Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a provincial park
located in Alberta
, Canada
. The park is located in Kananaskis Country approximately 90 km west of Calgary
, along the Kananaskis Trail.
The park is named after Peter Lougheed
who served as premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985. The park was once known as Kananaskis Provincial Park.
The park was dedicated on September 22, 1977. It is one of the largest provincial parks in Alberta, encompassing 304 km² around the Kananaskis Lakes
. The park provides amenities for camping
and fishing
along with trails for hiking
, mountain biking
, horseback riding
and cross-country skiing
. There are currently six vehicular access campgrounds and six backcountry campgrounds in the park.
A variety of wildlife can also be found in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, such as grizzly bear
s, black bear
s, elk
, deer
, moose
, bighorn sheep
, cougars, lynx
, wolves
and the occasional mountain goat
.
Some of the most popular backpacking trips in Kananaskis are found in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The Northover Ridge is a three to four day backpacking trip, as is the North & South Kananaskis Pass.
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
located in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The park is located in Kananaskis Country approximately 90 km west of Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, along the Kananaskis Trail.
The park is named after Peter Lougheed
Peter Lougheed
Edgar Peter Lougheed, PC, CC, AOE, QC, is a Canadian lawyer, and a former politician and Canadian Football League player. He served as the tenth Premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985....
who served as premier of Alberta from 1971 to 1985. The park was once known as Kananaskis Provincial Park.
The park was dedicated on September 22, 1977. It is one of the largest provincial parks in Alberta, encompassing 304 km² around the Kananaskis Lakes
Upper Kananaskis Lake
Upper Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.Upper Kananaskis Lake is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along with the Lower Kananaskis Lake....
. The park provides amenities for camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
along with trails for hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
, mountain biking
Mountain biking
Mountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
, horseback riding
Equestrianism
Equestrianism more often known as riding, horseback riding or horse riding refers to the skill of riding, driving, or vaulting with horses...
and cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
. There are currently six vehicular access campgrounds and six backcountry campgrounds in the park.
A variety of wildlife can also be found in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, such as grizzly bear
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear , also known as the silvertip bear, the grizzly, or the North American brown bear, is a subspecies of brown bear that generally lives in the uplands of western North America...
s, black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
s, elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
, deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
, moose
Moose
The moose or Eurasian elk is the largest extant species in the deer family. Moose are distinguished by the palmate antlers of the males; other members of the family have antlers with a dendritic configuration...
, bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, cougars, lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
, wolves
Timber Wolf
Timber Wolf, Timberwolf, Timber Wolves or Timberwolves might refer to:-Animals:* Any subspecies of Canis lupus, the Gray wolf, which inhabits forested areas...
and the occasional mountain goat
Mountain goat
The Mountain Goat , also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats...
.
Some of the most popular backpacking trips in Kananaskis are found in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. The Northover Ridge is a three to four day backpacking trip, as is the North & South Kananaskis Pass.
Activities
The following activities are available in the park:- CampingCampingCamping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
and backcountry camping (May to August, permit required) - CanoeingCanoeingCanoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, kayakingKayakingKayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, power boatingBoatingBoating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
, sailingSailingSailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, windsurfingWindsurfingWindsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a... - Cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
(on Boulton Creek, Elk Pass, Little Highwood, Highwood Meadows, Hydroline, Lodgepole, Lookout, Pocaterra, Ptarmigan Cirque, Rolly Road, Upper Kananaskis LakeUpper Kananaskis LakeUpper Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.Upper Kananaskis Lake is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along with the Lower Kananaskis Lake....
, Wheeler and Whiskeyjack trails) - FishingFishingFishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and ice fishingIce fishingIce fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime... - Front country hikingHikingHiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
(trails include Black Prince Cirque, Boulton Creek, Burstall Pass, "Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition", Chester LakeChester Lake (Alberta)Chester Lake is a small lake in the Alberta side of the Canadian Rockies.It is located in the valley north west of Mount Chester in Spray Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada....
, Elbow LakeElbow Lake (Alberta)Elbow Lake is located in the Elbow Pass north of the Highwood pass in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada. It is most easily accessed from Highway 40 at the Elbow Pass day use area. Elbow Lake lies at an elevation of and is the headwater of the Elbow River. There are reports that grizzly bears...
, Elk Pass, Hydroline, Kananaskis Canyon, Lodgepole, Lookout, Lower Kananaskis LakeLower Kananaskis LakeLower Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.Lower Kananaskis Lake is in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along with the Upper Kananaskis Lake....
, Marl Lake, Maude-Lawson Lakes, Pocaterra, Ptarmigan Cirque, Rawson Lake, Rock Glacier, Rolly Road, Smith-Dorien, Three Isle Lake and Upper Kananaskis LakeUpper Kananaskis LakeUpper Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.Upper Kananaskis Lake is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park along with the Lower Kananaskis Lake....
trails) - Mountain bikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
(on Burstall Pass, Chester LakeChester Lake (Alberta)Chester Lake is a small lake in the Alberta side of the Canadian Rockies.It is located in the valley north west of Mount Chester in Spray Valley Provincial Park, Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada....
, Elbow LakeElbow Lake (Alberta)Elbow Lake is located in the Elbow Pass north of the Highwood pass in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada. It is most easily accessed from Highway 40 at the Elbow Pass day use area. Elbow Lake lies at an elevation of and is the headwater of the Elbow River. There are reports that grizzly bears...
trail, Elk Pass, Hydroline, Lookout, Pocaterra, Rolly Road, Smith-Dorien, Three Isle Lake, Wheeler and Whiskeyjack trails) - Horseback riding (on Elbow LakeElbow Lake (Alberta)Elbow Lake is located in the Elbow Pass north of the Highwood pass in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada. It is most easily accessed from Highway 40 at the Elbow Pass day use area. Elbow Lake lies at an elevation of and is the headwater of the Elbow River. There are reports that grizzly bears...
trail) - Snowshoeing
- ClimbingClimbingClimbing is the activity of using one's hands and feet to ascend a steep object. It is done both for recreation and professionally, as part of activities such as maintenance of a structure, or military operations.Climbing activities include:* Bouldering: Ascending boulders or small...
See also
- List of Alberta provincial parks
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- List of National Parks of Canada