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Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park

October 27, 2023

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a natural park in Canada straddling the Alberta / Saskatchewan boundary and jointly administered by the two provinces. Located south-east of Medicine Hat in the Cypress Hills, it became Canada's first interprovincial park in 1989.[1]

Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
Cypress Hills
Location of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in Canada
LocationCypress County, Alberta/Maple Creek No. 111, Saskatchewan, Canada
Nearest cityMedicine Hat, AB; Swift Current, SK
Coordinates49°34′31″N 110°00′23″W / 49.57528°N 110.00639°W / 49.57528; -110.00639
Area400 km2 (150 sq mi)
Established1931 (Saskatchewan)
1951 (Alberta)
1989 (interprovincial)
Governing bodyAlberta Environment and Parks and Ministry of Parks, Culture and Sport (Saskatchewan)

The park consists of two protected areas, the 345 km2 (133 sq mi) west block, that straddles the Alberta / Saskatchewan boundary between Alberta Highway 41, the townsite of Elkwater, Saskatchewan Highway 615, Saskatchewan Highway 271, and Fort Walsh, and the centre block, an additional area of 58 km2 (22 sq mi) in Saskatchewan, west of Saskatchewan Highway 21.

Geography edit

Main article: Cypress Hills (Canada)

The Cypress Hills plateau rises up to 200 m (660 ft) above the surrounding prairie, to a maximum elevation of 1,468 m (4,816 ft) at "Head of the Mountain" at the west end in Alberta,[2] making it Canada's highest point between the Canadian Rockies and the Labrador Peninsula. Eastward across the boundary is the highest point in Saskatchewan, at 1,392 m (4,567 ft).[3] The "West Block" of the Cypress Hills spans the provincial boundary. Battle Creek runs through the central part of the park. Although the hills seem relatively low, in a larger geographic context the plateau does rise gradually from many kilometres away so that the total elevation gain from Medicine Hat is approximately 600 metres (2,000 ft).

History edit

 
A panorama of Cypress Hills
  • 1931 - Cypress Hills Provincial Park was established in Saskatchewan.[4]
  • 1951 - Cypress Hills Provincial Park was established in Alberta.
  • 1989 - On August 25, the governments of Alberta[5] and Saskatchewan[6] signed an agreement committing themselves to cooperation on ecosystem management, education, and park promotion.
  • 2000 - Fort Walsh National Historic Site (located on the Saskatchewan side of the West Block) joined the collective. Together, these three partner agencies make up the park. Both Alberta and Saskatchewan provincial governments signed the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park agreement, establishing the first interprovincial park in Canada.
  • 2001 - On August 18, Vance Petriew discovered a comet from Cypress Hills during the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party.[7] The comet was later named 185P/Petriew.
  • 2004 - On September 28, Saskatchewan Parks, Alberta Community Development, Parks Canada and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada signed an agreement that declared the park a dark-sky preserve.
  • 2011 - On August 25, the Park opened the Cypress Hills Observatory and Yurt classroom.[8]

Nature edit

Approximately 700 species of plants and animals thrive in the park, including 14 species of orchids.

The park protects the majority of the Cypress Hills landscape, which consists of three separate elevated blocks of lush forest and fescue grassland surrounded by dry mixed-grass prairie. The West and Centre Blocks are protected as provincial parks, and are managed by Alberta Parks and Protected Areas[9] and Saskatchewan Parks,[10] respectively. The "East Block" of the Cypress Hills, situated near Eastend, Saskatchewan, is not a park or protected area. The Fort Walsh National Historic Site is also located adjacent to the West Block.

Mammals edit

There are five species of large hoofed mammals found in the park:[11] wapiti, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, and pronghorn. Other mammals found in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park include:[11]

Eulipotyphla

Lagomorpha

Chiroptera

Carnivora

Rodentia

Fish species edit

Fish species include walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, brook, brown, westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout, burbot, common carp, white sucker, and shorthead redhorse.

Activities edit

 
Loch Lomond area

On the Alberta side of West Block, key park features include Head of the Mountain Viewpoint, the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador, the Elkwater townsite (a cottage community sitting at the same elevation as the Banff townsite), Horseshoe Canyon and Reesor Lake viewpoints (offering 100 km views on a clear day), over 50 km of hiking and mountain biking trails, and Hidden Valley Ski Area. Three lakes sit on the Alberta side of the park (Elkwater Lake, Spruce Coulee Reservoir and Reesor Lake), with another four in Saskatchewan (Harris, Adams, Coulee Lake, and Loch Leven).

All year long, park interpreters present education programs to school and youth groups, adult and seniors groups, and a wide range of park visitors.

There are also various rentals to be used in the park in the various months. In summertime, kayak, canoe, bicycle, and stand up paddle boards are available for rental. In the winter, kicksleds, snowshoes, skates, and cross-country skis may be rented. Winter camping is available and through Camp-Easy, yurts[12] are available for rent.[13]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Provincial Parks". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. University of Regina. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  2. ^ Cypress Hills Provincial Park - Alberta - Geology - accessed 2013-08-04
  3. ^ Statistics Canada - Table 15.3 Selected principal heights, by province and territory
  4. ^ Campbell, Ian A. (March 4, 2015). "Cypress Hills". The Canadian Encyclopedia.
  5. ^ Alberta Government 2008-01-10 at the Wayback Machine - Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park page
  6. ^ Saskatchewan Government 2006-08-13 at the Wayback Machine - Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park page
  7. ^ "Newest comet named for Saskatchewan man". CBC News. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
  8. ^ "Stargazer-friendly Cypress Hills Park to unveil observatory". CBC News. Retrieved November 8, 2015.
  9. ^ Alberta Parks and Protected Areas
  10. ^ "Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park". Tourism Saskatchewan Canada. Retrieved March 3, 2020.
  11. ^ a b Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources, Conservation Information Service (1961). Mammals of Cypress Hills Provincial Park. Regina: Government of Saskatchewan. pp. 4–6.
  12. ^ "Camp-Easy Tents & Yurts | #SaskParks".
  13. ^ "Winter camping starting up in Saskatchewan parks | Globalnews.ca".

External links edit

 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
  • Official Park website
  • Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park June 20, 2010, at the Wayback Machine

October 27, 2023
cypress, hills, interprovincial, park, natural, park, canada, straddling, alberta, saskatchewan, boundary, jointly, administered, provinces, located, south, east, medicine, cypress, hills, became, canada, first, interprovincial, park, 1989, iucn, category, nat. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a natural park in Canada straddling the Alberta Saskatchewan boundary and jointly administered by the two provinces Located south east of Medicine Hat in the Cypress Hills it became Canada s first interprovincial park in 1989 1 Cypress Hills Interprovincial ParkIUCN category II national park Cypress HillsLocation of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in CanadaLocationCypress County Alberta Maple Creek No 111 Saskatchewan CanadaNearest cityMedicine Hat AB Swift Current SKCoordinates49 34 31 N 110 00 23 W 49 57528 N 110 00639 W 49 57528 110 00639Area400 km2 150 sq mi Established1931 Saskatchewan 1951 Alberta 1989 interprovincial Governing bodyAlberta Environment and Parks and Ministry of Parks Culture and Sport Saskatchewan The park consists of two protected areas the 345 km2 133 sq mi west block that straddles the Alberta Saskatchewan boundary between Alberta Highway 41 the townsite of Elkwater Saskatchewan Highway 615 Saskatchewan Highway 271 and Fort Walsh and the centre block an additional area of 58 km2 22 sq mi in Saskatchewan west of Saskatchewan Highway 21 Contents 1 Geography 2 History 3 Nature 3 1 Mammals 3 2 Fish species 4 Activities 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksGeography editMain article Cypress Hills Canada The Cypress Hills plateau rises up to 200 m 660 ft above the surrounding prairie to a maximum elevation of 1 468 m 4 816 ft at Head of the Mountain at the west end in Alberta 2 making it Canada s highest point between the Canadian Rockies and the Labrador Peninsula Eastward across the boundary is the highest point in Saskatchewan at 1 392 m 4 567 ft 3 The West Block of the Cypress Hills spans the provincial boundary Battle Creek runs through the central part of the park Although the hills seem relatively low in a larger geographic context the plateau does rise gradually from many kilometres away so that the total elevation gain from Medicine Hat is approximately 600 metres 2 000 ft History edit nbsp A panorama of Cypress Hills1931 Cypress Hills Provincial Park was established in Saskatchewan 4 1951 Cypress Hills Provincial Park was established in Alberta 1989 On August 25 the governments of Alberta 5 and Saskatchewan 6 signed an agreement committing themselves to cooperation on ecosystem management education and park promotion 2000 Fort Walsh National Historic Site located on the Saskatchewan side of the West Block joined the collective Together these three partner agencies make up the park Both Alberta and Saskatchewan provincial governments signed the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park agreement establishing the first interprovincial park in Canada 2001 On August 18 Vance Petriew discovered a comet from Cypress Hills during the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party 7 The comet was later named 185P Petriew 2004 On September 28 Saskatchewan Parks Alberta Community Development Parks Canada and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada signed an agreement that declared the park a dark sky preserve 2011 On August 25 the Park opened the Cypress Hills Observatory and Yurt classroom 8 Nature editApproximately 700 species of plants and animals thrive in the park including 14 species of orchids The park protects the majority of the Cypress Hills landscape which consists of three separate elevated blocks of lush forest and fescue grassland surrounded by dry mixed grass prairie The West and Centre Blocks are protected as provincial parks and are managed by Alberta Parks and Protected Areas 9 and Saskatchewan Parks 10 respectively The East Block of the Cypress Hills situated near Eastend Saskatchewan is not a park or protected area The Fort Walsh National Historic Site is also located adjacent to the West Block Mammals edit There are five species of large hoofed mammals found in the park 11 wapiti moose mule deer white tailed deer and pronghorn Other mammals found in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park include 11 Eulipotyphla Masked shrew Sorex cinereus American pygmy shrew Sorex hoyi Wandering shrew Sorex vagrans Lagomorpha Snowshoe hare Lepus americanus White tailed jackrabbit Lepus townsendii Nuttall s cottontail Sylvilagus nuttallii Chiroptera Hoary bat Aeorestes cinereus Big brown bat Eptesicus fuscus Silver haired bat Lasionycteris noctivagans Eastern red bat Lasiurus borealis Small footed myotis Myotis ciliolabrum Long eared myotis Myotis evotis Little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus Carnivora Coyote Canis latrans North American beaver Castor canadensis Black tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus Thirteen lined ground squirrel Ictidomys tridecemlineatus North American river otter Lontra canadensis Bobcat Lynx rufus Striped skunk Mephitis mephitis Stoat Mustela erminea Black footed ferret Mustela nigripes Least weasel Mustela nivalis Long tailed weasel Neogale frenata American mink Neogale vison Raccoon Procyon lotor Mountain lion Puma concolor American badger Taxidea taxus Northern pocket gopher Thomomys talpoides Swift fox Vulpes velox Rodentia Ord s kangaroo rat Dipodomys ordii North American porcupine Erethizon dorsatum Sagebrush vole Lemmiscus curtatus Western meadow vole Microtus drummondii Gapper s red backed vole Myodes gapperi Least chipmunk Neotamias minimus Bushy tailed woodrat Neotoma cinerea Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Northern grasshopper mouse Onychomys leucogaster White footed mouse Peromyscus leucopus Western deer mouse Peromyscus sonoriensis American red squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Richardson s ground squirrel Urocitellus richardsonii Olive backed pocket mouse Perognathus fasciatus Western jumping mouse Zapus princeps Fish species edit Fish species include walleye yellow perch northern pike brook brown westslope cutthroat and rainbow trout burbot common carp white sucker and shorthead redhorse Activities edit nbsp Loch Lomond areaOn the Alberta side of West Block key park features include Head of the Mountain Viewpoint the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador the Elkwater townsite a cottage community sitting at the same elevation as the Banff townsite Horseshoe Canyon and Reesor Lake viewpoints offering 100 km views on a clear day over 50 km of hiking and mountain biking trails and Hidden Valley Ski Area Three lakes sit on the Alberta side of the park Elkwater Lake Spruce Coulee Reservoir and Reesor Lake with another four in Saskatchewan Harris Adams Coulee Lake and Loch Leven All year long park interpreters present education programs to school and youth groups adult and seniors groups and a wide range of park visitors There are also various rentals to be used in the park in the various months In summertime kayak canoe bicycle and stand up paddle boards are available for rental In the winter kicksleds snowshoes skates and cross country skis may be rented Winter camping is available and through Camp Easy yurts 12 are available for rent 13 See also editList of protected areas of Alberta List of protected areas of Saskatchewan List of Canadian protected areas List of highest points of Canadian provinces and territoriesReferences edit Provincial Parks The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan University of Regina Retrieved September 20 2022 Cypress Hills Provincial Park Alberta Geology accessed 2013 08 04 Statistics Canada Table 15 3 Selected principal heights by province and territory Campbell Ian A March 4 2015 Cypress Hills The Canadian Encyclopedia Alberta Government Archived 2008 01 10 at the Wayback Machine Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park page Saskatchewan Government Archived 2006 08 13 at the Wayback Machine Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park page Newest comet named for Saskatchewan man CBC News Retrieved December 29 2014 Stargazer friendly Cypress Hills Park to unveil observatory CBC News Retrieved November 8 2015 Alberta Parks and Protected Areas Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park Tourism Saskatchewan Canada Retrieved March 3 2020 a b Saskatchewan Department of Natural Resources Conservation Information Service 1961 Mammals of Cypress Hills Provincial Park Regina Government of Saskatchewan pp 4 6 Camp Easy Tents amp Yurts SaskParks Winter camping starting up in Saskatchewan parks Globalnews ca External links editCypress Hills Interprovincial Park at Wikipedia s sister projects nbsp Definitions from Wiktionary nbsp Media from Commons nbsp News from Wikinews nbsp Quotations from Wikiquote nbsp Texts from Wikisource nbsp Textbooks from Wikibooks nbsp Resources from Wikiversity nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park Official Park website A Road Trip To Cypress Hills Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park Archived June 20 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park amp oldid 1171955224, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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