Welcome to the Castle Parks Pass Library. There are track set trails for skiers. Winter Guide Visitor Just snowshoe alongside, not over top, so you Contact Encompassing more than 105,000 hectares, don’t disturb the ski trail. Camp Responsibly Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park in southwest Alberta protect Information Or join park staff on a winter snowshoe The Castle Parks offer diverse camping Alberta Parks Pincher Creek Office valuable watersheds and habitat for more than adventure exploring the new Castle Park, its experiences in both the front country and the Phone: (403) 627–1165 200 rare species such as whitebark and limber wildlife and landscape, while enjoying a day backcountry. Visitors should be aware that Toll-Free: 310–0000 pine, Jones’ columbine, dwarf alpine poppy, Visitor information is available at kiosks located outdoors! upgrades to existing facilities in the park are Visitor Services: (403) 627–1152 Castle grizzly bear, wolverine, westslope cutthroat trout, throughout the parks, at albertaparks.ca/castle, ongoing, to improve camping experiences for bull trout and harlequin duck. The parks share by calling 403–627–1165, or by speaking with Alberta Parks is working to provide adaptive visitors in the future. General Provincial Park Information Provincial Park & borders with the Waterton Biosphere Reserve to Alberta Parks staff. equipment in order to promote accessibility to Web: albertaparks.ca Wildland Provincial Park the east, Waterton-Glacier International Peace trails in all seasons for people of all abilities. Campgrounds in Castle Provincial Park Toll Free: 1–866–427–3582 Park to the south, the Crowsnest Pass to the Local communities offer a wide range of For more information search for “Push to Open north and the Flathead River Valley of British services to complement your visit including Nature” at albertaparks.ca. Castle River Bridge Campground is open for Fire Bans in Alberta Columbia to the west. Extensive wildlife corridors accommodations, restaurants, shopping and winter camping, subject to snow conditions. Web: albertafirebans.ca link all these unique areas and together they more. Two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Bring your own firewood! form part of the extraordinary Crown of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park and Day Use in Castle Avalanche Canada Continent ecosystem. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, are located Campgrounds at Beaver Mines Lake, Castle Web: avalanche.ca/map nearby. Other attractions include Frank Slide Provincial Park Falls and Lynx Creek are closed for the winter Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Interpretive Centre, Remington Carriage Museum season. Non-motorized access to these areas is Conservation Officer and Public Safety Provincial Park were established on February 16, and Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village. Visitor Although most campgrounds are closed for permitted for day use recreation. Visitors should Phone: 1–844–HELP–PRK (435–7775) 2017 and are managed according to Alberta’s Information is available in the Municipality the winter, day use is encouraged in Castle be aware that facilities are limited. For opening Provincial Parks Act. Please familiarize yourself of Crowsnest Pass, and towns of Pincher Provincial Park. dates check albertaparks.ca/castle. Public Lands Concerns with any new regulations before you venture into Creek, Beaver Mines, Lundbreck, Cowley and Report a forest fire: 310–FIRE (3473) the parks. Responsible and sustainable use will Twin Butte. Beaver Mines Lake boat launch is plowed and Backcountry Camping in Castle Wildland Report a poacher: 1–800–642–3800 ensure that everybody can have an incredible accessible for day users throughout the winter. Provincial Park experience in this unique landscape while Day use in the Beaver Mines campground is Emergency (Police, Fire, Ambulance) supporting its protection. Winter Recreation and available by foot, ski, snowshoe or fat bikes, Backcountry winter camping is allowed within Phone: 911 and subject to weather and snow conditions. the Castle Wildland Provincial Park, providing Education Programs Carbondale parking area is plowed and open that the campsite is at least 1 kilometre from any To Calgary Important Note all winter. Castle River Bridge campground is designated facility. Please practise traceless 22 2 This interim Castle Park Guide is for the Winter Interpretive Programs are available, check open for day use (also open for winter camping). camping methods by packing out all your 3 Lundbreck Fort 2017/2018 winter season only. Revisions albertaparks.ca/castle for details! Syncline Cross-Country Ski Area parking lots are supplies and garbage, and dismantling fire pits. 3 MacLeod Lethbridge 3 will occur following approval of the Castle plowed and open all winter. Ski trails are packed For more information on safe and responsible 507 B.C. 507 Management Plan. The information in this Contact our Environmental Educator at and track set. Snowshoeing is welcome but backcountry camping, visit albertaparks.ca. 774 Pincher 5 Creek guide is subject to change. 403–627–1152 or email [email protected] to please not on top of the track set ski trails, just Castle 2 Provincial Cross Country Skiing Park book an Alberta Parks Winter Ecology program ski alongside so the tracks are not disturbed. Day Magrath or Introduction to Snowshoeing program. use at Castle Falls and Lynx Creek campgrounds 6 5 is available only by foot, ski or fat bike access, Cardston Enjoy an outdoor weekend snowshoeing with and of course subject to weather and snow your family at the Syncline Cross-Country Ski conditions. Lynx Creek can also be accessed by Montana area. If you don’t have snowshoes, sign out an snowmobile. Park right on site and have a winter Media Inquries: (780) 427–8636 Alberta Parks Winter Family Explorers Kit at the picnic in the day use area. Updated December 2017 Pincher Creek Municipal Library and Crowsnest and precautions should be taken when viewing Recreate Firearms and Hunting them or recreating in their habitat. Bears may Firewood and Fires leave their den at times in the winter. Try to avoid Under Provincial Parks (General Regulation): surprise encounters with wildlife by making noise, Before your visit, please check albertafirebans.ca Responsibly “firearm” means any device that propels a storing wildlife attractants such as food, garbage for current notices. projectile by means of explosion, spring, air, gas, and pet food in a secure vehicle or bear/wildlife string, wire or elastic material or any combination proof container. Keep children close to adults, Provincial Park The Castle Parks offer a wide variety of front of those things. and keep dogs on a leash. Carry bear spray, and country and backcountry winter experiences learn how to use it before it becomes necessary. Fires are only allowed inside a receptacle or including snowshoeing, skiing, ice fishing, wildlife Provincial Park Bear spray is available for purchase at most facility designated and supplied for that purpose. viewing and backcountry camping. Previously Possession or discharge of firearms is not retailers in the area. Firewood is available for purchase at retailers designated snowmobile trails and areas are open the Syncline parking areas, which will be backcountry environment and carry appropriate allowed in Castle Provincial Park without a in nearby communities. Please do not bring for the winter 2017/2018. maintained and plowed for the winter season. gear. Ensure you have avalanche awareness discharge permit. Download a permit from firewood from another province into Alberta. The experience and the necessary safety equipment. albertaparks.ca/castle or contact 403–627–1165 Safety and Emergency collection of wood or any dead vegetation for • Stay on the designated trails and respect Be aware that snow machines can trigger for more information. burning must be authorized by a Conservation other users in the area Snowshoeing avalanches in any conditions. Check Canadian Communication Officer or a permit. • Leave no trace of your visit and dispose of Avalanche reports and updates at avalanche.ca. Wildland Provincial Park your trash in appropriate receptacles once you Snowshoeing is permitted anywhere in the Hunters with a valid licence and tags to hunt in The Castle area offers wilderness settings that Wildland Provincial Park leave the area. Castle Parks unless otherwise posted. Know Castle Wildland Provincial Park under the Wildlife range from accessible front country to remote your routes, carry weather appropriate gear, and Highway Vehicles Act do not need a discharge permit. Hunters backcountry destinations. Cellular phone Traceless camping practises are required (eg. safety and navigation equipment. Snowshoeing who access Castle Wildland Provincial Park communication throughout the area is not dismantle fire rings). Collection of dead wood Trails is also permitted on the Syncline Cross-Country All vehicles (cars, trucks, Jeeps, SUVs) registered without crossing through Castle Provincial Park available so please ensure that you have properly for fires within the Wildland Provincial Park Trail system, however please keep off to the side for highway uses are only allowed on highways would not need a discharge permit. They will planned your trip and arranged emergency is allowed. All trails in the Castle Parks are being assessed of the groomed ski tracks. and secondary highways that access the need a permit if in possession of their firearm communications before you arrive. to inform the development of a trails strategy. Provincial Park and Wildland Provincial Park. within the Provincial Park, as they travel to the • Visit mywildalberta.ca for ice safety information Be aware that some trails are not improved or Highway vehicles must be parked in designated Wildland Provincial Park, or during their stay in • When traveling in the backcountry ensure you maintained, and natural hazards are present. Fat Bikes parking areas, or safely off to the side of the Provincial Park. have avalanche awareness experience and Trails may be closed for improvements, so be the road when visitors are taking part in any appropriate equipment sure to “Know Before You Go”.