Elkwater Campground

I researched campgrounds for a holiday with my spouse last fall. I considered Jasper, Banff, Waterton, Rolling Hills, etc…and landed on Elkwater solely because it had full service-water was not scheduled to be off yet, unlike other campgrounds.

Due to ‘staffing issues’ the water was turned off early, by a couple of weeks. Notice was sent in an email, but I missed it. Had to fill water midway through, which meant hauling water or moving the trailer. I was quite thankful we carry extra water containers!

Stayed 1 night in late august of 2017 on a holiday weekend. Campground was quiet even though it was full. Nice gravel, level sites are nicely spaced with water and electric. Good dump station. No campfire due to burn ban. Campground was well lite. Great visitors center. Small store and gas station and restaurant. Good bike trail and lots of boardwalk on the lake. As to location, this is out in the wide open spaces. No cell service out because we had no international plan.

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan border a short distance north of the US border. It protects an unglaciated rise in the Canadian prairie with an ecosystem containing species unique to the area.

Elkwater is one of about a dozen campgrounds in the park, and offers a variety of campsites in both treed and open areas. Sites include electric and water services, and there is a dumpsite at the park entrance. Washrooms with showers are scattered throughout the park area. The adjacent townsite of the same name provides a variety of services, including some groceries, gas, firewood and restaurants. Cellular service available throughout the area.

The views from the upper plateau are spectacular. At 1460 metres elevation, it is the highest point in Canada between the mountains of Labrador on the eastern coast to the Rocky Mountains a few hundred kilometres west. From the top, you can easily see the Sweetgrass Hills in Montana, also formed from a magma upthrust, prior to the surroundings being glaciated.

We stayed there in the early fall months, and found it very quiet, though it would be noisier in the summer months when filled with campers, boaters and hikers. The elevation provided us with our first taste of fall snow.