Alberta Parks Whitehorse Wildland Park ...picturesque falls...pristine landscapes...clean mountain air... Whitehorse Wildland Park lower elevations there are forests of Significant Features Alberta’s wildland parks preserve lodgepole pine, Englemann spruce The Whitehorse Creek valley is and protect natural landscapes and and subalpine fir. At higher elevations, prime habitat for a variety of carnivores ecological processes and provide alpine meadows contain a variety of and ungulates, including grizzly bears opportunities for backcountry hardy plant species such as willow and bighorn sheep. It is also breeding recreation. In some wildland parks, shrubs, lichen and small alpine habitat for harlequin ducks, whose trails and primitive backcountry wildflowers. These plants survive in an range in Alberta is restricted to the campsites are provided to minimize extremely harsh environment and may Rocky Mountain Natural Region. visitor impacts on natural heritage take centuries to recover from human Fiddle Pass provides one of the few values. disturbance. east-west corridors in the region that penetrate the mountain barrier through Whitehorse Wildland Park, established Wildlife species in the park include to Jasper National Park. Upper in August 1998, is 60 kilometres south elk, moose, mule deer, bighorn Whitehorse Creek Falls, where water of Hinton. The park is approximately sheep, grizzly bear, wolves, cougar, cascades down a steep rock wall, is a 175 square kilometres in size. hoary marmot and pika. The park is stunning sight. particularly important for conservation Site Description and Location of the grizzly bears that traverse the Cadomin Cave, located within the Whitehorse is located in the northern mountain ranges between Whitehorse park just southwest of the Town of front ranges of the Rocky Mountain and Jasper National Park. The park is Cadomin, is a limestone cave that Natural Region. It shares a portion of also home to several varieties of high- scientists believe began forming its west boundary with Jasper National mountain birds. Studies in the region many millions of years ago. The cave Park and its east boundary with the have recorded 128 bird species. Of provides important habitat for bats and Cheviot coal mine. these, 70 species breed in the area is one of four known bat hibernacula and 28 are permanent residents. Bird (over-wintering residences) in Alberta. There are many striking geological species in the alpine and subalpine To protect the bats from potentially features and ground patterns in the areas of Whitehorse include mountain lethal disturbances, Cadomin Cave is park. The majority of the park is located bluebird, horned lark, American dipper, closed each year from September 1 above tree line and its extensive alpine Townsend’s solitaire, varied thrush, until April 30; the cave is also closed meadows and subalpine slopes are Townsend’s warbler, golden-crowned from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. during the home to numerous plant species. sparrow and American pipit. month of August. There are significant More than 277 species of plants risks associated with caving, so cave have been documented in the park, visitors must be knowledgeable about including 37 that are considered rare cave safety and be properly equipped or that have unusual distribution. At for cave exploration. Whitehorse Wildland Park There are spectacular mountain views from the top of Whitehorse Creek Provincial Recreation Area, located Cardinal Divide, a wide ridge that separates two major 38 kilometres southwest of Robb on the park’s eastern watersheds. To the north, the Athabasca River system boundary, provides basic camping facilities as well as (which includes the McLeod River) drains into the Arctic corrals, hitching rails and loading ramps for equestrian Ocean, while to the south, the North Saskatchewan River users. system (which includes the Cardinal River) drains into Hudson Bay. The viewpoint at the top of Grave Flats road (a rough but auto-accessible road) provides a magnificent panoramic view of the Rocky Mountains. There are trails to the east and west of the parking lot; however, because the alpine soil is extremely sensitive to erosion travel is by foot only. Tripoli Ridge forms the mountain backbone of Jasper National Park the park, connecting If you plan to go into Jasper National Park from Cardinal Divide to Whitehorse, please be aware that different Whitehorse Creek. The regulations and restrictions apply and that national ridge includes Tripoli, park wilderness passes must be purchased for Cheviot and Prospect overnight stays in the backcountry. For information mountains and their about Jasper National Park: upper eastern slopes above tree line. Phone: 780-852-6177 E-mail: [email protected] The Cardinal River Headwaters is an open tundra valley Web site: www.parkscanada.gc.ca/jasper between the western slopes of Tripoli Ridge and Jasper National Park. The upper headwaters beyond the falls are located in the park. Recreational Activities Cheviot Coal Mine A number of low-impact Elk Valley Coal’s Cardinal River Operations has begun recreational activities can mining activity at its Cheviot Creek mine site. Start- be pursued in the park up of mining operations has resulted in public access including hiking, nature study, closures in the area, particularly west of Mountain horseback riding, camping, Park. Access availability may change over the course hunting and fishing. Mountain of mining operations. For more information, call Elk biking is permitted on Upper Valley Coal at 1-866-306-9886 or visit their web site at Whitehorse Creek trail only; www.elkvalleycoal.ca. other areas in the park are either unsuitable or too fragile for mountain biking. 470 000 m E 480 000 m E Whitehors e Wildland Park Whitehorse Wildland Park Boundary CNR Designated Backcountry Campsite Note: Random camping is allowed using "no trace" backcountry practices, i.e., no fires above treeline Mount Berry Mount Leyland Preservation Zone (hiking only, no hunting) Sir Harold Fiddle Mitchell Pass Hamlet Wildland Zone (no motorized access unless otherwise designated) Mount Luscar of Gregg Mountain Cadomin Natural Environment Zone (staging area for non-motorized access) Leyland Wildland Zone (hiking only) Mountain Access Zone (Grave Flats Road) (Trail locations are approximate, and should not be used for navigation) Upper Whitehorse - main multiple use trail Cadomin Cave Trail & Access (hiking, biking, equestrian use) Lower Whitehorse and Cardinal Divide Backcountry trail Whitehorse Farmers Valley/ Leyland Basin Trail (hiking only) Upper Whitehorse Trail Creek Cad omin Forest LandUseZones Cadomin Creek Whitehorse e Mountain s r C OHV use permitted on existing trails only Lower Whitehorse Trail re ek ho ek Corridor with Timing Constraint hit e Cre W (OHV use permitted June 25 to October 15 - ONLY) k Abandoned Whitehorse Creek Whitehorse Creek Falls Provincial Recreation Information Kiosk Cree 5 870 000 m N Harlequin Wildland Area No Public Access (see NOTE below) Prospect Creek Truck Trail Access k Trail R Cree ai lway Gra v Dru mmond McL eode Flats Park idge ct Road 490 000 m E Prospe mond R Riv er Jasper Drum Chev iot ek re C Cheviot Mine ek e National Cr Permit Area Mountain Park Cemetary Park on Prospect rnt Mountain Cheviot Tho Mountain Climax Cardinal k Falls e Mountain Cardinal Divide re 5 860000mN C Blackface Tripoli Backcountry Trail Ro cky Mountain Mountain ax Clim Grave Flats Road Cardinal Divide 5 860 000 m N Viewpoint Cardinal River Headwaters Parking Lot Parking Lot River 0 1 2 3 kms Car d River West of the Fifth Meridian inal R iver Note: 490 000 m E Base Map provided by Fiddle Pass is also known as Miette Pass and Whitehorse Pass. Spatial Data Warehouse Ltd. Rocky Pass is also known as Cardinal Pass. Grave Flats Road No Public Access Note is also known as Cardinal River Road. Elk Valley Coal, Cardinal River Operations is actively mining the Cheviot creek mine site, resulting in public access closures in the area east of Whitehorse Wildland park. Access to Whitehorse Creek campground, Prospect Mtn. and Drummond Ridge through the mine permit area is still available through Prospect Creek for equestrian, mountain biking and hiking use only. Motorized vehicle access is restricted in this area. Most trails to the east side of Grave Flats road are still accessible to motorized vehicles. This may change as mining activity expands. Obey all signs in this area. For access to the mine site contact Elk Valley Coal at 1-866-306-9886. When visiting Whitehorse Wildland Park... Protect vegetation by staying on trails whenever pos- Bear safety: sible; do not build cairns or remove rocks that protect . Make plenty of noise when approaching blind corners, small plants. dense shrubs and streams, and when moving into the . Never travel alone. wind. Familiarize yourself with regulations pertinent to the . It is best to leave your pet at home; however, if you do area. travel with a pet, keep it on a leash at all times (loose . Be knowledgeable about your route; obtain maps dogs can attract and irritate bears). of the area you plan to travel through; keep track of . Always keep your group together. where you are at all times by map and compass or . If you see signs of bear activity (i.e. fresh diggings GPS. along trails, bear scat, claw marks on trees), go back . Study the topographical features of your route and the way you came. determine how many days your trip will take; be real- . Never store food or toilet articles (toothpaste, soap, istic about the amount of time you have and your deodorant, etc.) in your tent. physical capabilities. Ensure that your cooking area is well separated from . Inform family, friends or authorities of your intended your sleeping area to prevent food odour contamina- route, camping spots and estimated return time. tion; never sleep in clothes worn while cooking.