Cypress Hills Interprovincial Parks

After leaving Cedar Creek we filled up our pantry again in Regina and I have checked that we can nicely park on 7 normal parking spots if needed. The next 370 km was flat and wide. Views of the prairy made us feel like standing still on the highway.

As we got closer and closer the landscape started to change, hills and forests appeared out of nowhere. We arrived around 6pm to the entrance of the park and were greeted by a cheerful lady. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Parks (CHIP) is located on the border of Saskachewan and Alberta and it was the first interprovincial park in Canada founded in 1951. The Cypress Hills Forest Reserve comprising 18 sections (18 square miles) was established in 1906. History includes a bloody battle which took place when a group of American wolf hunters lost some horses and attacked a nearby camp of Assiniboine in 1873. Afterwards, from 1876 to 1882 Sitting Bull and 3,000-5,000 Lakota Sioux took refuge at Wood Mountain after defeating the U.S Army led by Colonel George Custer in the battle of the Little Big Horn. War was prevented and good relations established by James Walsh of the North West Mounted Police (NWMP).

These days the huge park is much more peaceful and offers something to everyone. Wetlands and lakes for fishing and canoeing, forest trails for biking and hiking and plains for horseraiding or just staring into the distance. We booked one of the newly buildt areas and the facilities are very nice. Sites are fairly large with a fire pit (what we did not use due to the fire ban at the moment). There is quite a big distance between sites so it does not feel crowded at all. It is more crowded in the central area where you can play minigolf, grab a pizza for 35-40 dollars or even buy gas and basic supplies at a small shop or enjoy the pool (indoor as well).

We enjoyed hiking in the shady forest as temperature rose quickly to real hot summer ranges (28-30 in celsius).
We have spotted many squirrels.

The best and bravest 3 of our family went for a horseriding tour on trails while I was babysitting and petsitting.

After the horseriding the pool was the perfect place to be at and we enjoyed the late evening view of the park.

The next morning we first visited the lookout point at 1240m. I was thinking that we are at about 4-500 meters above sea level but we were actually higher than the highest peak of Hungary! The view of the endless prairy was breathtaking and the poor photos made by my phone can not tell the full story of 100km visibility.

Later the morning we hiked on the Lynx trail and we have seen several half chrewed deer legs hung on trees as clear evidence of the carnivores in the area.

On a more peaceful note we also picked and ate a lot of wild blueberrries. Yummie!
Then we played minigolf with the two larger kid. After we have stopped at a golf club they fell in love with the game and my son even hit the "free game" jackpot hole at the last attempt. My girl played very well too, hitting her first birdie!