly. Many of the trails are Phone: 911 in the area since 2012. The is the Recreational Use in backcountry areas. Please pack out all garbage. remote and are not patrolled on a regular basis. It largest and rarest swan in the world. In Alberta, it is • Open fires are permitted only in firepits and is important that you be prepared by carrying the To Athabasca listed as a vulnerable species. If you come across the • Cooking Lake-Blackfoot is open daily from 7:00 stoves provided. For cooking, portable stoves are following in your pack or saddlebag: swans or their nesting sites, please do not disturb a.m. until 11:00 p.m. recommended. Barrhead Westlock Whitecourt 18 them. Trumpeter swans are a protected species in • Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation • It is unlawful to collect and burn deadfall in all • first aid kit and it is illegal to kill them. Area is a “day use only” site. However, overnight provincial parks and recreation areas. • rain gear 43 33 2 use by organized use groups may be permitted. • Staging areas are equipped with a shelter, water • an extra sweater or warm jacket and socks 44 Visit albertaparks.ca and search ‘permits’ to shed with outside water tap, multiple fire rings • extra food & drinks inquire about booking back country shelters for and vault toilets. Potable water is not provided at • headlamp or flashlight To youth groups. backcountry shelters. • lighter or matches 16 16 • Avoid fields where cattle are grazing. • pocket knife • Leave all gates as you find them. • whistle Cooking Lake- • Do not approach, harass or attempt to feed wildlife • map and compass Drayton Blackfoot PRA Valley or livestock. • hoof pick and leather sticker (equestrian users) • Keep your pet on a leash at all times. • cell phone – there is cell coverage in most areas 22 2 • Be aware that hunting occurs in Cooking Lake- of Blackfoot. Blackfoot during regular hunting seasons. • bike repair kit (mountain bikers) Red Deer Aboriginal hunting may occur in the area To year-round. To obtain assistance in an emergency, call • Hunters wishing to carry or discharge a firearm 780–644–3880 for area emergency or call 911 to reach in the recreation area must obtain a Firearms police or other emergency help. Be prepared to give a Discharge Permit from the recreation area office. If detailed description of your incident and your location. no one is available, please leave a phone number so that we can contact you to arrange for a permit to be issued. • Discharging firearms is not permitted within 400 metres of staging areas (boundaries are identified by bright orange-yellow signs), or within 200 metres of backcountry shelters. Note: under the Provincial Parks Act, bows are considered to be firearms.

Updated June 2021

• Equestrian trails are accessible from Waskehegan, Meadow (0.8 km): short connector with views Islet Lake Staging Area Trail Information Central and Blackfoot staging areas. These areas of grazing fields. White-tailed deer & moose are are equipped with loading ramps and hitching sometimes seen along this route. Highline (2.4 km): mainly follows ridge crests. Mountain Biking posts. There is no equestrian access from Islet Lake Excellent for bird watching. Staging Area. Neon Lake (1.6 km): an easy trail that circles the • Mountain biking is permitted on all hiking trails, • Equestrian trails that originate from Blackfoot western edge of Neon Lake. Middle (1.3 km): allows several loops of varying roads, and Central Alleyway. Staging Areas are closed to equestrian use from lengths to be made in the Ilset Lake area. • Mountain biking is not permitted on December 1 until March 31 so that they can be Siksika (4.6 km): remote trail in hilly terrain, with equestrian trails. track-set for skiing. numerous beaver ponds. Moose are sometimes seen Moose Link (2.5 km): Islet Lake trails can be accessed along this trail. from Central Staging Area using this trail. Named Hiking Waskehegan Staging Area for unusual moose antlers found along the route. Spruce Hollow (2.4 km): passes through some of Antlers are on display at the Heritage Interpretive • There are almost 85 km of hiking trails originating Blackfoot (25.5 km): longest equestrian trail in the few spruce untouched by the forest fires in the Centre office. from four staging areas. the area. Connects Waskehegan and Blackfoot early 1900s. • Low areas may contain water during spring runoff staging areas. Porcupine (0.8 km): named for the frequent porcupine and wet weather. Swan (0.7 km): named for the swans that live in Tie-In (1.1 km): this easy route connects Beaver Loop Morningside (1.3 km): follows former gas transmission sightings in the general vicinity. • There are several shelters, vault toilets and a few Cutoff (0.5 km): connecting trail between Blackfoot & the area during summer months. Trumpeter swans and Roundup trails. line. Provides access to loops of varying length. bus stop shelters located along the trails. Waskehegan trails. Continues into Elk Island National have been known to nest on Running Dog Lake near Push Lake (1.9 km): this hilly trail accesses the west Park. Equestrian use is not permitted north of Elk this trail. Wapiti (6.6 km): passes through one of the best areas Muskrat (1.1 km): longer loops can be made using this side of Elk Push Lake. Dividing ridge between Islet and Horseback Riding Island boundary fence. for elk viewing. trail and equestrian trails in the Blackfoot sector. Elk Push lakes. Excellent bird watching. Wanisan (4.5 km): part of this trail runs near Wanisan • There are more than 85 km of equestrian trails and Detour (2.1 km): shortens Wanisan loop, following Lake’s east shore. The main portion of the trail Blackfoot Staging Area Norris Ridge (2.1 km): generally Norris Creek to north laneways in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot. Horseback ungulate fence on the inside. is located outside the ungulate fence and is not boundary of recreation area. riding is also permitted on most of the resource regularly maintained. Most trails in the Blackfoot Lake sector are multi-use. roads in the eastern half of the area. Some of the Don’s Way (3.7 km): runs along boundary fence from Signs are provided to identify use restrictions. Outlet (0.5 km): provides access to ungulate fence trails are narrow roads across open pastures. Riding Spruce Hollow to Wanisan junction. Used in winter for Waskehegan (1.3 km): connects forests north and from northeast loop of Blackfoot Trail. is also permitted in designated pastures. Signs at the mini-Birkie. south of grazing fields. Equestrian use permitted north Buck Run (2.3 km): good wildlife viewing along this pasture gates indicate which pastures are available of junction with Central Alleyway. trail, especially for white-tailed deer. Springs (2.4 km): provides access to the southeastern for riding (“open”/”closed”). No riding allowed in the Ed’s Way (2.7 km): runs along the boundary fence boundary of Elk Island National Park and the pastures where there is cattle in them and no riding from Siksika to Wanisan/Detour junction (used for the Winter (3.7 km [South 2.4 km; North 1.3 km]): excellent Elkhorn (1.6 km): the large 6-point antler northwest corner of the Blackfoot sector. Moose are allowed in the holding fields. full Birkie). wildlife viewing. South portion is for skiing, north this trail is named after can be viewed at the sometimes seen in this sector. • Shelters, vault toilets and a few bus stop shelters portion is for both equestrian use and skiing. Heritage Interpretive Centre. are situated along trails. Flattail (0.1 km): named for the beavers that live in the Well Site (1.0 km): access to the ungulate fence from area (and sometimes drop trees along the trail). Central Staging Area Faraway (5.2 km): the equestrian portion of this this abandoned well site. trail is located in the northeast corner between the Grouse (1.2 km): named for one of the area’s Beaver Loop (2.6 km): active beaver colonies are Blackfoot Staging Area access road and Blackfoot Whitetail (3.1 km): watch for the blue heron colony on bird species. numerous along this easy trail. Trail junction, southeast of Elkorn Trail. Horse use is Blackfoot Lake. Be on the lookout for white-tailed deer not permitted west of the entrance/Blackfoot Staging along this route. Hare (0.8 km): watch for snowshoe hares along this Central Alleyway (16.8 km): this trail is the main Area access road. connector between Siksika and Lost Lake trails. alleyway connecting Waskehegan and Central Staging Areas. It is accessible from either end. are Heron Hallow (2.1 km): short connector across Norris J.J. (0.9 km): begins at gate in northwest corner near occasionally seen in the area. Creek to Elk Island boundary. Watch for great blue Range Rd. 210. Connects onto Blackfoot Trail. heron in the vicinity. Roundup (5.1 km): this “equestrian use only” trail Lost Lake (14.9 km): connects Islet and Waskehegan links trails in Central area to those in the Blackfoot Muskrat (1.1 km): longer loops can be made using this Staging Areas. Longest hiking trail in the sector. The northern section is shared with cycling as trail and equestrian trails in the Blackfoot sector. recreation area. a connector. Recreation Symbols 5 4 3 Bus Stop Shelter Picnic Area Bailey Snowmobiling Flyingshot

Backcountry Shelter Firepit Staging Area Lakes Range Road 194 Range Road 195 Winter Trail Use Parking Firewood Washrooms Range Road 193 Township 52, Ranges 19-20 West of the Fourth Meridian Park Of ce Information Kiosk Lake

Total Trail Distance 171 Kilometres TP.53 UG TP.53

Township Road 530 TP.52 1.0 Outlet Trails Elk Island Springs 1.3 Faraway Faraway Base Symbols 0.3 TP.52 Recreation Area Boundary West Blackfoot East Outer Faraway Secondary Highway Lake Restricted Road R Hollow Norris Trail - Equestrian Wellsite Norris Lake 1.5 Improved Road Intermittent Lake Railway Lakes Trail - Cross Country Skiing; double-tracked Lake Gravel Road Creek Pipeline 1.4 National Park 1.3 1.6 Trail - Shared (Equestrian, single-track X-C Skiing, Ridge Texas Gate Bridge Wellsite 0.3 Snowmobiling) 1.1 Blackfoot 35 36 33 Trail - Skate Skiing, Dog Sledding, Fat Tire Biking; Blackfoot 1.0 34 Springs roller packed) Heron 1.0 Line 2.1 UG Junction Distance (Kilometres) 2.1 Pasture Symbols Gas 0.3 0.8 0.3 Heron Hollow Whitetail 2.8 0.3 3.2 Pasture Field 6B Barbed Fence, Single Wire Gate 0.6 0.7 Buck Blackfoot Scale 1:25 000 Enclosure, Corral E C Smooth Wire Fence 1.1 metre 500 0 1 km Muskrat Ungulate Fence Elk Trap Jump Rails Elkhorn

mile 0 1/4 1/2 1 Mile Ungulate Gate UG

Walter 1.5 Lake Morningside Run J.J. Blackfoot Whitetail 1.2

1.0 Blackfoot 0.2 1.3

2.1 Lake 1.3 0.9 1.5 Faraway 25 30 29 28 Shelter 27 Blackfoot Muskrat UG 1.4 2.1 1.4 Lake 0.5 0.8

Boundary 0.4 Blackfoot 0.5 Blackfoot 0.7 Cutoff Field 7A North Dynamite 0.5 1.6 CP 84 Lodge 3.7 1.8 0.1 Dugout 352.8 Acres Waskehegan 1.3 1.7 Blackfoot Township Road 524 Outline 1.2 Wapiti E Lake

Trail Geese and 1.3 1.0 Blackfoot 2.1 Springs the Bog Field 3B

0.9 CP 85 0.9 1.7 Interpretive Centre/ Dugout 1.3 Running Lakes 461.1 Acres Blackfoot Alleyway Dugout Running Dog 2.4 2.2 Baker Blackfoot N.U.L.#3 Shelter Administrative Central Field 7B Dog Running Dog Headquarters 0.8 Swan N.U.L.#2 UG 373.6 Acres Lake N.U.L.#1 24 0.4 R 19 20 21 22 0.6 23 0.5 24 19 Waskehegan 20 21 Dugout Dugout 22 Waskehegan Dugout Field 6A N.U.L. Lost CP 85

1.6 Wapiti Round Up Lake 573.6 Acres CP 85 and 86 314.8 Acres Field 6B MacKenzie Neon Field 7C CP 85 and 86 1.2 Dugout cycling connector N.U.L.

6.4 Acres 328.3 Acres 0.6 Field 4B Neon Lake 355.5 Acres 1.1 E CP 85 and 86 Lake Lake Dugout 3.0 355.4 Acres Jones R 1.5 Central Alleyway R Gate UG 4.5 Field 4A Dugout Field 3C Spruce CP 85 and 86 CP 85 0.3 Winter Mallard 0.6 Field 3A 389.4 Acres Lost 0.7 251.6 Acres Shelter Winter CP 85 Ponds Spruce Alleyway eg Trail 0.4 496.0 Acres Hollow eh an E Lake Dugout k Field 6D s 1.6 a Field 6C CP 85 and 86 4.2 W CP 85 and 86 1.3 Hollow 256.4 Acres Central 1.2 Trail 286.4 Acres 1.0 1.1

Arrow Head Meadow N.U.L. East

Range Road 210 UG Lost 3.5 Lake Dugout 3.4 13 18 0.8 16 15 14 18 Lake Tie in 17 16 1.0 15 2.4 Wapiti 2.1 Wapiti N.U.L.#4 Gray Field 2A Meadow 2.4 Field 5A Lease Lake CP 85 Voyegeur Shelter Winter E 0.3 CP 84 Beaver Estates Well and Moose 0.6 1.2 358.0 Acres Compressor 227.2 Acres Tie-in Grouse 1.2 0.5 1.0 Meadows N.U.L. North 0.6 Lost Lake Lakes Dugout

Lakes Up East UG Lost East Don's Way 3.3 Lake 0.9 0.4 0.8 Sawmill 0.5 Field 5C UG 0.2 0.8 Round Lake Detour 394.4 Acres Sawmill 0.8 Field 5B Beaver Lake 0.5 243.6 Acres Voyegeur Highest Point Central West Sawmill Estates Lake Corral 1.9 Siksika Dugout Dugout 2.2 1.8 2.6 Field 2B

2.2 Lost

Lost Lake Lake CP 84 isa 1.2 0.8 Lake n n Shelter a 488.7 Acres 12 7 8 W 9 Hare 10 11 12 7 8 1.6 2.8 9 10 Sierra Grande Detour 2.0 3.6 N.U.L.#5 0.2 6.5 Acres Central Calebo Estates Wanisan N.U.L. WestGrey Wanisan 0.6 Porcupine E Estates Alley 0.5 Link Lake 0.3 UG Lost Push Lake Round Saul 1.0 Moose Field 1B Ed’s Way Crossing Siksika Shelter Highline Lake Church CP 84 Gate

Holding Field A Road R 4.6 Push 0.6 0.5 Ed’s Elk Way CP 84 259.8 Acres Push UG 218.8 Acres ROUND E Lake Lake 1.0 Magee Farley's 1.9 0.7 Corral Outlook Dugout Lakes Lake Waskahegan Trail Society R National Connector Trail Pacman Middle 0.6 Lake N.U.L.#6 Field 1C North Dugout 6 5 4 3 2 1 Alley 6 E CP 84 and 86 Cooking 2.4 8.2 Acres 5 4 3 Lake Wye Burn Burn 308.9 Acres Islet 0.5 5.2 Acres C Field 1A

Highline Holding Field C Cooking 630 UG Holding Field B Alley CP 84 and 86 Lakes CP 84 198.3 Acres 0.3 CP 84 Road 164.2 Acres 227.8 Acres Lake Islet Lake TP.52 Railway Lake TP.51

Ditch Islet Deville Louis Lake Estates Range Road 200 R.21 R.20 Lake R.20 R.19 Range Road 195 36 31 32 34 35 36 31 32 Township Road 515A 33 34 Range Road 204 Range Road 201 Range Road 203 630 Range Road 202 630

August 2013 1:20 000 Digital Base Data Supplied by: Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Winter Trails Map Spacial Data Warehouse Ltd., 1997