Dogs must be on leash at all times within Cooking-Lake Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area
Please clean up after your dog. Dog waste does not decompose the same way as wild dog waste does due to diet.
During winter months, dogs are PROHIBITED from any trails that are track set for cross country skiing. This is for dog and skier safety and to preserve the tracks. Please keep to trails such as the Central Alleyway, Waskehegan North, Wapiti, Round-Up, Winter, open pastures and trails starting from the Blackfoot Staging Area.
Birding
The park is home to more than 200 species of birds.
Two pairs of nesting trumpeter swans, the largest and rarest swan species in the world, reside in this area. If you come across the swans or their nesting sites, please do not disturb them.
There is a great blue heron colony on Blackfoot Lake.
Canoeing / Kayaking
Canoeing and kayaking is allowed on Islet Lake. NO power boats are permitted.
A dark-sky preserve is a sanctuary from artificial light - an area that maintains the nocturnal environment in as pristine a manner as possible. This makes a better environment for nocturnal wildlife and it's great for stargazing.
Hiking / Trail Running
Hiking is permitted on any trail, as well as in pastures, except those marked as "closed".
On designated equestrian trails and alleyways (more than 85 kilometres). Note that snowmobiles are also permitted on Central Alleyway Trail from Waskehagan Staging Area to the winter shelter.
On most of the resource roads in the eastern half of Cooking Lake-Blackfoot (some of these are narrow roads across open pastures)
In designated pastures. Signs at pasture gates indicate if that pasture is available for riding ("open"/"closed").
Equestrian trails are accessible from Waskehegan, Central and Blackfoot Lake Staging Areas. These areas are equipped with loading ramps and hitching posts. There is NO equestrian access from Islet Lake Staging Area.
Equestrian trails that originate from Blackfoot Staging Area are closed to equestrian use from December 1 until March 31. In winter, these trails are track set for cross-country skiing.
Round Up, Wapiti and Winter (north) Trails are shared equestrian and cross-country skiing. They are normally set with one track. During the first two weeks of February, the trails are set with two tracks for the Canadian Birkebeiner Ski Festival and are closed to equestrian use.
Several charity fundraising rides are held at Cooking Lake-Blackfoot.
Recreational hunting takes place from the beginning of September to the end of December each year. Hunting by Treaty Indians may occur at any time. For more information, please contact 780-922-3293.
Mountain Biking
Mountain bikes are NOT permitted on equestrian trails.
Biking is permitted on all hiking trails and roads.
Wildlife Viewing
Common species seen in the park include beaver, coyote, deer (mule and whitetail), elk, foxes, moose, muskrat, red squirrels, skunk and weasels.
Bear, cougar, lynx and wolf are also occasionally seen in the park.
Prohibited Activities
NO CAMPING ALLOWED. Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area is day use only.
The site is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
The exception to the "day use only" rule is overnight camping by organized youth or educational groups at Group Use Areas.
NO ATV USE. There are no All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) riding opportunities in Cooking Lake-Blackfoot. Snowmobiling is the only off highway vehicle activity permitted - in designated areas only.
