Camp beside Elkwater Lake at Firerock Campground in Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Sculpted hills, dramatic skies, a pretty lake with sandy beaches, and a paved bike trail along the shore make Firerock Campground at Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park an awesome family camping destination. There is also a Visitor Centre with interesting displays and kids’ activities, free mini golf, three playgrounds along the lake, fishing, birding, boating, and hiking. To top it all off, there were no mosquitoes!
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Campground Amenities
Located at the west end of Elkwater Lake, Elkwater Campground is quiet (the townsite and other campgrounds are to the east) and has great campsites right beside the lake. Since we stayed in Loops D & A, walked through Loop B (our original reserved site was there, but we didn’t like it), visited friends in Loop E, and drove through Loop C to get to E, we saw the whole campground. A rundown of each loop is below:
- Loop A: closest to the lake and showers, beautiful view of the lake and hills, sites are large and flat, no shade, breezy. Peg your tent down well and bring a screen house or sun shade. We liked being able to ride or walk to the showers, beach, and playground at West End Day Use Area. From West End, we could get on to the Shoreline Trail and ride to the Marina and Visitor Centre. Note: You will have to pay extra for the large power sites in Loop A. Having a view and not having to get in our cars to go anywhere made it worth every penny!
- Loop B: offers quick access to the lake; sites are smaller and many are unshaded. Do NOT book B38 – I think it’s the smallest site in the campground!
- Loops C, D & E: located 0.6-1.0 km up the hill from Loop B. Loops C & D have some very nice, forested sites of a decent size. Loop E sites were not as nice so they would be my last choice (many sites were unshaded and lumpy). Check when reserving to see if your site has trees and keep in mind that these loops are a bit far to the showers and lake.
What We Liked
- Proximity to West End Day Use Area (beach, playground, showers) and Shoreline Trail from Loops A & B
- Clean washrooms and showers
- Hot showers at the Lakeview Shower Building
- Cell phone reception
- The campsite host was responsive when a large group made noise past 11 PM. S/he gave the group a warning and they were quiet for the rest of the night and the next.
What We Didn’t Like
- There is no path from Loops C, D or E directly to the showers; you can a) walk down on the side of the road, b) take the Firerock Trail* down to West Central Day Use area then backtrack on the Shoreline Trail to the showers, or c) drive down. *I heard the Firerock Trail is an excellent mountain biking trail, but didn’t get the chance to ride it, so am not sure if young riders would be able to handle it. I imagine adults would be fine getting from camp to the lake as it is rated a blue (moderate) trail.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely be back! Next year we would like to stay in the AA Loop, do some hiking, rent a canoe, and do some fishing.
For fun things to do near Elkwood Campground, read Summer Fun in Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Getting Here
The hamlet of Elkwater in Cypress Hills Provincial Park is located 3.5 hours SE of Calgary / 2 hrs 20 minutes from Lethbridge / 45 minutes from Medicine Hat. Click here for Google Maps directions.
Hiking and Camping Essentials
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Waterproof mid-height hiking boots, a down hoody or fleece, toque, gloves, and windproof/waterproof shell are recommended year round. Trekking poles are useful for long hikes, steep descents, or when you’re carrying a fully-loaded backpack (or are babywearing). You should also carry The Ten Essentials including: water, extra food, extra clothes, a first aid kit, headlamp, GPS / compass / Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator* and map of the area, mineral sunscreen, bug spray (this DEET-free insect repellent contains 20% icaridin and will repel ticks), and bear spray. Carry bear spray in a Bear Spray Holster or Scat Griz Bear Spray Running Belt.
*A Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator is highly recommended for contacting Search & Rescue and emergency contacts in the event of an emergency, or communicating with friends and family when you are out of cell phone range. You can send text messages and your GPS coordinates via satellite, but a monthly service plan is required.
See our Ultimate Camping Pack List for camping essentials!
