Explore Outdoors
Free Activities in Elkwater, Cypress Hills Provincial Park
Under an hour drive from Medicine Hat brings you to the beautiful rolling hills of Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Under an hour drive from Medicine Hat brings you to the beautiful rolling hills of Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Along with sitting lakeside, camping, paddling the water, and hitting up the trails, there are free activities throughout the week to explore the area on a guided tour or learning a new adventurous outdoor skill.
Learn to Mountain Bike (youth)
Want to hit the trails? Join a professional mountain bike instructor. This introductory level program will erase those city cycling habits that make trail riding so hard. Come learn about bikes, brakes, and body position before you go! (psst – this will help you go faster too!)
Learn to Mountain Bike (adult)
Have questions about mountain biking you don’t want to ask in front of kids? Join a professional mountain bike instructor. Come learn about mountain biking techniques that will help you feel more in control of your bike and help you keep up with your kids!
Name something more quintessentially Canadian than canoeing. Join us for an evening paddle on Elkwater Lake.
There is something about knowing the name of plants that causes you to care more about them. Come for a walk with a local taxonomist and share knowledge, stories, and learn about this botanical island.
Have you ever looked up at the night sky in wonder? Join Rod DeVries as he takes you on a tour of the night sky in Cypress Hills Dark Sky Preserve. Discover stars, planets, and other astronomical wonders. Program runs clear skies or cloudy!
Movie Night at the Amphitheatre
The Elkwater Community Associaiton Presents... Movie Nights at the Outdoor Ampthitheatre! Movies are held Saturday night on the dates listed below. Movie will start at about 9:00pm. Bring blankets, bug spray, a flashlight and Snacks!
Take a 2km stomp through a shady spruce forest and back through a hilly aspen meadow, to explore the flora and fingers-crossed fauna along Beaver Creek.
Explore the principles of island biogeography, glaciation and the fantastic creatures found within, through fun games and activities.
You’ve seen it on TV! Come for a family oriented challenge using elements from our school programs! The race around the Visitor Center, Learning Center, beach, and town site will get your head thinking and your heart pumping!
Do you like searching for hidden treasure? Get off the beach and into the
backcountry with geocaching. Let’s lay down some coordinates and start searching. GPS units provided!
Slow down, you move too fast. Let’s make this moment last and appreciate our natural environment with water color, wood burning, rubbings or an art scavenger hunt. Materials are provided!
A lot of wisdom comes from poor judgement. Preferably from the poor judgement of others. Come learn about navigation, shelter building, and weather permitting, fire starting!
Elkwater hosts some of the greatest diversity of species of birds anywhere in the province. Join us for a 3km walk along the lakeshore.
Picture this, Pokemon for adults, the same joy of catching them all, but in real life, recording animals, insects, plants and fungi, helping discover species and contributing to science. Join us at the Visitor Center and become Citizen Scientist, bring a phone and let’s go catch them all, on an iNaturalist adventure.
Explore the rainbow of wildflowers found in the Cypress Hills. Join us for a 2.7km loop, heading up the grassy slopes of Old Baldy, then down and around through an aspen forest along Cougar Ridge.
Join us for an evening around the campfire to hear stories, sing songs and learn about the animals that call the Cypress Hills home. Be sure to bring a camp chair and a blanket.
Watch our reel featuring a handful of free activities in Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Union All-Terrain Obstacle Course Race
An All-Terrain Obstacle Course at Hidden Valley Snow Resort. Please visit the union races event page for more information.
Back-Country Trail Run and Mountain Bike Race
Union Races back country trail 5k or 10k trail run and back-country mountain bike race. Please see the union races event page for more details.
Epic weekend of mountain bike racing and great food in Elkwater, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park on August 24th, 2024. Check out the Battle Creek Showdown and Mountain Bike Race and Festival facebook page for more details.
Once a year the Mad Hatters' Running Club hosts a 2km, 5km and 10km race in Elkwater, Cypress Hills Provincial Park. All levels are welcome, and if some plan to walk most of the race, they are encouraged to enter the shorter loops. Visit the Futterwacken Trail Run website for more details.
Listed below are stores where you can bring home a little piece of Medicine Hat.
Local owners welcome the work of artists and creators with open arms and feature the one-of-a-kind items on their shelves.
Everything in this store is made in Alberta, and sprinkled throughout are products made in Medicine Hat, too. Make your rounds, because they have items for you, your little ones, and your pups. This store is dog-friendly.
A place with sophisticated and quality blazers that are designed by the owner herself, and all embroidery is done in Medicine Hat. Along with clothing items, By the C has greeting cards, journals, coasters, and t-shirts that are designed by artists Kelly Schlenker and Shelly Prinz, who are from Medicine Hat.
Botanicals has partnered with Medicine Hat candle maker, Lunahrin Candles, to curate good-smelling scents that are exclusive to Botanicals. The two work together to create soft scents that are labeled, Happy Place and Cozy Place. While the plants bring a vibrant look to your home, you can find a nice scent for it as well. This store is dog-friendly.
Accessories and decor made in Medicine Hat are sprinkled throughout this creative space, alongside other quality goods, gifts, and clothing. Attention to detail is key in this small shop, as you’ll continue to find beautiful items that catch your eye.
Grup is a sustainable Medicine Hat business that finds old Levi jeans and transforms them into modern wear, from jeans, to jackets, bags and hats.
Owner Tamara Miller creates her own products using the herbs she sells in store, from teas to lip balm, bath bombs, and more. She also offers local foods and produce.
In this bookstore, you’ll find an assortment of books in all different genres. And everyone knows the perfect pairing to a good book is a cup of coffee. If you plan to have a hot beverage while reading your book, ‘River Bee Books’ branded clay mugs are featured in this independent bookstore, made by local potter Dawn Olsen. This store is dog-friendly.
Another small shop that is exclusive to Medicine Hat creators, whether you’re looking for home decor, accessories, or a souvenir. They also host craft classes, so you have the opportunity to create something of your own to take home.
While stocking up on quality oil and balsamic, or waiting for your lunch to be prepared, sneak a peek of the exclusive pottery by Mud to a Rock. The Hat’s Olive Tap is the only place this potter sells her creations, and rarely does she make two of the same items.
Let us know if you feature made-in-Medicine Hat products here
Downtown Medicine Hat is a prime spot for wandering the historic streets and avenues and visiting local businesses.
Live Music in Downtown Medicine Hat
In the historic hub with local eateries, an ultimate live music crawl is found. Follow the sound along streets and avenues to find live music in the heart of the city, starting at one of these four spots who host live music almost every weekend in the summer.
From home decor, to thrifted and curated clothing, to records and books, browse each shop opened by a local.
Find these vibrant events in the heart of the city.
Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown is ideally suited for wandering and exploring with a drink in hand. Take in all the special spots that make our downtown a must-see neighbourhood.
For a guided tour led by a local, join the Downtown Bakery Tour and the Indy Coffee Tour.
Find free street parking in Downtown Medicine Hat.
Find free parking in Medicine Hat's Historic Downtown
Find year-round annual events in Medicine Hat's Historic Downtown.
Various dates throughout the year
Indulge in a local food festival, live music and beer gardens on 3rd street, sidewalks sales and more in the heart of the city.
Find more details about Downtown Days.
July 2025
An early morning celebration of Medicine Hat and Western culture, filling the streets with vibrant floats, shiny vehicles, and talented performances.
Find Stampede Parade details here.
Various dates throughout the summer
Step back into the past as you’re guided through the tree lined boulevard by Sally (McGee) Sehn, who grew up on First Street.
Find dates for Historic Walking Tours here.
Various dates throughout the summer
A progressive coffee crawl into Medicine Hat’s caffeine culture. Visit with independent coffee shop owners, and discover the unique flavour and vibe of each place.
Find Indy Coffee Tour tickets here.
Various dates throughout the summer
Tour bakeries in downtown Medicine Hat, sampling sweet and savoury treats from each spot and visiting with the owners.
Find Bakery Tour tickets here.
A Medicine Hat classic Holidays event in the thick of winter. The community comes to downtown Medicine Hat for events, shopping, and more happening until midnight.
Find details about Midnight Madness here.
July 2025
Inviting local, national, and international artists to paint downtown walls each year, 2025's Mural Fest will add colour to the heart of the city throughout the summer.
Whether it's a restaurant, cafe, bakery, brewery, distillery, or outdoor eatery, food and beverage pairs well with Medicine Hat sunshine.
Restaurants owned by the locals in Medicine Hat, sharing their culinary skill and personal recipes with with every dish.
Whether dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian or vegan, from breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, find a plate of food for you.
See where the magic happens in Medicine Hat's award-winning brewery rooms, and then enjoy a taste of it yourself.
The sweetest of tours in the heart of the city, all treats are made in-house along the historic streets.
Find Southeast Alberta-Grown Vegetables
Neighbour to Medicine Hat is the “Greenhouse Capital of the Prairies”, Redcliff, Alberta. This greenhouse hub features a handful of spots that have fresh vegetables and herbs grown right here in Southeast Alberta.
Start with the hot drinks and sweet treats, and then keep browsing the menu to find see if another creative items catches your eye.
A perfect summer experience, the ice cream tour features local businesses serving Alberta-made ice cream. And there might just be a butterfly house along the way.
Each with its own personality, the coffee shops in downtown Medicine Hat have cultivated a caffeine culture. And one spot roasts beans using a roaster from the 80s.
Visit one of the many city parks in Medicine Hat with a picnic basket filled with local ingredients. Enjoy lunch on the lush grass under the summer sun.
Food and beverage found only in Medicine Hat, whether indoors, outdoors, or in the country with the sunset.
Dog-Friendly Patios
Almost all patios in Medicine Hat are dog-friendly. Be sure to call beforehand to make a reservation and to include your pups in the total number of guests.
Only a 45 minute drive from Medicine Hat.
In Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Elkwater is the hub for nearby outdoor activities. Whether surrounded by lodgepole pine and aspen forest, or surrounded by calm waters of Elkwater Lake, connect with nature and soak in the sunshine in the rolling hills.
Bring a canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle board, and float the water of Elkwater Lake with the sunrise or into the sunset. In the late morning or afternoon, bask in the comfort of the heat.
A blanket of soft sand invites visitors to build sand castles, lay in the sun, swim in the water, and enjoy moments spent with loved ones or solo. With water that’s safe to swim in and a comfy beachside, the day can be energetic or relaxing.
Right near Elkwater Lake, find Swirls Ice Cream serving creamy treats on a warm, sunny day. This local spot is a favourite in Medicine Hat, so the owners brought the treats to Elkwater for everyone to enjoy.
Hiking, mountain biking, and leisure trails, and are found throughout Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, and most are in close distance to the Elkwater Townsite. From family-friendly to challenging trails for hiking and biking, choose an adventure that best suits the day with information on page xx, or at the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre.
Snug in the rolling hills, 12-34 Cafe serves a full menu of coffee, food, and baked desserts. Stop at this cabin-inspired coffee shop to start your day, or find a meal to refuel the energy spent enjoying the outdoors.
From tent to RV camping, or comfort cabin glamping, to booking a stay at Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort, there are accommodations that suit all needs in Elkwater.
Pack the gear, because Elkwater Lake has fish to catch. Choose a spot and fish from the dock, on a boat, or in a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board. A fishing license is required.
The Cypress Hills Visitor Centre has informative counsellors for any inquiries about specific activities and things to do. Displays and exhibits can be wandered as well, to learn more about the wildlife and nature in the area, and a gift shop is available for souvenirs.
Race through the beautiful 190+ kilometre trail system and many city parks.
Being one of Medicine Hat’s largest races located in the beautiful, tree-filled Kin Coulee Park, over 400 racers of all levels take part each year. The race is seven-kilometres with 28 obstacles, like rope climbs and monkey bars, to challenge and encourage growth for the next race.
Take in the comforting fall colours during this race, beginning in Echo Dale Regional Park. The trail winds through the coulees, with views of the South Saskatchewan River from above, and Medicine Hat’s city centre in the far distance.
5KM, 10KM, or 21.1KM | unionraces.ca
A family-friendly race hosted in October, where families and friends dress in costumes to celebrate Halloween. Surrounded by 300-year-old cottonwood trees in Police Point Park, with up-close glimpses of the admired cliffs facing the South Saskatchewan River, the natural beauty and wildlife is a treat.
Run or walk this trail, which starts and finishes on Medicine Hat College's main campus. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to get in on the fun. People with strollers and wheelchairs are encouraged to participate.
Union Trail is hosted the day after Conquer the Coulee in Kin Coulee Park, which is a mix of paved and cross-country trails, with no obstacles. It’s a perfect race to end the weekend, and a great race for all abilities and ages.
For 38 years, the YMCA River Run brings people through Lions Park, Strathcona Island Park, Saratoga Park, and Police Point Park, with a view of the South Saskatchewan River. A race for people of all ages and mobility levels.
5KM, 10KM, or 21.1KM | medicinehatymca.ca
Runners reach the highest point between the Rocky Mountains and Labrador (1,466 metres) during this 50-kilometre and ultra race, held in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Given 13 hours to finish, people are surrounded by beautiful, Canadian landscapes, with lodgepole pine and aspen trees.
hiddenoasisultra.com | June 8, 2024
Starting before sunrise at 4:00a.m., hike, bike, kayak, and bushwhack your way to each checkpoint with only a map and compass to guide you, throughout Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Massacre Lite is a shorter race designed for anyone wanting to get a taste of adventure racing. Massacre Lite starts at 8:30a.m.
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