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Kananaskis Country - Sheep River Provincial Park

Latitude: 50.6472669475 Longitude: -114.660467225
Kananaskis Country - Sheep River Provincial Park
click image to enlarge
Kananaskis Country - Sheep River Website
Legal Land Description
Rocky Mountain Natural Region

This park includes the former Sheep River Wildlife Sanctuary, which provides year-round habitat for a bighorn sheep herd; most of the park is located in the Rocky Mountain Natural Region, however, the eastern portion of the park extends into the Foothills Natural Region, where open grassy slopes provide winter range for the elk and deer that spend summers in the higher alpine areas to the west; the park contains 2 major campgrounds, as well as several day use areas and trails.
Camping Season: April 14 - September 8
Camping Fees: $20.00 to $25.00 per night
Operated By: Kananaskis Country Campgrounds
Information Phone Number: 403-949-4261

Day Use Sites (6)

Bighorn Lookout
Pit/Vault Toilets
Gorge Creek
Pit/Vault Toilets
Indian Oils
Hitching RailsPit/Vault ToiletsLoading Ramp
Missing Link
Hitching RailsPit/Vault Toilets
Sandy McNabb
Fire PitsPay PhonePicnic ShelterPlaygroundPit/Vault ToiletsFirewood CostFirewoodWater, Tap
Sheep Falls
Fire PitsPit/Vault ToiletsFirewood CostFirewood

Overnight Campgrounds (4)

Bluerock
Fee: $20.00/night; 2nd unit on campsite $18.00/night; $2.00/night Alberta seniors discount; open mid-May until mid-September.
Total # of Units: 66

Fire PitsPit/Vault ToiletsFirewood CostWater, Pump
Bluerock Equestrian
Fee: $25.00/night; 2nd unit on campsite $23.00/night; $2.00/night Alberta seniors discount; price includes fee for 2 horses; $5.00 each additional horse; open mid-May until mid-September.
Total # of Units: 17

Fire PitsHitching RailsHorse CorralsPit/Vault ToiletsLoading RampFirewood CostWater, Pump
Sandy McNabb
Fee: $20.00/night; 2nd unit on campsite $18.00/night; $2.00/night Alberta seniors discount; Sandy McNabb campground was closed for the season on September 8th, 2009.
Total # of Units: 98

Fire PitsPay PhonePlaygroundPit/Vault ToiletsFirewoodWater, Tap
Sandy McNabb Equestrian
Fee: $25.00/night; 2nd unit on campsite $23.00/night; $2.00/night Alberta seniors discount; price includes fee for 2 horses; $5.00 each additional horse; Sandy McNabb equestrian campground was closed for the season on September 8, 2009.
Available Year Round: Yes
Total # of Units: 21

Fire PitsHitching RailsHorse CorralsPay PhonePit/Vault ToiletsLoading RampFirewood CostWater, Tap

Group Use Sites (2)

Sandy McNabb A
Fee: $165.00/night first 10 units; $13.00/night each additional unit; price includes 1/5 cord of firewood; mid-week discount for senior/youth groups; open from the end of April until early October.
Reservation Phone: 403-949-3132
Total # of Units: 35

Fire PitsGatesPay PhonePit/Vault ToiletsCook ShelterFirewoodWater, Tap
Sandy McNabb B
Fee: $165.00/night first 10 units; $13.00/night each additional unit; price includes 1/5 cord of firewood; mid-week discount for senior/youth groups; open from the end of April until early October; heavily treed.
Reservation Phone: 403-949-3132
Total # of Units: 20

Fire PitsGatesPay PhonePit/Vault ToiletsCook ShelterFirewoodWater, Tap

Recreational Activities

CampingCamping
  • Sandy McNabb equestrian campground open year-round; all other campgrounds in the park open from late April/early May until October 10; camping fees subject to change.

Cross-country skiingCross-country skiing
  • 37 km groomed trails (Sandy McNabb); Sheep River Ranger Station open year-round to provide enhanced emergency services to park visitors.

FishingFishing

Group useGroup use

Hiking - front countryHiking - front country

Horseback ridingHorseback riding

Ice skatingIce skating
  • At Sandy McNabb campground.

Mountain biking/cyclingMountain biking/cycling

Trails (31)

9999
Follows Threepoint Creek then turns south to open meadows along Ware Creek.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 7.00
Elevation Gain (m): 91.00
Trail Head: Mesa Butte/North Fork campgrounds
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Bighorn
Short stroll through meadow to bermed viewpoint; trail signs provide information about bighorn sheep biology & management.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 0.50
Elevation Gain (m): N/A
Trail Head: Bighorn parking lot
Trail Activities:
Hiking - interpretive
Bluerock
Views of mountains, river valleys, impressive creek canyons, water erosion & rock formations, as well as remains of a sawmill.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 2.00
Elevation Gain (m): N/A
Trail Head: Hwy. 546 at bluerock Creek or west end of Bluerock campground
Trail Activities:
Hiking - interpretive
Bluerock Creek
Strenuous hike; excellent scenery; bench at height of land 4.5 km from trailhead provides great view of Bluerock valley.

Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Length (km): 9.00
Elevation Gain (m): 265.00
Trail Head: Junction Creek parking lot
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Curley Sands
Climbs Mesa Butte; good views of front ranges of Rockies.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 3.50
Elevation Gain (m): 150.00
Trail Head: Mesa Butte & North Fork campgrounds
Trail Activities:
Hiking - front countryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Death Valley
Scenic foothills trail; often combined with Windy Point, Foran Grade or Sheep Creek trails.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 12.50
Elevation Gain (m): 220.00
Trail Head: Sandy McNabb campground, Ware Creek Trail or 9999 Trail
Trail Activities:
Hiking - front countryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Foran Grade
Best hiked from east to west; this ridge climb has excellent views of Sheep Valley & Windy Point; easy 8 km loop by descending Windy Point Trail & returning to trailhead via Sheep Trail.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 4.00
Elevation Gain (m): 240.00
Trail Head: Parking lot east of Sheep Wildlife Sanctuary
Trail Activities:
Hiking - front countryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Gorge Creek
Scenic trail along Gorge Creek; diffcult sections west of Bluerock Creek; combine with Volcano ridge & Volcano Creek trails for 23 km loop, or with Bluerock & Indian Oils for a 23 km loop.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 11.50
Elevation Gain (m): 410.00
Trail Head: Gorge Creek parking lot
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Green Mountain
Gently rolling trail over a low pass; wildflower meadows near east end.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 3.50
Elevation Gain (m): 260.00
Trail Head: .5 km past junction of Junction Mountain & Sheep trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - front countryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Hog's Back
Strenuous climb with fords and views of black-shale canyons; forms a 23 km loop with Threepopint Creek Trail. BIKES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON THIS TRAIL.

Difficulty: Difficult
Trail Length (km): 4.50
Elevation Gain (m): 250.00
Trail Head: Threepoint Creek, Wildhorse & Volcano Ridge trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback riding
Indian Oils
Pleasant but strenuous hike with excellent views; combine with Gorge Creek & South Gorge Creek trails for an 18 km loop.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 8.50
Elevation Gain (m): 400.00
Trail Head: Indian Oils or Sheep River Falls picnic areas
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Junction Creek
This loop trail provides a pleasant stroll; nice views of Sheep River gorge & up Junction Creek; signs describe the area's natural & cultural history.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 1.20
Elevation Gain (m): 213.00
Trail Head: Junction Creek parking lot
Trail Activities:
Hiking - interpretive
Junction Mountain
Long & steep day hike to forestry lookout; views of Junction & Bluerock mountains.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 17.80
Elevation Gain (m): 790.00
Trail Head: 3.4 km up Sheep Trail from Indian Oils picnic area
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Link Creek
Rolling terrain, mixed forests; steep climb to top of Volcano Ridge.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 11.50
Elevation Gain (m): 510.00
Trail Head: Ware Creek & Volcano Ridge parking lots
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Missinglink
This trail goes mostly through trees; several creek crossings.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 7.00
Elevation Gain (m): 140.00
Trail Head: Missinglink parking lot
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Mist Creek
Steep, mostly forested, trail; crosses small creeks to scenic view at Rickert's Pass; Hwy. 40 can be reached by continuing south.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 2.30
Elevation Gain (m): N/A
Trail Head: 8 km up Sheep Trail, west of Juction Creek day use area
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Mount McNabb
This trail passes through beautiful meadows; can be muddy at times.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 6.50
Elevation Gain (m): 310.00
Trail Head: Price Camp, Green Mountain or Phone Line trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
North Fork
This trail provides nice views of Volcano Ridge & the Ware Creek valley.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 5.50
Elevation Gain (m): 240.00
Trail Head: Threepoint Creek Trail or Ware Creek Trail
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Phone Line
Gently rolling terrain mostly through pine forest.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 7.80
Elevation Gain (m): 180.00
Trail Head: Green Mountain or Price Camp trails, or Jct. Mountain & Wolf Creek trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Price Camp
Extremely boggy during wet years; mostly forested.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 5.30
Elevation Gain (m): 45.00
Trail Head: Jct. with Sheep Trail west or south of Sandy McNabb
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Sandy McNabb
Pleasant walk through mixed forest and meadow; viewpoints overlook the Sheep River valley; loop trail.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 1.70
Elevation Gain (m): N/A
Trail Head: Sandy McNabb Interpretive Trail parking lot
Trail Activities:
Hiking - interpretive
Sheep
Runs from one end of the Sheep Valley to the other; segments of this trail are used in combination with other trails.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 45.00
Elevation Gain (m): 720.00
Trail Head: Sandy McNabb, Windy Point, Indian Oils, Sheep Falls or Jct. Creek picnic areas
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
South Gorge Creek
Used primarily by horseback riders as part of an equestrain loop; mostly forest with some wet sections; great wildflowers.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 5.00
Elevation Gain (m): 210.00
Trail Head: Gorge Creek or Indian Oils trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Threepoint Creek
Follws Threepoint Creek through rolling foothills; loops with Hog's Back Trail for 23 km total (bikes not permitted on Hog's Back).

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 12.00
Elevation Gain (m): 270.00
Trail Head: Mesa Butte campground
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Threepoint Mountain
This trail connects Elbow & Sheep valleys & offers excellent mountain views; several fords across the Elbow River.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 10.70
Elevation Gain (m): 150.00
Trail Head: Volcano Ridge, Gorge Creek or Big Elbow trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Volcano Creek
Open meadows near Threepoint Mountain-Gorge Creek junction; descending along the creek there are excellent views of Volcano Ridge.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 4.00
Elevation Gain (m): 125.00
Trail Head: Threepoint Creek, Gorge Creek or Volcano Creek trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Volcano Ridge
A scenic & strenuous trail that climbs up the ridge from the south end; descends to follow Volcano Creek past its confluence with Threepoint Creek; makes a 23-km loop when combined with Volcano Creek & Gorge Creek trails.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 15.00
Elevation Gain (m): 290.00
Trail Head: Gorge Link & Link Creek trails or Wildhorse, Hog's Back & Threepoint Creek trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Ware Creek
There are three creek fords within 1 km of Ware Creek trailhead; trail leads to a series of meadows along Ware Creek.

Difficulty: Easy
Trail Length (km): 3.50
Elevation Gain (m): 50.00
Trail Head: Ware Creek parking lot or 9999 & Death Valley trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Wildhorse
Popular mountain biking & equestrian trail; crosses rolling foothills to a spectacular black-shale canyon.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 15.00
Elevation Gain (m): N/A
Trail Head: Big Elbow recreation area & Volcano Ridge, Threepoint Creek or Hog's Back trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Windy Point
Trail through mixed forest & meadows from the junction of Death Valley & Foran Grade trails; drops through meadows with views to Sheep Creek Trail.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 6.00
Elevation Gain (m): 200.00
Trail Head: Windy Point trailhead parking lot or Foran Grade & Death Valley trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling
Wolf Creek
Beginning at Sandy McNabb, this trail fords the Sheep River & passes through dense forest & open meadow; boggy during wet years.

Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Length (km): 11.00
Elevation Gain (m): 300.00
Trail Head: Sandy McNabb picnic area, Price Camp, Junction Mountain or Phone Line trails
Trail Activities:
Hiking - backcountryHorseback ridingMountain biking/cycling

Lakes & Rivers (1)

Sheep River
Fishing

Fish Species:
Brown Trout, Bull Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Longnose Dace, Longnose Sucker, Mountain Sucker, Mountain Whitefish, Pearl Dace, Rainbow Trout, Spoonhead Sculpin

Visitor Programs

Outdoor Exhibits
At Bighorn Lookout.

Self-guided Interpretive Walks/Hikes
At Sandy McNabb and Bluerock.

Freedom to Create. Spirit to Achieve.
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