A conjoined provincial park straddling a provincial border strikes me as a wonderful idea. Neighbours cooperating to preserve and enjoy nature, what’s not to love? I reckon there should be at least one between every two bordering provinces across Canada. Alas, there is only one … Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Straddling the Alberta – Saskatchewan border, my family and I have enjoyed camping at this park multiple times. On both sides. We’ve made great memories that will stay with us forever. But there’s one thing about the place I find odd.
On the Alberta side of the park, there’s the town of Elkwater. It’s the recreation hub for the Alberta part with multiple campgrounds, a lake, a beach, cabins, and multiple entertainment outlets for summer vacationers. There’s even a ski hill close by should you venture there in the winter. It’s a resort town if there ever was.
On the Saskatchewan side, however, you’ll find … nothing. Fort Walsh National Historic Site is there but that’s not technically part of the park. It’s also just a visitor centre and a rebuilt fort. Beyond rustic camping in a small campground or horseback riding, there’s little to be done in the Saskatchewan side of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Instead, you must look approximately 13km further east to a second, smaller pod of parkland. This too is part of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park though it is often left off park maps, especially those originating from Alberta (they’re such navel gazers sometimes).
Saskatchewan calls this the Centre Block (that other part that straddles the border, they call the West Block). And it’s in this Cypress Hills Centre Block that you will find Saskatchewan’s version of Elkwater.
Named Cypress Hills (cuz, why not), it isn’t quite as big as Elkwater, but it’s just as much a summer resort town. It too has many campgrounds, cabins, a lake, sbeach, and many entertainment opportunities to make any summer vacation a rousing success.
But it ain’t part of the border-straddling portion of the interprovincial park. If it weren’t for a common geological origin, it’s very likely that Cypress Hills Centre Block would be a separate park altogether. I find this odd. I guess I prefer my parks contiguous.
Campground Setting
The Cypress Hills from which the park takes its name are the remnants of a greater plateau long ago lost to erosion. Capped by a resistant conglomerate formation, the Cypress Hills are the highest point in Canada between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador. They also contain the highest point in Saskatchewan. Even more interesting, during the last glacial period, their tops remained uncovered by ice. They really are neat.
An aerial view shows them quite clearly as a dendritic swath of green on the sprawling brown prairie. The largest segment of these geological curiosities does indeed lie across the border between Alberta and Saskatchewan. Hence the interprovincial park.
The Alberta hub, Elkwater, is 66km south southeast of Medicine. The Saskatchewan hub, Cypress Hills, is 31km due south of Maple Creek which in turn is103 km east of Medicine Hat and 138km west of Swift Current.
Southwest Saskatchewan (and southeast Alberta) is in the heart of Palliser’s Triangle, a semi-arid region of the Great Plains known for drought and heat. Within that backdrop, the Cypress Hills are a startling contrast as the anomalous elevation allows for increased precipitation and cooler temperatures resulting in the dominant, green lodgepole pine forests.
They’re a genuine oasis on the prairie and have long been an important gathering place for First Nations peoples. It’s no surprise that they’ve now become a popular place for camping and summer fun. A few years ago, I wrote about the Alberta side. Today I’m writing (a LOT) about the Saskatchewan side. Well, the Cypress Hills Centre Block specifically.
CAMPGROUNDS IN CYPRESS HILLS CENTRE BLOCK
Cypress Hills Centre Block has 10 named campgrounds, though I would quibble with two of them, maybe three, being “separate” campgrounds. When it comes to reserving a campsite, there are 7 campgrounds: Meadows, Terrace, Rainbow, Deer Hollow, Pine Hill, Lodgepole, and Warlodge. The remaining 3, Aspen Grove, Ball Diamond, and Dark Skay, are first come, first served only.
We’ve camped on the Saskatchewan side twice, in consecutive summers, and have chosen Meadows Campground each time. This was done solely to gain the best view of the night sky for our telescope. So, I guess my commentary below is most accurate for Meadows while that for the other campgrounds was gleaned from a quick bike through to take pictures and the Saskatchewan Parks website.
Meadows Campground
Meadows is the Frankenstein monster of Cypress Hills Centre Block campgrounds. Look at a map or satellite image and it very much looks like there was an original, roughly circular with central spine double loop onto which two unimaginative rectangular additions were amalgamated in the northeast. Likely at two separate times.
Add to this, Aspen Grove and Ball Diamond. From my perspective, both are essentially southeast extensions of Meadows Campground. The latter, specifically, since it has campsites literally neighbouring Meadows campsites. And then there’s Dark Sky which lacks only a direct access road to Meadows Campground or it would be a pimple of an extension to the north.
Put this all together and you’ve got the most illogical campground in all of Cypress Hills Centre Block. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Our reasoning for camping in Meadows was niche, sure, but let not its ugly appearance steer you away.
Not surprisingly, Meadows Campground is the largest in the park with a total of 143 campsites. Of those, 93 are regular sites with electricity, 48 are regular sites with electricity and water, and 2 are accessible sites with electricity and water. None have sewer service.
Furthermore, 28 sites are pull-throughs including 1 of the accessible sites. The remaining 115 appear to all be back-in campsites. See? Frankenstein.
Each campsite comes stocked with a picnic table and firepit. The metal frame with wood top picnic tables have seen better days but provide the necessary eating surface. The firepits are taller than usual and made of corrugated steel. They have a rotating grate and flat steel platform for cooking needs. The rotating grate is handy but does limit the ability for people to sit fully around the fire.
Meadows Campground is the most westerly of all the campgrounds. It has two entrance/exit points, both on the west side of Bald Butte Road. The more northly entrance road shares an intersection with the access to the firewood compound.
Compared to the other campgrounds in the park, Meadows is unique in that it is generally lacking in trees. There are two modest stands of pine with some campsites within, but most of the campground is either ratty shrubs and poplar or barren grass. This gives it a distinct atmosphere and, oddly enough, was the draw to us. As much as I typically despise campsites with no shade from the summer sun, they’re great for stargazing at night.
Not surprisingly, the campground host resides in one of the sheltered sites. We were greeted by the host soon after our arrival. They kindly shared campground rules and then disappeared, rarely to be seen again.
For both visits, our site of choice was 62. It’s an angled, back-in campsite on the broad, grassy space at the top, centre of the campground. It’s spacious, with no immediate neighbours behind, and essentially treeless (though dozens of seedlings have been planted in the vicinity). In other words, ideal for our nightly desires but otherwise rather grim.
This central area is located on a bit of a crest with the assumed original Meadows campsites sloping downwards to the southwest. The assumed newer campsites, dominated by pull-through sites, are almost entirely treeless. They may be convenient for RV owners who disdain reverse parking, but these sites are not attractive. They’re just open plots of earth baking in the sun.
Those original campsites in Meadows, which are exclusively back-ins, aren’t all that much better. A select handful have partial to full tree cover, but the majority are surrounded by ratty shrubs and poplars which don’t offer much shade. At least this is a less barren look and feel than just grass.
Some of these campsites have a dedicated parking space for tow vehicles. There are a couple of sites with longer than average driveways providing added privacy and usable space. Neighbours are not too close and rarely is there a campsite behind you in this older part of the campground. Honestly, some of these sites would work for stargazing nearly as well as the one we chose.
And if you don’t believe me on that, then trust the professional hobbyists. Each August during the Perseid Meteor Shower dozens of star lovers gather at Cypress Hills Centre Block for a star party. They congregate primarily in Meadows Campground, gobbling up campsites of all styles. It’s quite an invasion.
During the star party, the park will turn off the road and bathroom lighting around the central part of the campground. This is a boon for stargazers, obviously, and highlights the one frustration of our stay. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a designated Dark Sky Preserve, but light pollution in Meadows Campground, regrettably, remains impactful during all but a few special days.
From our vantage point, much of that light pollution came from the single shower house in Meadows Campground. It’s centrally located at the bottom end of the barren, grass field and therefore in clear sight of our campsite. And don’t get me started on RVs and trailers with scare lights and porch lights constantly on!
The shower house in Meadows Campground is both modern and relatively new. It has plenty of space inside with a full range of facilities for your daily hygiene needs. The mens side has four sinks, two urinals, three toilets, and even a baby change table. Of note, there are five shower stalls, one of which is accessible. That should keep shower waits to a minimum.
I actually made use of the showers and they aren’t bad. They’re free, which is terrific, but employ push button activation. I prefer proper knobs for temperature control and duration. Surprisingly, a single push of this button lasts for a couple minutes, far superior to the usual ~30 seconds nonsense.
My shower was comfortable emitting a Goldilocks temperature. You may prefer something hotter or cooler. Such is the problem with push button showers. Also, the shower curtain too easily falls outside the basin lip resulting in water flooding into your dedicated changing area. This can leave a mess for both you and subsequent users.
The sinks also emit warm water which is nice. They even have separate hot and cold taps, so you have some control on the temperature, though the hot water never gets very hot. Still, it’s pleasant for shaving and washing up. Unlike the sinks in the other bathrooms around Meadows.
Yes, there are several standalone bathrooms throughout the campground (8 if my map counting is accurate). These double stall structures look like heavy-duty pit toilets but with modern amenities inside. Typically, each private stall comes with a toilet and a sink. These sinks provide only cold water.
But be careful! Not all standalone bathrooms are created equal. For unknown reasons, there is at least one of these which still contains a genuine pit toilet inside. I found this out the hard way and being committed to the deed had no time to look elsewhere for a flushing option.
An interesting quirk with some of these standalone bathrooms is the portable sewer tanks and septic outlet accompanying them. I noticed two of these, both along the outer ring of the older section of Meadows Campground.
This is obviously of great help for RVers staying for longer durations. There’s no need to hook up your beast and scurry off to the dump station mid-trip. A convenience other parks and campgrounds should think about, perhaps.
Roughly two-thirds of campsites will need to find potable water off-site. For RVs, filling up at the dump stations is the most convenient avenue. For others, it’ll be freshwater taps in the campground itself.
There is at least a dozen of them dotting the campground, often next to the stand alone bathrooms. They are hard to miss being bright blue and all. I suppose you could park your RV next to one of these to fill up as well, though you risk disrupting traffic flow.
One final amenity in Meadows Campground needing mention is the playground. This can be found in a lush, grassy space next to the shower house. A stand of trees to the immediate west provides welcome afternoon and evening shade.
The playground is a mid-sized metal and plastic climbing apparatus situated within a larger sandbox space. It’s great for the younger kids with some benches nearby for mom and dad to relax on while supervising.
While well-serviced and obviously big, Meadows Campground would not be my first choice for regular camping. Our decision was influenced by telescopic desires, but for all other campers there are nicer options in Cypress Hills Central Block.
Aspen Grove & Ball Diamond Campgrounds
Aspen Grove and Ball Diamond are twin peculiarities. I hesitate to even call them campgrounds, though Aspen Grove does have its own log sign indicating it as such. And both show up on the reservation portal as separate entities. But in my mind, they’re a southeast extension of Meadows Campground.
Aspen Grove encompasses a grassy area with ragged poplar trees to the north and west of the tennis courts. Ball Diamond sites run along the entry road to both campgrounds as well as encircling, brace yourself for this shocker, the baseball diamond.
Together, the two campgrounds consist of 46 first come, first served campsites, 21 in Aspen Grove and 25 in Ball Diamond. None of these sites have any services and none are especially attractive. They do come with a picnic table and firepit. I’d almost describe them as overflow and I’ve not seen anyone in them during our two visits.
One of the Baseball Diamond designated sites that rims Aspen Grove has a concrete pad on it. It also has a ground level firepit with a stone surround. This is the only such site in the area and suggests that this site once had special significance. Not sure what that significance would have been since a camp host site without services would be odd.
Aspen Grove does have a small bathroom with flush toilets and a sink inside. There’s also a single fresh water tap in its midst. The Ball Diamond sites are all within walking distance of either the Aspen Grove facilities or similar in Meadows Campground.
Overall, I personally don’t see much value in camping in either of these two campgrounds. I suppose if you’re camping at the last minute on a very busy weekend and everything else is booked up, they would be your last chance to camp at Cypress Hills Centre Block.
Or maybe there’s a baseball tournament or gathering which would make using these campsites plausible for a group. Otherwise, planning your summer trip ahead of time should allow you to book a nicer site in one of the reservable campsites, all of which are nicer than these two.
Dark Sky Campground
Dark Sky Campground is another collection of first come, first served campsites that could easily be considered an extension of Meadows Campground. The only difference to Aspen Grove and Baseball Diamond is that it has its own access road separate from Meadows.
You’d also be forgiven for thinking of it as a group campsite. In fact, based on its layout and amenities, I’d wager it was at one time.
Located between Meadows Campground and the Observatory, Dark Sky Campground is a single loop with 16 unserviced campsites. Sites vary from open grass to treed, each with a picnic table and firepit. There are even a couple of tent sites that require a short walk-in past other campsites.
A single pit toilet hut is present but sadly the interior has not been converted to flush service. This is a shame considering how many other pit toilets have been converted around Cypress Hills Centre Block. If you’re hellbent on modern facilities (sheepishly raising my hand) then you’ll need to stroll over to the observatory itself or into Meadows Campground.
The tell-tale evidence that Dark Sky Campground was once a group site is the enclosed picnic shelter with communal firepit. The shelter looks a bit rundown although it does have a newer looking entry door and metal roof.
Inside you’ll find some picnic tables and a wood stove. Outside, additional picnic tables, plastic chairs, and slightly larger firepit hint at group gatherings around a fire. A freshwater tap is also present here.
As the name suggests, Dark Sky Campground is best suited for campers with an astronomical hobby. With no electricity in the loop, and somewhat sheltered from errant lighting in Meadows, it should provide nice viewing of the night sky. It’s also conveniently close to the observatory for public programming there.
If camping with like-minded friends, I can understand setting up shop here. But for us, I still prefer our choice of staying in Meadows Campground for more comfort. What can I say, I’m soft.
Pine Hill Campground
Pine Hill Campground is the newest addition to Cypress Hills Centre Block, having been built in 2021-2022. Everything about it looks new, feels new. It’s unlike any of the other campgrounds in the park, though I wouldn’t have guessed it was just four years old.
Located in the lodgepole pine forest north of Warlodge Campground, it looks like a clear cut that had a campground built in it and then replanted. The young trees are, at most, as tall as an RV, so there’s no shade yet but that will come. In another decade or two this will be a wonderfully sheltered campground.
Pine Hill has a total of 60 campsites, 18 of which are fully serviced with electricity, water, and sewer. The other 42 have electricity only. There are 2 accessible sites, 1 with full service and 1 with just electrical.
That full service accessible site is one of 6 pull-through sites. It and 4 others are traditional straight pull-throughs while 1 is arcuate in orientation. All the remaining campsites are back-ins although a handful of these have a small tow vehicle parking space adjoined at an angle.
All roads and sites in Pine Hill Campground are gravel. Site layout is methodical and repetitive; think rectangles. This is hardly surprising in a modern build. There are four primary roads with angled sites on either side and a shorter fifth road to complete the pull-throughs. Visitor parking can be found along some of these roads.
Each campsite comes with a picnic table and a fire pit. The tables are metal frames with wood toppers and seem to predate the campground? Fire pits are corrugated, metal steel and are taller than typical pits. They also have a rotating grate and platform attached for various cooking purposes.
As mentioned, most of the campsites only have electrical service. Potable water taps are thus found at several locations around the campground. There is one next to each of the toilet huts and several more on their own. Interior trails connecting campground roads should get you to one of these taps with relative ease.
There are 4 double-sided, flush toilet huts in the campground, one on each road. They look like new pit toilets, but with modern services inside.
Pine Hill Campground also has a full-blown shower house at its west end. This is great, but a bit surprising considering that the Pine Lodge shower house is quite close to the campground’s entrance.
This shower house is identical to the other newer ones in the park. It has a large interior space with sinks and mirrors. The men’s side has a urinal with 2 toilet stalls, 1 of which is accessible. On the other side are shower stalls, also 1 of which is accessible. They come with push button operation, meaning they are free but have no temperature control.
One last thing to share about Pine Hill is the unique “playground” located next to the shower house. I put that word in quotes because this is unlike any playground I’ve ever seen. It’s a wilderness style play area with logs to balance on, some climbing walls, and a single slide. All of this is in a spacious, gravel area that includes a few boulders.
I’ll be honest, it’s a neat concept but too spare. There needs to be more here to keep kids entertained.
From that primary play area, a curved, wooden stairway climbs a slope to a lookout tower. I assume this is meant to replicate a fire tower. This too is sparse as there’s nothing more to do in it than climb to the top and look out. It does provide a nice view of Pine Hill Campground but even that will one day be ruined when all those trees get tall enough to block the view.
Rainbow Campground
Rainbow is another interior campground located between Terrace and Warlodge but a bit to the east. It’s fully within lodgepole pine forest and close to the mini golf course and snack shack.
This campground takes the shape of an elongated, rectangular loop with a central road dissecting it. There is an entry/exit road at each end onto the interior park roadway connecting all the interior campgrounds to the primary park roads.
There are total of 68 campsites in Rainbow Campground. All of them have electrical service and of those, 10 have water and sewer as well. Site layout ranges from back-ins, including 2 accessible sites, to roadside pullouts to traditional pull-throughs, the latter of which there are 8.
The campsites in Rainbow look very organic as if they were created by regular use rather than planned and built. I find this appealing but recognize the predominantly dirt surface of the user areas will get messy during rain events.
Each campsite comes with a moveable picnic table and tall, corrugated steel firepit. The tables are in rough shape but do the job. Firepits have a swinging grate and a solid plate above for cooking needs.
Rainbow Campground has a dedicated host located at site 6. It also has a playground that I missed during my quick exploration of the place. Maybe. The map on the online reservation portal shows a playground existing along the west side of the campground. However, the paper map we received upon entry does not show a playground symbol for Rainbow. So, I either missed it or it no longer exists.
On the other hand, I can confirm that Rainbow Campground has a shower house, or service centre, as Saskatchewan Parks likes to call them. This log cabin style structure is conveniently located near the centre of the campground.
It’s perhaps a bit dated compared to the newer shower houses elsewhere in the park, but it is clean and provides all necessities. Showers are free but push button so you won’t be able to control temperature. Based on our Meadows experience, there should be warm water at the sinks as well.
There is a separate accessible stall with toilet and shower all in one.
Additional bathrooms are present at either end of the campground. These contain just toilets and sinks. Freshwater taps are found at a few spots around Rainbow.
If not for our desire to stargaze, I’d have been quite happy with the tree cover in Rainbow. Lodgepole pines are great for dappled shelter that lets some sun through without roasting a poor lad. And being close to the mini golf and ice cream ain’t so bad either.
Terrace Campground
Terrace Campground is Rainbow’s fraternal twin. Located across the road, southeast of Rainbow, Terrace is also forested though satellite imagery shows a few spots with less tree density. I saw a couple of campsites that boast open skies if you enjoy the sun. But for the most, expect some shade at your campsite.
Terrace is configured as a slightly elongate square loop with two lengthwise interior roads. Campsites are found on either side of all four roads. Campground access is along the interior road and the campground itself is quite close to the firewood and second dump station.
There are 87 campsites in total, all of which have electrical service. There are no unserviced sites nor are there any sites with full service. This makes Terrace the only homo-serviced campground in the Cypress Hill Centre Block. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
As far as I can tell, campsites come in two layouts: back-in or roadside pull-through. Unfortunately, you can’t search for one kind or the other when using the booking platform, so you’ll have to check out each site individually online if you’re particular.
Like its twin, Terrace campsites are a bit quirky. I like this kind of old school campground construction, but it does have some drawbacks in wet weather. That said, some sites do have level, gravel platforms and even grass. Most, however, are mostly dirt with living space in the trees that may or may not be level with your parking pad.
Sites come with a picnic table and firepit. The former are metal with wood tops and can be moved to your desired location. They’re a bit old and worn but suffice for camping. Firepits are tall, corrugated steel with a grate you can swing over or away from the flames.
Freshwater is available from several taps located around the campground. Many of these are associated with bathroom huts. These look like modern pit toilets but actually contain flush toilets and sinks. Very nice.
Maps also tell me that Terrace Campground has a shower house at its centre. Unfortunately, I didn’t see it on my quick tour. I stayed mostly on the outer perimeter not knowing at the time that the shower house existed. I was also exhausted at this point in my cycle tour of Cypress Hills Centre Block and desperately wanted to be done with my blog data gathering. My apologies.
On the bright side, unlike in Rainbow, I actually saw the playground in Terrace. It’s admittedly hard to miss being located immediately to your right as you enter the campground. The playground is a modern design with climbing apparatus and a couple slides, but it is showing some age. Still, it’ll be fun for your little ones. Just be sure to apply sunscreen; it has no shade.
I didn’t see a campground host in Terrace. I don’t know if there is one and I missed it or there genuinely isn’t one. It’s possible the host in Rainbow services both campgrounds, but I can’t say for sure.
Overall, I don’t dislike Terrace and would not shun it if I was unable to find a site in my chosen campground. We sought campsites with open views for stargazing, and most Terrace campsites don’t offer that. I’m also not a fan of roadside pullout/pull-through style campsites of which Terrace has many. That said, there is at least one campsite in Terrace Campground that is incredibly isolated from its neighbours. I’d jump through flaming hoops to get that site if I could.
Warlodge Campground
If you laid out all the campgrounds at Cypress Hills Centre Block on a dart board, Warlodge Campground would be the bullseye. North of Meadows and Terrace, south of Pine Hill, and west of Rainbow, I would describe Warlodge as the most interior of the campgrounds and in a way the most private.
Access to Warlodge is via an internal park road connecting it, along with Terrace, Rainbow, and Pine Hill, to Cypress Drive and Pine Avenue. Most of the campground resides within pine forest, save for the left half around the outer rim which is dominated by aspen and shrubs with only a few random pines remaining.
Warlodge Campground is configured as a double (inner and outer) loop with a central spine. Campsites are found on both sides of each loop road as well as the spine. There are 78 in total, including 5 double sites with electrical and 73 regular sites with electrical. Of those 73, 14 are roadside pull-through style with the remaining being back-ins. None of them have water or sewer.
Warlodge continues the campsite configuration philosophy seen in Rainbow and Terrace. It’s all very rustic and organic, which I love, but does mean you need to put in effort to find the best sites. Many are literally intermixed with the pine trees while others are more open with only bushes surrounding them.
A bunch of the back-in sites have a uniquely Y-shaped orientation with a designated parking area for a tow vehicle. We first encountered campsites like this at Saskatchewan Landing and they are intriguing.
Some of the roadside sites mimic walk-in tent sites. The pull-through section where your RV goes is quite muted and there’s a short path up to the living quarters of the site. Walk-in tent sites wouldn’t be the worst thing in this location, but I found this layout for a pull-through campsite a bit odd.
With a keen eye and some luck on the reservation portal, you can snag a pretty sweet campsite around the perimeter of Warlodge. One in particular grabbed my attention on passing with its shaded RV slot and grass space with no nearby neighbour on the one side.
The double campsites, on the other hand, looked cramped to me. As if they’d just taken a regular site and designated it a double. I’ve never camped in a double site anyway, and the ones here didn’t do much in convincing me to break that streak.
Warlodge Campground is home to several bathrooms and freshwater taps found in both loops. The bathrooms are the larger pit toilet looking structures that sneakily house flush toilets and sinks. A couple of these are quite dated looking while others are either renovated or newer builds.
What Warlodge does not have is a shower house in its midst. This is a bit odd considering that the other four large campgrounds all have a dedicated shower house. I suspect that Pine Lodge is, in fact, Warlodge’s dedicated shower house. I’ll talk about Pine Lodge in a bit, but it’s a strange service centre stuck out on its own between Warlodge and Pine Hill. A trail from Warlodge will take you to Pine Lodge for use.
In the bullseye of Warlodge Campground, you’ll find a cool, new playground. This might be the best playground in all of Cypress Hills Centre Block. A modern, metal and plastic marvel, it has many segments all sharing a pea gravel bed bordered by landscape tiles. You can climb, swing, slide, and imagine on this awesome playground.
Warlodge also has its own campground host. I suspect they perform the same duties, with the same demeanor, as all the other campground hosts in the park.
If I had young kids, I’d want to camp in Warlodge for that playground alone. It is a bit farther away from the popular park amenities, which is a pro or a con depending on your desire to use them. The campsites along the outer, west rim might suffice for some stargazing but otherwise this is a campground for those wanting predominantly shaded camping experience. Take away my telescope and I might make Warlodge my top pick.
Lodgepole Campground
Lodgepole Campground is small and oddly isolated from the other campgrounds at Cypress Hills Centre Block. Mind you, it is neighbour to three group sites. Found on the north side of Valley Trail, west of the north tip of Loch Leven, this fully forested campground hosts 25 campsites in a rib, or fishbone, layout.
Of those 25 campsites, 20 are pull-through sites with electrical service. The remaining 5 sites are unserviced, back-ins along the north outer road. None of the campsites have water or sewer, which is mildly surprising considering the campground is targeting large RV campers.
Potable water taps are abundant with 3 along the primary spine and a 4th towards the entrance. Two bathroom structures stand between the back-in sites. Though pit toilet in appearance, both contain flush toilets and sinks.
Each campsite has a picnic table and tall, corrugated steel firepits.
There’s nothing especially wrong with Lodgepole Campground. The long, pull-through campsites aren’t paved parking lots as is too often the case in campgrounds with this layout. And the lodgepole pines offer lovely, dappled shelter from the sun.
But the campground is somewhat isolated from the guts of the park and the other campgrounds. It feels more like a part of the private cabins than a campground. If my choices were limited, I wouldn’t shun Lodgepole, but it wouldn’t be my first choice when booking.
Deer Hollow Campground
Deer Hollow Campground is unique in that it is the only tent-only campground in Cypress Hills Centre Block. Located in the woods east of Cypress Drive and north of the Golf Course, the campground consists of a single, circular loop rimmed by 35 unserviced campsites.
Campsites in Deer Hollow come in various configurations some of which betray an RV-friendly past. Some sites are large and open grass while others are fully within the forest and thus well-shaded. Others are surrounded by trees and shrubs though the main living space is open to the sky. A few campsites are walk-ins though hardly a lengthy walk.
There are also some sites with long gravel driveways and a gravel living area. These are the ones that surely must have accepted RVs in a past life. Though not terribly sheltered, these sites do offer additional privacy from neighbours.
Each site comes with a picnic table and firepit. Tables are metal and wood and can be moved at will. The firepits tend to be elevated, corrugated steel with swinging grates and a solid platform for cooking chores. None of them have onsite food storage nor did I see any in the loop, so you’ll need to store such things in your vehicle. Unless I missed seeing them as is quite possible as you’ll see in a moment.
There are two pit toilet buildings in the loop, neither of which have been converted into flush toilets. Yes, tent campers apparently prefer rustic living in all aspects of their vacations. Thankfully, there are several shower houses throughout the park should you choose to modernize your cleansing ritual on a whim.
Maps indicate two potable water taps in Deer Hollow, but I didn’t snap a picture of either. It also appears to have a picnic shelter at the far east end in the woods. I did not see this feature during my quick bike through the campground so I can’t show it to you or comment on it. Until I gazed at the booking website while writing this review, I had no idea it existed.
Despite my quick look around, I found Deer Hollow Campground to be quite appealing. If I was tent camping, I’d be keen to camp here, hopefully on one of the more sheltered, private campsites. The lack of flush toilets is disappointing, but I’d survive knowing there are such luxuries nearby.
Pine Lodge
Located between Pine Hill and Warlodge Campgrounds, Pine Lodge is … umm … odd. It shares a carved log sign with Pine Hill Campground so you might think it too is a campground. You would be wrong. Pine Lodge is just a solitary shower house.
Pine Hill Campground has its own shower house, but Warlodge Campground does not. So, I guess Pine Lodge is technically the shower house for Warlodge despite being separated from said campground.
The large, gravel parking lot out front provides plenty of parking should you drive to this shower house. Inside, there’s the expected sinks, toilets, and showers. All are showing age but are not in any way junky.
Sinks offer hot water, which is nice. The showers are free but only push button operated so you don’t have control over water temperature.
GROUP CAMPING IN CYPRESS HILLS CENTRE BLOCK
Cypress Hills Central Block is home to seven group camping areas. That’s an impressive number. I can’t recall any other provincial park I’ve been to with this many. It’s a shame my review of them is going to be horribly underwhelming.
Five of the seven group sites were occupied during our stay, so I refrained from invading their space. A sixth group site had staff working on it so, again, I only peered at it from afar. And finally, the seventh group site is the one I simply forgot to check out as we left the park.
As a result, I regrettably have very little to share with you regarding these group camping sites. A couple long-distance photographs coupled with arm-wavy generalities is about all I got. Beyond that, I’ll provide a few tidbits gleaned from the Saskatchewan Parks booking website. If you’re interested in using one of the group sites, I’d advise you to explore the booking website yourself for more details and a couple pertinent pictures. I’m sorry I couldn’t be more helpful in this matter.
Okay, so here are my generalities. The fact that at least five of the group sites were filled during the week tells me they’re quite popular. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found empty group sites in provincial parks, even on weekends. Cypress Hills Centre Block seems to buck that trend.
Six of the group camping sites are located in the core park area but to the perimeter. Three are to the north and three are to the south. Being on the perimeter gives them each a decent amount of privacy as none are directly tied to or within any of the regular campgrounds.
The seventh group site is found well outside the main park core and is therefore the most isolated of them all. While this leaves you needing to drive to all the recreational offerings of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, it does allow you to be a tad more rambunctious without disrupting your neighbours. You have none.
Loch Leven Group Site
Loch Leven Group Site is the first of three in the park’s north. It’s found on the north side of Valley Trail (Ben Voirlick Drive on Google maps) and to the east of Lodgepole Campground.
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it has a covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, and communal firepit. It is described as a small group site with room for a maximum of 30 people. Allowed equipment is tents and it does not have electrical service.
Shady Pines Group Site
Shady Pines Group Site is also located to the north of Valley Trail (Ben Voirlick Drive) but is west of Lodgepole Campground.
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it has a covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, and a communal firepit. It is described as a large group site with space for 14 camping units and a maximum of 84 people. It has electrical service.
Valley Trail Group Site
Valley Trail Group Site is located on the south side of Valley Trail (Ben Voirlick Drive) and across from Loch Leven Group Site and Lodgepole Campground.
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it is very much like Loch Leven Group Site with covered picnic shelter and flush toilets. It’s also described as a small group site with room for a maximum of 30 people. It allows for tents only and does not have electrical service.
Sunset Group Site
Sunset Group Site is one of three group sites found in the park’s south. It’s located on the southwest side of Bald Butte Road, southeast of Meadows and Aspen Grove Campgrounds and south of the tennis courts.
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it has a covered picnic shelter, fire pit, and pit toilets. It’s described as a large group site with space for 14 camping units and a maximum of 84 people. It does not have electrical service.
Hidden Valley Group Site
Hidden Valley Group Site is the westernmost of the two group areas on Hidden Valley Trail (Ben Vannoch Drive on Google maps). This and Lone Pine are the most private of the six group sites in the main park area. It is south of Shady Nook Campground and backs towards the golf course.
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it has a covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, and a fire pit. It is described as a large group site with space for 15 camping units and a maximum of 90 people. It has 15/30 amp electrical service.
Lone Pine Group Site
Lone Pine Group Site is located southeast of Hidden Valley Group Site, sharing an access road with Hidden Valley Trail (a hiking trail).
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it has a covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, and a fire pit. It’s described as a large group site with space for 20 camping units and a maximum of 120 people. It does not have electrical service.
Sleepy Hollow Group Site
Sleepy Hollow Group Site is the one I forgot to check out when we left. It is found at the end of a 1km access road north of highway 221 which is the primary park entry road from highway 21. That access road is literally only 250m from highway 21, making this group site is by far the most isolated of the seven, and at first glance doesn’t even appear to be part of the park.
According to the Saskatchewan Parks website, it has a covered picnic shelter, flush toilets, and a fire pit. It is described as a large group site with space for 20 camping units and 114 people. It also offers 15/30 amp electrical service.
PRIVATE ACCOMMODATIONS IN CYPRESS HILLS CENTRE BLOCK
As is often the case in these resort style provincial parks, there are private cabins present. Cypress Hills Centre Block is no different. It also has private campgrounds, a condo/cabin resort, and kids summer camps. It really does have it all.
Private Cabins
The private cabins are found in three subdivisions situated around the two lochs. Ben Nevis and Ben Voirlich bound Loch Leven to the west and east respectively. Ben Vannoch lies to the west of Loch Lomond.
Cabins range from vintage cottages to modern second homes. I snagged some photos of a handful visible from the road encircling Loch Leven. A few triggered my envy, others not so much. Those around Loch Lomond I didn’t bother to check out.
Wild Raspberry and Shady Nook Campgrounds
Two private RV parks offering seasonal camping operate in Cypress Hills Centre Block. Wild Raspberry is the more obvious of the two being situated on a strip of land between Terrace and Meadows campgrounds. Several RV sites back onto Moose Trail. I didn’t make a nuisance of myself by snooping around within this campground.
Shady Nook is modestly more private. It’s located on Ben Vannoch Drive near the intersection with Cypress Drive across from the mini golf course. Not exactly a secluded location but Ben Vannoch Drive gets significantly less traffic than other roads in the park. Had I not been collecting info for this review, I’d never have even gone down this road or seen Shady Nook campground.
The Resort at Cypress Hills
Perhaps camping isn’t your favourite way to vacation. Or maybe those private cabins around the lake pique your interest but the price tag for owning one is … restrictive. The Resort at Cypress Hills might be an ideal alternative for your family’s summer escape.
The resort has condo-style conjoined units to rent as well as individual cabins. The whole complex is located in the woods up the hill from the community centre and pool areas. Access, however, is from the west via Pine Avenue and past Treeosix Adventures.
Once again, I was unable to get inside any of these buildings. The place is popular and it appeared as though all cabins were rented out. And with this review targeting campers, I chose not to explore inside the main building. Picture taking likely would have drawn attention.
From my brief drive through the parking lot and around the cabin loop, I saw a volleyball court and a wood pile. Cabins looked to be well appointed on their exteriors. And the entire resort is a short walk down a trail to Loch Leven and all the amenities surrounding it.
Sorry I can’t provide anything more in depth. It looks like a nice place should this be in your holiday wheelhouse.
Kids Camps
To the best of my knowledge, there are four kids camps in Cypress Hills Centre Block: Camp Harding (Anglican Church), Cypress Hills Camp (Christian), Pinecrest Bible Camp (Baptist), and Camp Shagabec (United Church). And why not, it’s a great location for a summer camp. Pity there isn’t a secular option.
AMENITIES IN CYPRESS HILL CENTRE BLOCK
While perhaps not a genuine village, Cypress Hills truly is a full-service resort area. Whether you are coming for a day trip, a weekend, a week, or the whole summer, all your needs are met in the park so you can kick back and relax. Unless you have kids, in which case you’ll be busier than at work.
Park Entrance
The park entrance to Cypress Hills Centre Block is pretty straightforward with a single, staffed kiosk and barrier arms to prevent traffic from proceeding unchecked. There are two traffic lanes with the right lane allowing those already checked in to skip lineups during busy entry periods. Park staff were kind and helpful both times we checked in.
Park entry pricing is posted on a sign. Note that this park operates similar to National Parks where you must pay for an entry permit. This is a cost on top of any campsite fees. You can purchase this permit online when reserving your site, or at the entry kiosk when you arrive.
Park Office
Once through the entry gate, there’s a large, paved parking lot to the right, fronting the park office. If all goes well, you really won’t have any need to visit the park office. I speculate that the office is geared to servicing folks living in the houses and cabins inside the park. The staff inside are surely friendly and happy to help but for the typical camping experience at Cypress Hills Centre Block, they won’t be needed.
Visitor Centre & Lakeview Grill
Besides, there’s a better source of help for park visitors and that is the Visitor Centre. Located between the pool and community centre, the Visitor Centre and Lakeview Grill is a lovely, dual-purpose building with outdoor patio. I suspect it’s a newer building.
The Visitor Centre has two parts. There’s the service desk where park staff can answer questions you might have about the park and activities within. This is where we inquired about using the Gap Road to get to Fort Walsh.
The second part is the interactive, educational display. While not as elaborate as some large parks, it’s still interesting for a quick look over. There’s a 3D map of the Cypress Hills along with some taxidermy of relevant animals. The replica T-Rex skull is sure to wow the younger members of your clan.
If nothing else, it’s worth popping by the Visitor Centre at the start of your trip just to learn about upcoming programming in the park. Outside the entrance, there’s a large whiteboard with the week’s programs posted for perusal. These programs are held at the Visitor Centre, amphitheatre, and observatory.
The other part of the Visitor Centre building is the Lakeside Grill restaurant and patio. I didn’t expect this to be an actual restaurant. For one, it’s less than 200m from the Scoop & Sizzle which serves a partially overlapping menu. For another, it didn’t look like a ful-fledged restaurant to me. More like a café, if anything.
Which isn’t to say I looked too deeply. We didn’t patronize this establishment, and I only briefly popped my head inside for a snapshot. The menu looks appetizing with breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. They also offer catering for special events, presumably to your trailer or cabin.
Cypress Hills Scoop & Sizzle
The Scoop & Sizzle, as the name alludes, is a traditional snack shack serving ice cream and grill favourites. It’s a walk-up style establishment that’ll satisfy your unhealthiest desires. We itched our frozen treat craving at the mini golf course, but there’s no reason to believe this isn’t just as good.
Cypress Hills General Store
With Maple Creek roughly half an hour’s drive from the park, the Cypress Hills General Store is a welcome convenience. It’s a surprisingly well stocked store to boot, something you don’t see at many parks or campgrounds anymore. With a broad selection of groceries, camping oriented hardware, and a gift shop with items ranging from knickknacks to clothing, it’s got a bit of everything.
The store also sells firewood which is a bit odd considering the massive compound with free firewood available in the park. It’s pricy, but dry due to inside storage should that matter.
Community Centre
The community centre is next door to the visitor centre and as the name suggests, it is primarily for community use. That community would be all those houses and cabins around the lake. But there is at least one activity open to the public: a farmer’s market.
We were lucky enough to check it out on our first visit to Cypress Hills Centre Block. Unfortunately, on our second visit, our time in the park did not coincide with market hours because the farmers market ceases operation in mid-August.
I don’t understand the reason for this. I’d have thought the final weeks of summer, especially the Labour Day Long Weekend, would be prime market season still.
From what I remember, vendors include the expected assortment of small town and rural entrepreneurs selling homemade items like baked goods and perogies, crafts, and MLMs. The cinnamon buns we bought were certainly tasty.
L and S Gas and Goods & Laundry
With the closest gas station in Maple Creek, 30km away, having gas in Cypress Hills Centre Block is a welcome convenience. This is especially true if you’re doing a lot of driving within the park and to places such as Fort Walsh.
We survived without needing a top up, but I was nonetheless stunned to discover that the prices are quite reasonable for a tourist spot. Oh lord, have I seen some crazy inflated gas prices at popular destinations.
L and S Gas and Goods is located on Pine Avenue, north of the mini golf and across from the entrance to Camp Shagabec. In addition to gas pumps, there is a convenience store selling foodstuffs and camping supplies. I did not enter the store to get any pictures, so we will both have to take the signage’s word for it.
We did, however, use the laundromat which is found in a smaller building next to the convenience store. The coin-op washers and dryers are in good condition and work well. It’s also open 24 hours, which is convenient for campers making the most of daylight hours for fun. Change is available at the convenience store and presumably they also sell laundry supplies if needed.
Dump Stations
Cypress Hills Centre Block has two dump stations. One is located in a siding along Cypress Drive between the intersection with Pine Avenue and the park entrance. The second is located in an open space across from the firewood compound.
The one nearer the entrance is in rough shape. It has two outlets plus a third lane that doesn’t appear to have an outlet for some reason. There is non-potable water for cleanup near the outlets and then potable water taps further along the siding.
The one near the firewood compound looks to be newer and while more convenient, it too is not the best conditioned dump station I’ve seen. Despite two lanes, there is only one outlet which is odd and surely frustrating at times. The metal grate over the outlet also invites grossness as waste materials can get caught in the mesh during cleanup. Still, I prefer this dump station to the one by the entrance.
Honestly, I’m a bit surprised by the dump station situation at Cypress Hills Centre Block. Considering how many campsites are present, almost all of which do not have sewer service, I worry that lineups for these underwhelming dump stations could be lengthy. At least they’re free.
Firewood Compound
Few things baffle me more than this ironic fact. Firewood costs money at provincial parks in B.C. but is free at provincial parks in Saskatchewan. Go ahead, just ponder that for a while. I’ll wait.
Now, I’ll admit this free firewood isn’t the best wood going. Depending on weather conditions leading up to your visit, it can be wet. Hence the “dry wood” for sale at the park store. But if it’s been sunny without precipitation, it’ll do just fine for campfires. We had no issues during either of our visits.
The huge, fenced firewood compound is located along Bald Butte Road, north of Wild Raspberry Campground and kitty-corner to Meadows Campground. Being the only location for free firewood in the park, it’s not ideally close to all of the campgrounds. But you’ll need to bring a vehicle to load up anyway.
You will want an ax, however. The wood comes in large chunks that are not suitable for burning. Splitting them into smaller pieces and kindling will be necessary. Hopefully, you too have a young lad in your entourage that will happily do all the chopping.
This substantial pile of wood attracts wasps, something you are warned about as you enter the fenced area. And an AED unit attached to the same fence implies you may also be your own worst enemy.
THINGS TO DO IN CYPRESS HILLS CENTRE BLOCK
What sets Cypress Hills Centre Block apart from simpler provincial park experiences is the abundance of recreational activities available. For the young, old, and everyone in between there’s something here to entertain. It’s very much a summer playground.
This can be both rewarding and overwhelming. It’s impossible to do everything on just one visit, especially if that visit is just a weekend. Even a four-night stay like we did would be a struggle to do everything, not to mention the hit to the wallet. But I guess that’s all the more reason to return again and again. It’s hard to get bored at a place like this.
Loch Leven
Loch Leven is the seed from which Cypress Hills Centre Block recreation grew. Planted in 1931 as a depression area work project, the lake is described in technical literature as a spring-fed impoundment. That means it’s not “natural.”
Today, as you’ll soon see, there are many ways to entertain yourself at the park. You could enjoy a lengthy vacation without so much as looking at Loch Leven. You could, but you shouldn’t.
Just looking at Loch Leven is enjoyable and easy enough to do. Across the road from the Visitor Centre is a cozy viewing area looking out over the lake, fronted by parking. The area includes a gazebo, several park benches, and a picnic table.
The main viewing area is mowed and the shoreline kept clear of obstructions. To the north additional benches reside within shrubs that do not appear to be getting trimmed. To the south additional picnic tables reside within the trees providing a sheltered picnic space but with limited view.
You’re most likely to see ducks and geese here along with other birds and dragonflies. The ducks tend to busy themselves with feeding in the water. The geese do likewise but also enjoy, umm, depositing evidence of their appetites on the grass. Watch your step.
One peculiarity you might witness is the mechanical harvesting machine that trolls Loch Leven to remove aquatic plants from the water. This is critical to keeping Loch Leven a lake. Patches of reeds along the shore are evidence of what could happen otherwise. Satellite imagery of neighouring Loch Lamond is even more striking.
Loch Leven Beach
The benefit of all this maintenance, aside from keeping the water open for paddling and fishing, is that it allows for a beach.
Like the lake, Loch Leven Beach is manmade. At roughly 60m long and 20m in width, it’s a modest beach but nonetheless offers space for kids to play and parents to soak in the rays. Well kept, too, judging from the grooming grooves in the sand. Yup, sand. Pebbly sand, but sand, nonetheless.
As for swimming, that’s a choice you’ll have to make. The beach shoreline looks clean and free of unpleasantness, but Loch Leven is more pond than swimming destination. The nearby outdoor shower for washing off suggests people do indeed swim here. But with a pool down the street, you won’t be judged for choosing to stay dry at the beach.
You’ll find the beach and associated amenities to the north of the marina on the west side of the lake. You can think of this area as the beach complex. Among the additions to the beach, there is a playground, changeroom/bathroom, and picnic facilities.
Immediately north of the volleyball and basketball courts at the marina is a small, three-space parking lot. From this parking lot, a trail heads further north to a larger parking lot with a sign designating it as boat rental parking. In doing so, the trail passes through a small, wooded area with some picnic tables.
On the north end of this larger parking lot is a fully enclosed picnic shelter. Inside there are several large picnic tables and a small woodburning stove. It also has electrical service. I assume this facility is primarily for local use, but it wasn’t locked when I was snooping around.
The east side of the parking lot borders a playground. The playground is a mix of modern and vintage equipment; the former being a climbing apparatus and the latter a swing set. Parents can supervise while relaxing on nearby park benches. The playground is nestled between the parking lot and south end of the beach.
North of the playground, in the woods between the picnic shelter and the north end of the beach is a changeroom/bathroom building. The changing rooms aren’t overly private as they lack closing doors. I’m not sure how popular they are anymore. The single flush toilet and sink are rudimentary but no doubt welcome when nature calls.
All around, the Loch Leven Beach complex is a lovely place to take the young ones to play. In its own way, a throwback to a simpler time of resort recreation.
Loch Leven Marina
Loch Leven Marina is a one-stop rental shop. Their primary product is watercraft which includes paddleboats, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards. We rented a canoe for a paddle around the loch which was quite enjoyable. Prices are reasonable compared to other rental locations we’ve encountered on our trips.
You could also take a canoe out to do some fishing. This is true whether you bring your own gear or rent it from the marina, which isn’t the most common thing I’ve witnessed on our travels. Additional rental items include bicycles, camping gear, and … here’s a throwback … DVDs and players.
Life jackets and helmets are included with your rental. The marina has its own dock for launching their watercraft. And despite the allure, you’re not allowed to loiter or, say, watch your family members paddling around in their rental canoe. I found this out personally with some irk.
Loch Leven Activities
In the green space between the marina and the beach, you’ll find three setups for sporting endeavours. There’s a basketball court with single hoop. While not a full-sized court, it is large enough to play two-on-two. A beach volleyball court, surrounded by grass, has space for a rousing game. And for those who enjoy something more eclectic, there’s a set of horseshoe pits. All you need to bring is willing friends and, presumably, appropriate equipment.
At the far end of the lake, across the road and to the left, is a vintage swing set. It’s an oddly placed swing set, sitting there beside the road with only a park bench for company. I wonder how it got there or why it was left there.
Loch Leven Boat Launch
You won’t find speedboats or water skiers on Loch Leven, but there is a boat launch, albeit a small one. Located at the north end of the lake, the launch consists of a floating dock and a short stretch of clear lakeshore.
You can insert manpowered craft such as canoes and kayaks from here but nothing that would require vehicle assistance. Nearby signage does indicate that you can use modest electric motors which would likely work on small fishing boats to go catch some of the stocked rainbow trout.
Swimming Pool
Front and centre in the heart of Cypress Hills Centre Block, where the main park roads converge, is the swimming pool. It’s hard to miss, but if you’re looking for it, it’s diagonally across the road from the Scoop and Sizzle and beside the Visitor Centre. There’s plenty of parking both in front and behind the pool grounds.
The pool is irregularly shaped, offering more than a traditional lane swim in a rectangle. It appears to be divided into three segments allowing adults and older kids to enjoy deeper water while younger kids and toddlers have shallower, safer places to play.
The pool is also heated making it more consistently comfortable than the lake would be. Swimming lessons and scheduled programs such as in-water exercise are offered throughout the summer.
Entry to the pool comes via a large building with male and female changerooms. There’s a reception desk inside for guidance and payment. Pool use is not free with park admission or campground reservation.
I didn’t take any interior pictures since people kind of freak out when you start snapping photos in public changerooms. We didn’t swim in the pool either, for that matter. Had we visited Cypress Hills when the kids were younger, I’m sure we’d have been in the pool daily.
Cypress Hills Golf Course
There’s a robust segment of the population for whom summer vacation would be a failure without a round or two of golf. Cypress Hills Centre Block has them covered thanks to the lovely, nine-hole Cypress Hills Golf Course.
This is a small but mighty course located at the southern tip of the park’s core. The access road is found along Cypress Drive, just south of the entrance to Deer Hollow Campground, and ends in a large, gravel parking lot.
Par for this course is 36, with two par fives, five par fours, and two par threes. There are three sets of tees for men and women each, with length of 2829, 3087, and 3362 respectively from the men’s tees. Fairways and greens are irrigated plus there’s a driving range.
I haven’t played the course myself, but it looks nice from afar. While not overly challenging, it won’t bore better players while remaining accessible to those who don’t play often. I imagine it makes a great place to give the kids their first taste of the sport.
Prices are reasonable whether you’re looking for a single round or a season pass. Rates do increase on weekends. You can also rent clubs, pull carts, and power carts.
The pro shop includes a licensed lounge selling food and snacks. You can sit inside to enjoy your 19th hole activities or retire to the attached patio. They even sell golf equipment and attire should you be a shockingly spontaneous golfer.
Lone Pine Pizza and Mini Golf.
I never had much aptitude for golf, and now with my body betraying me, mini golf is more my style. Or, more accurately, still my style. I’ve always loved this game.
Lone Pine Pizza and Mini Golf is a snack shack and 18-hole mini golf course that’ll be top of the to-do list for families vacationing at Cypress Hills Centre Block. It was on ours, having played it on both our camping trips to this park. I even won a free game which I gave to an unknown child since we were leaving the next morning. I hope he remembers my kindness when he first dons his green jacket.
Located at the northwest corner of the Cypress Drive and Pine Avenue intersection, Lone Pine is neighboured by the gas station and laundromat as well as Pinecrest Bible Camp. It has a large, gravel parking lot accessible from Cypress Drive.
The 18-hole mini golf course is fun with the expected hole types present, but it ain’t cheap. I was honestly surprised at the $15 general admission cost. Prices are a bit less for kids under 10 and again for kids under 5. Seniors, park employees, and military folk get a discount. But $15 adds up fast when your crew is parents and kids older than 10.
I thought the course was a bit aged. The turf is wearing out, and some of the border bricks are no longer secured in place. There is also a disappointing lack of hole design variety as most are simple put-the-ball-through-a-narrow-opening. Still enjoyable but keep your expectations tempered.
It’s also insanely busy at times. Those times seem to be summer afternoons and evenings. Toss in families with young children running amok and the place can be a bit of a gong show.
Once your round is complete, the fun continues. The snack shack has a surprisingly robust menu with lots of pizza options, burgers, fries, wraps, and bowls. There are breakfast options and appetizers as well. Hell, they even offer catering, which is wild. Never seen that in a park before but what a great idea for birthday parties.
The draw for me, however, is ice cream and like-minded treats. There’s both soft serve and hard ice cream in many tantalizing flavours. Sundaes, milkshakes, smoothies and iced drinks. Hot and cold coffees, teas, and specialty brews. And your everyday pops, sports drinks, and bottled water. In 2025, a waffle cone was $10 which caused me to bug my eyes a bit, but I guess this is the norm in popular summer resort areas like Cypress Hills Centre Block.
There are several picnic tables in the grass around the snack shack. For a less busy/crowded eating experience, the Poplar Picnic Area is across the street.
Prefer to just read a book? Well, oddly enough, Lone Pine Pizza and Mini Golf has you covered. There’s a mini library attached to the side of the shack. How cute is that?
Cypress Hills Riding Academy
Perhaps your interests skew toward the authentic and historical. This is the West, after all, and nothing screams Old West quite like horses. Or maybe you’re just a young girl embracing a stereotype.
Whichever is the case, Cypress Hills Riding Academy has a guided horseback ride with your name on it. Located at the corner of Cypress Drive and Bald Butte Road, this little operation provides family-friendly trail rides through Cypress Hills Centre Block.
I’m no horse-rider and my one family member that is, has already left the farm. So, I can’t comment on the quality of these rides though I have no reason to doubt that they are satisfying. The horses look calm and healthy, and the park offers excellent trails and views. If nothing else, the old car and horse trailer are fun to peek at.
Treeosix Adventure Parks
At the other end of the spectrum, is Treeosix Adventure Park. Home to modern pastimes including zipline, electric bikes, climbing wall, and treetop drop, this place will entertain the thrill seekers like nothing else in the park. It’s not cheap, however, so be prepared for more sticker shock.
The zipline adventure is quite something. I didn’t do it. No way. I’m too afraid of heights. But I watched a few brave souls take their turn zipping around high in the lodgepole pines. They looked like they were enjoying themselves. That’s what the screaming denotes, right?
Advanced reservations for the zipline are highly recommended. It’s by far the most popular of the activities available.
A far smaller zipline will give your wee ones a taste of the thrill without the risk. There’s a slackline as well for those adept at balancing. The climbing wall looks challenging and electric bicycles can be rented to tour around the park.
Treeosix also hosts an 18-hole disc golf course but in my brief exploration of the grounds, I couldn’t find evidence of it. It’s surely there somewhere, but this one will have to be a treasure for you to find. Sorry.
You can find Treeosix at Cypress Hills Centre Block in the heart of the park’s core just off Pine Ave on the road that takes you to the resort. It’s completely hidden within the lodgepole pine forest.
A gravel parking lot provides parking, and two yurts house the office and bathrooms. If you’re just curious, or you have family/friends playing, you can walk around the Treeosix grounds via a dirt path network. This is great for chickens like me who prefer to keep their feet on the earth and watch the insanity from below.
Segway Tours
The most unique offering at Cypress Hills Centre Block is off-road Segway Tours. They only offer guided tours, so you’ll have to swallow any hopes of renting a Segway and wreaking havoc throughout the park. There is also a wagon tour option should you prefer sitting. I can’t comment on either option as we did neither.
If you wish to try it out, you’ll find the tour office on the access road to Pine Hill Campground. There’s plenty of parking here as well, so you can drive from your campsite if you’re not staying at a close campground.
Tennis Courts
You might find this hard to believe, but there was a time before pickleball. People played something called tennis, a peculiar game that involved stringed rackets and hitting dog toys over a net, often while emitting guttural screams. It was quite popular back in the day.
So popular, in fact, that tennis courts were once built inside provincial parks. Cypress Hills Centre Block is one such park. Actually, it’s the only such park I’ve encountered. And from the looks of it, their tennis court hasn’t been used much at all since “back in the day.”
Still, it’s an interesting, if uncommon, addition to the park’s recreation repertoire. The fenced, double court looks worn but should still work for a casual game (pickleball even). There’s a green board to smack the ball against if you’re looking to practice. A drinking water tap just outside the fence will help keep you hydrated. And there’s a large (optimistic) gravel parking lot for your MGB.
You’ll find the tennis court off Bald Butte Road next to Aspen Grove Campground. It shares an access road with Sunset Group Camping.
Baseball Diamond and Basketball Hoop
If traditional sports are your bag, then the green space between Aspen Grove Campground and Meadows Campground might interest you. Here you’ll find a baseball diamond and a basketball hoop with small, paved pad.
Neither looks especially new. Or used, for that matter. We never saw anyone playing either sport, though we didn’t exactly stake out the place watching for such shenanigans.
There are campsites around the ball diamond named “ball diamond #” which has me thinking that slowpitch leagues may have weekend tournaments here or did in the past. This location would be ideal for such an event although the park most likely wouldn’t approve of in-game beverages as is tradition.
Observatory
Our primary interest in coming to Cypress Hills Centre Block was skygazing and using our telescope. While we are comfortable enough with this hobby to go about it on our own, we were nonetheless curious to attend the evening program held at the observatory.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is a designated Dark Sky Preserve. Not surprisingly, the observatory is located beside the Dark Sky Campground, itself just up the road from Meadows Campground. All are found along Bald Butte Road.
If you’re camping nearby, you can easily walk or bike to the observatory directly. If you prefer to drive, there is a parking lot across the road with a short, red-lit trail back to the observatory.
The observatory houses a 14” Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope and a 12” Dobsonian telescope. Next to it is a yurt classroom in which all the educational programming occurs. A small bathroom with flush toilets and sinks is also present. Several concrete platforms are located along a strip of ground allowing visitors to set up portable telescopes.
The scheduled evening program was hosted by a couple of university astrophysics students. It was informative and interactive, culminating with a viewing using the big telescopes under the dome. It’s great for anyone keen to learn about the solar system, kids included.
Having been amateur astronomers for a couple of years, we found the material a bit rudimentary. That’s not a knock on the program; we just aren’t the target audience. So, rather than clogging up space waiting for a chance to look through the big telescope, we slipped back to our campsite to look through our own.
If you’re a keen skygazer, each summer the Saskatoon and Regina chapters of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada hosts a star party at Cypress Hills Centre Block. The observatory and Meadows Campground are ground zero for this four-day event held each August during the Perseid meteor shower maximum.
Don’t get caught looking up all the time. On occasion, wonders of nature can be seen at ground level too.
Amphitheatre
Amphitheatres are relatively common at larger parks though in recent years, thanks to budget cuts, some have been left unused and deteriorating. That is not the case at Cypress Hills Centre Block.
The amphitheatre is found in the woods south of the Segway Tours parking lot. As you pass through this parking lot, on your right is a short access lane to the amphitheatre parking lot. To the left is the access trail that takes you to the amphitheatre. This is labeled as part of Woodlands Trail.
The trail here is paved with gentle slopes and side lighting making it a comfortable stroll from the parking lot. From the designated parking lot, it is roughly a 130m walk. You can also get there from other campgrounds via the trail network, but the lighting only occurs near the amphitheater.
This amphitheatre looks to be in great condition. They still offer regular programming throughout the summer months, titles and times for which are posted at the Visitor Centre. We didn’t attend any shows here, so I cannot comment on their quality. But based on our Observatory experience, I expect it to be interesting and entertaining for all ages.
Cypress Hills Speedway
I’m adding Cypress Hills Speedway to this list because it’s impossible to miss. Although it is not located inside the park, you’ll see it on the right-hand side of the entrance road soon after turning off Highway 21. Young wannabe racers in your crew are sure to notice.
This go kart speedway has a roughly 200m long paved track and snack bar. It offers single carts (over age 10) and double carts (diver over age 18 and passenger under age 10). So, it’s fun for young and old.
VIEWPOINTS AND TRAILS IN CYPRESS HILLS CENTRE BLOCK
Fear not Nature lovers. If you visit parks to actually escape the trappings of modern life, there are plenty of trails to hike and vistas to view at Cypress Hills Centre Block.
Hiking and Cycling Trails
Saskatchewan Parks boasts that Cypress Hills Centre Block is home to 18 trails with a cumulative 45km of length. Where they all start, go, and end, well, your guess is as good as mine because finding a definitive online map of these trails is impossible.
You do get a park and partial campground map when you arrive (albeit it’s an overly busy map) but no such trail counterpart. This is a glaring omission in my opinion. A trail map should be readily accessible, downloadable, and printable.
Alright, now that I’ve got that little rant out of my system, let me share what I discovered about the trail system in the park.
While I only hiked one trail and made use of a second, I did encounter a few more trails while exploring the park for this review. These included Flicker, Woodlands, Whispering Pines, and Moose. Many of these trails explore the interior of the park and connect the various campgrounds to each other as well as prominent park facilities. Others take you places further afield in the Centre Block.
When I encountered a trailhead, I’d venture a few metres along it to see what it’s like but nothing more. Ironically, Whispering Pines actually has a large trail map displayed at its trailhead. Go figure.
The exception to the above is Moose Trail, a portion of which we did make use of. Paralleling two of the main park roads, this was a great trail for walking or biking from our site in Meadows to the mini golf and all the amenities around Loch Leven.
The only catch is that there’s a significant elevation drop from Meadows Campground to Loch Leven. Great for getting down to the lake but a test of will going back up. Biking up that hill will burn your thighs unless you’re … you know … in shape or some such nonsense.
The segment in front of Meadows Campground (it actually runs behind Wild Raspberry Campground) is dirt. The remainder of the trail paralleling Cypress Drive is paved, albeit weathered. Some of the dirt portion narrows but otherwise Moose Trail is wide enough for side-by-side walking and easy passing of on comers. And while this is more a transit trail than wilderness trail, it offers a nice stroll.
Highland Trail
The one wilderness trail that I gave more than a cursory glance at is Highland Trail. The official name of this trail is hard to determine as there are several variations on the internet showing differing word order or the inclusion of Rotary. Even the trailhead signage displays different names. It’s a bit confusing. Thankfully, the trail itself is not.
At just under 2km, this loop trail is easy to navigate with only ~30m of elevation change over its course. Located in the southeastern part of Cypress Hills Centre Block, the trailhead is approximately 1.5km from the park office. It shares an offshoot from Ben Vannoch Drive with the Lone Pine Group Campground.
Highland Trail follows the west side of the valley in which Loch Lamond resides. It’s a marshy valley with several smaller ponds of water slowly filling in. A small stream appears to flow within as well and is identified as Lonepine Creek in some resources.
While the valley is bounded by forest, most of the trail resides in the transition zone between the woods and the marsh. There are plenty of bushes and grasses/weeds along the path with pockets of aspen trees. Towards the end, the trail does enter the conifer forest before zagging to the east to create the loop and return to the east side of the valley.
The trail is gravelly dirt and relatively smooth. There are some low spots that encounter water and thus have cobble and boardwalk crossings. You can probably hike this in runners or summer footwear if you really want to.
At about the 2/3rds mark on the out loop, the trail and larger pond come together, and a wooden viewing area has been built. It offers decent views of the marsh and presumably some good birdwatching.
Another viewing spot on Highland Trail is along the footbridge at the north end where the trail loop closes. That bridge is a bit rickety at this stage of its life, but you get excellent views of the valley from its middle.
You’re sure to encounter wildlife along this trail. In my case, I angered an ornery squirrel who believes this entire valley is theirs. Depending on the time of year, I can imagine mosquitoes could be unpleasant here with all that standing water around. It wasn’t bad when I did the hike in late August. Wildflowers are likely attractive in the spring.
All in all, an enjoyable hike. I’m happy to have chosen this one for a short jaunt though I didn’t do the entire loop (I went out and returned the way I came). I can’t compare it to other trails within Cypress Hills Centre Block since this is the only one I did. But I would recommend hiking Highland Trail at a minimum.
Lookout Point
Lookout Point is one of two viewpoints in Cypress Hills Centre Block. Both are in the northwest corner of the park and offer panoramic views of the prairies to the north and west. You get to them via Bald Butte Road with Lookout Point being the viewpoint on the right when looking at a map.
Just off the north side of the road is a paved parking lot. At its far end is a small pavilion with an educational display within. A concrete bench is situated off to the left. Before you are sweeping views. It’s really that simple.
Bald Butte
Bald Butte is the second viewpoint, the one to the left on the map, and the better of the two in my opinion. The layout is similar to Lookout Point with a worn, paved parking lot off the road, pergola, and educational display. The difference arises with the short trail necessary to traverse to get to Bald Butte from the parking lot.
This modest trail is footworn dirt and rock. While short, it’s not the easiest trail you’ll encounter. It passes through shrubs as it dips down into a ravine before coming out of the brush and ascending onto the butte.
Getting onto Bald Butte is worth the hassle as the view up there is impressive. Living up to its name, there is far less obstruction of the view by trees, so you get a real good look at the endless horizon here. While neither viewpoint will soak up hours of your day, they’re both worth checking out during your visit.
Fort Walsh & Battle Creek Trail
Before wrapping up this review, I’d like to circle all the way back to my cheeky introduction. The Saskatchewan side of the park that actually straddles the border does, indeed, have things in it. This part is called the West Block, by the way. Despite the Alberta side of the interprovincial park lying to the west of the West Block. See? Odd.
In the Cypress Hills West Block, there are a couple of campgrounds (West Block, Ranger Creek) and an equestrian campground. All are rustic, first come, first served, and well away from civilization. Two conglomerate cliff lookout points highlight the geological formation that created the Cypress Hills. And there are several trails to entertain the hiking and nature enthusiasts.
The biggest draw in the West Block, however, is Fort Walsh National Historic Site. Which isn’t technically part of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park despite being attached to it and sharing a management plan with it. Again, odd.
I’ve written in detail about Fort Walsh and the Battle Creek Trail which has its trailhead at the fort. I encourage you to read about them here and here.
CONCLUSION AND RATING
If you’re hunting for a family summer vacation spot, Cypress Hills Centre Block is exactly what you’re looking for. It’s a fantastic resort park with plenty to do in a beautiful setting. A Saskatchewan gem that counters the flat, treeless, boring stereotype. I only wish we had gone when our kids were younger.
I’ll give Cypress Hills Centre Block 4.8 Baby Dill Pickles out of 5.0! It really is almost perfect in my mind. Whether you prefer tents, RVs, or cabins, there’s a spot waiting for you. I deduct a tenth only because the light pollution in Meadows Campground, where we came specifically to view the stars, was frustrating. And another tenth for the overpriced mini golf. Otherwise, we loved both our visits.
As for ranking campgrounds, I think I’d try Warlodge, Terrace, or Rainbow for regular camping. They’re all very similar, so seek the best site in each. Pine Hill is a decent backup that will get better with time as all those trees grow. Meadows works if you can’t get in the others or if, like us, you really want unobstructed skies. Lodgepole is kind of an afterthought. I’m not fond of its location but if you have a large RV and want easy, pull-through campsites, go there first, I guess. If I was using a tent, I’d definitely go to Deer Hollow. Dark Sky is an option if you’re hellbent on reducing light pollution and don’t care about flush toilets or showers. Aspen Grove and Ball Diamond … ugh … only use these if you have zero other options and absolutely must camp in Cypress Hills Centre Block.
Before you head west for yet another mountain camping trip, take a look in the other direction. There are cool places on them prairies and you’d be remiss for overlooking them. This is one of the very best of them. The decidedly Saskatchewan-only part of Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Hey, it’s the quirkiness that makes this province great.
Thanks for your most comprehensive review. Looks like a destination for this summer for sure. And Bald Butte! A favourite song by Colter Wall. Wondered where it was. Now I really have to visit.
I’ll have to check out Colter Wall. My first time hearing his name.
Thanks for the excellent detailed review, so glad you’re back posting these. Cypress Hills has been on our radar for awhile but we’re bumping it up the list!
Thanks for the feedback. I’ve never written anything this long before. It was daunting so, I’m happy to know it is well received.