North Cowboy Trail Day 2: Drayton Valley to Alder Flats
- Distance One-way: 48.5km
- Round trip drive time: 1 hr 4 min
- Road trip timeframe: Full day
It is day two on your north Cowboy Trail road trip and you are refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Using Drayton Valley as your staging area head East on Hwy 22, you will head down into the North Saskatchewan River valley. The North Saskatchewan River is a recreational playground for the locals; river boating, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing are all activities enjoyed at the river.
Cresting the hill on the northside of the river valley you will see a sign for the entrance to the Eagle Point Provincial Park. In this part of the park you will find interpretive hiking/biking trails, the Willey West Campground, and boat launch area. Reserve an hour to hike the area, on a warm summer day plan to have some fun in the river down at the boat launch area.
Continuing on Hwy 22, you will turn south at the Hwy 39/22 junction and head to Alder Flats. As a side note the Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation area off the Buck Creek road is a wonderful side trip for ATV enthusiasts.
Driving to Alder Flats you start to see the landscape change to more of a rolling hill and heavy forest and to the west on a clear day you can see the Rocky Mountains.
If fishing, boating or paddle sports is your jam then off Hwy 22, mid way to Alder Flats you can first begin to access Buck Lake via Twp 464. This will take you to the Buck Lake Provincial Recreation Area. This is an Alberta Parks open style campground, with a boat launch area, pump water and pit toilet amenities.
Further up Hwy 22 you will come to the turn off to Alder Flats. The Hamlet of Alder Flats is located at most west point of Hwy 13 and at the Hwy 13 and Hwy 22 junction. Exploring the Alder Flats area you will find food, camping amenities, and tourist attractions such as golf, and a meadery.
To find out more about the Hwy 13 have a look at road trip “Homesteaders Way Hwy 13: Winfield to Alder Flats.”
The joys of winter camping
Last winter some gals and I embarked on a trial cross country skiing/winter camping adventure on the Pembina River. The experience was amazing and left me wishing that winter was not coming to such an abrupt end.
The back 40
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Ten winter experiences close to home
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Spaaah Experience
This prompted me to wonder what other hidden gems we had in Drayton Valley that could be used to make an at home spa day.
Rural Watering Hole Tour
Before there were clubs, and ultra lounges there was the rural bar. The rural bar was a place people would go to have a drink, eat some food, get a bit of news and maybe even get a haircut. The rural bar was usually built alongside or attached to the lone hotel in the community.
Rural rodeos you don’t want to miss
Rodeos have been a big part of the Brazeau and Beyond region since the Buck Lake Stampede first ran in 1929. The rural rodeo experience is not the circus you see in the larger locales. You’re closer to the action and it’s much more intimate.
