Alberta Parks Kakwa Wildland Park ...Rocky ridges and sparkling waters Kakwa Wildland Park is a remote, facilities including fire pits, picnic numerous unnamed peaks and ridges rugged place of incredible beauty tables, privies and potable water. in the park as well. with tree-carpeted valleys, swift clear creeks and high mountain ridges. The Kilometre 149: Kakwa Falls, Alberta’s tallest waterfall, park was established in 1996 and is Lick Creek – only 4-wheel drive is a spectacular 30 metres high. Other approximately 650 square kilometres vehicles are suitable on the un- falls in the park include Lower Kakwa in size. maintained trail from here to Falls, located east of the main falls; Kakwa Falls; there are creek and Francis Peak Creek Falls, over Location/Access crossings and wet areas along this which there’s a natural bridge. Kakwa Wildland Park is 160 kilometres route. southwest of Grande Prairie. For There is evidence of glacial outwash travel beyond Lick Creek (roughly 10 Kilometre 160: in the park’s numerous emerald- kilometres from the park’s northern Kakwa Wildland Park boundary. coloured kettle lakes. The lower boundary) a four-wheel drive vehicle is valleys are forested with lodgepole essential. Visitors should check ahead Kilometre 164: pine and there’s subalpine fir at higher with Alberta Parks in Grande Prairie to Deadhorse Meadows equestrian elevations. Three-hundred-year-old confirm road conditions. staging area. Englemann spruce grow in some of the park’s high southern valleys and Kilometre 0: Kilometre 168: large stands of krummholz (stunted Grande Prairie – go south on Hwy. Kakwa day use area and Kakwa subalpine fir growing at tree line) occur 40 then west on Hwy. 666. Falls viewpoint. around La Creche Mountain. At least 450 vascular plant species are found Kilometre 11: Site Description in Kakwa; 30 of these are considered Grovedale – road is paved for Kakwa Wildland Park is located in the rare in Alberta and 28 are at the approximately 16 kilometres alpine and subalpine subregions of extreme edge of their range. beyond Grovedale; from there, it the Rocky Mountain Natural Region. is a maintained gravel road used The park’s complex array of natural Wildlife species in the area include heavily by industry. features includes mountains, foothills, woodland caribou; elk; bighorn sheep; meadows, streams and rivers. mountain goats; moose; mule and Kilometre 138: white-tailed deer; grizzly and black Two Lakes Provincial Park Peaks include Kakwa and La Creche bears; wolves; wolverines; lynx; and – three campgrounds (Gunderson mountains and Mount May. Sulphur red fox. Meadow, Pine Hollow & Moberly Ridge and Coal Ridge form the park’s Flats) provide rustic camping northern boundary and there are Kakwa Wildland Park Cultural History Day use: Native families from the Jasper area . The day use area near Kakwa were the first to live and trap in the Falls is equipped with picnic tables, Kakwa/Two Lakes area. Trappers and fire pits, fire wood and privies. outfitters from around Grande Prairie . From the day use area, it is a 1.2 discovered the area’s attractions in km hike to the falls viewpoint; ATVs the 1930s. Since then, the area has are not permitted on the viewpoint been used by trappers, outfitters trail. and outdoor recreation enthusiasts (mostly from the Peace Country) who Fishing & hunting: appreciate its wilderness character. A . The “Alberta Guide to Sportfishing folk history project capturing memories Regulations” provides information of those who know the area well was about closures, catch and release, completed in 2002. There are audio size restrictions and catch limits for tapes of these recollections, stories rivers and streams in Kakwa. Bull and informal histories at the Grande trout is “catch & release only”. Prairie Museum. Hunting is permitted; Alberta hunting regulations apply. Carrying Summer Recreation and discharging of firearms Trail riding & hiking: are permitted only during open . Roughly 100 km of trails have seasons under the Wildlife Act or been mapped in the park. Trails under permit from a conservation are not well-marked, nor are they officer. maintained or patrolled, so park visitors should plan trips carefully Winter Recreation Kakwa Wildland Park forms part Snowmobiles are permitted on the and be prepared for all conditions. of Willmore-Kakwa Interprovincial trail to Kakwa Falls and on two routes . Some trails require fording west into British Columbia (along the Park, designated through an streams; in high water, fords may Kakwa River and on the trail west from agreement between the Alberta be dangerous or impassable. Deadhorse Meadows). These trails and British Columbia governments . Because the trail into Kakwa is not provide access to snowmobile areas in April 2006. In addition to suitable for heavy vehicles hauling in British Columbia. (For information Kakwa Wildland Park, the new horse trailers, it is preferred that about Kakwa Provincial Park in B.C. interprovincial park includes equestrian users stage outside the visit www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/ Willmore Wilderness Park (also park at Lick Creek. explore/parkpgs/kakwa.html). Permits located in Alberta) and British . Hiking along mountain ridges are required for winter snowmobile Columbia’s Kakwa Provincial affords spectacular views; camps in Kakwa Wildland Park. Off- Park. This interprovincial park trail snowmobile use is prohibited. however, getting to these ridges is recognizes that the three parks difficult – always carry a map and share common mountain and compass or GPS and be prepared Backcountry Safety foothills ecosystems and that for emergencies. Never travel alone. Be prepared for backcountry travel cross-border visitation is common. – bring extra clothing and gear British Columbia and Alberta parks Off-highway vehicles: staff will work together on park . Four-wheel drive vehicles and all- such as food, matches, first aid kit terrain vehicles (ATVs) are only and emergency blanket, even on planning, resource and visitor day trips. management, and other activities permitted on the trail to Kakwa . Falls. Be knowledgeable about your to the benefit of park ecosystems route; obtain maps; keep track of and park visitors. where you are at all times by map Camping: . and compass or GPS. Deadhorse Meadows staging . area provides privies and fire Study the topographical features pits; visitors must pack out their of your route and determine how garbage. many days your trip will take; . Random camping is permitted be realistic about the amount of anywhere in the park, except time you have and your physical capabilities. within one kilometre of Deadhorse . Meadows and within one kilometre Inform family, friends or authorities of Kakwa Falls day use area. of your intended route, camping . Open campfires are permitted; spots and estimated return time. however, please keep fires small and use only dead wood. r To Two Lakes e v Provincial Park i and Grande Prairie R Deadhorse Meadows Campsite a w k a n PS K ia G Kakwa tr s Falls e Kakwa u wa q ak y K E b Lower Kakwa Falls Kakwa d Falls e Day Use River rm fi Area Hiking n o Kakwa c not Mountain Creek ak n ) e io P at c a lo is Francis Peak e i nc il Fra Creek Falls b b o l r i e m a l w tr iv o m R t a n c Mount May Wildland S a i u x a l E c k Francis Peak w o r e n a k i Creek Cabin w a k L a k C a a v K w a k P a o h K K r s i P t i h t r u o S B ( Trench Creek Cabin T La Creche re n c Mountain h C Exact trail location r Park e e not confirmed k by GPS E xa c e E t k t a xa ra L c il a t li t i ra lo c i ca e l tio C lo n ca t io n n o t co Kakwa-Willmore Interprovincial Park nf irm e n d Kakwa Kakwa ot Provincial Wildland Park Park b Alberta y c o n Willmore Wilderness Park fi Willmore rm e Wilderness d G PS b Park y G P British S Columbia Parks and Protected Areas Kakwa Wildland Park Mountain Remote Campsite Cabin Grande Kakwa Wildland Park Day Use Area Falls Prairie Cutline km Snowmobile Trail Kakwa 0 2.5 5 10 Wildland Truck Trail Park Hiking/Equestrian Trail* Parks, Conservation, Recreation and Sport Division, Undefined Trail (no blazing/signage)* Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture, May 18, 2007. Base Features map data supplied by Resource Information *Hiking/Equestrian/Undefined trail locations have Management Branch, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. been confirmed by GPS unless otherwise noted . Ensure that your cooking area is well separated When visiting Kakwa Wildland Park from your sleeping area to prevent food odour contamination; never sleep in clothes worn while . Weather conditions in the mountains are unpredictable preparing food. Cooking and food storage areas – be prepared for sudden and unexpected changes. should be at least 100 metres away from your tent. Be cautious when fording streams and rivers – they . Seal garbage in plastic bags; never burn or bury food can be dangerous, especially when stream flows are scraps; always pack out your garbage. high. If possible, hang food, garbage and equipment high in . It is recommended that backcountry travelers a tree to discourage bears from investigating them. use camp stoves; camp stoves are lightweight, . Keep young children close at hand, especially at night, compact and efficient, and they leave no scars in dusk and dawn. the backcountry. In the event a wood fire becomes . At night, use a flashlight and move cautiously in and necessary, know how to properly construct a wood around your campsite.