Caution

Weather Alert: Snowfall and cold conditions are expected across Alberta. Check the weather forecast and 511 Alberta before heading out. Drive with caution and be prepared for changing conditions in our parks.

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Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area

Alberta Parks
Information

Officially named Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Grazing, Wildlife and Provincial Recreation Area, this park supports a variety of outdoor recreation activities, as well as grazing and Indigenous and seasonal hunting.

Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use

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Effective Date: July 8, 2026 - Until Further Notice

Where: Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use , Central Staging Area Day Use , Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area , Islet Lake Staging Area Day Use , Waskehegan Staging Area Day Use

Details: Due to recent heavy rains, trails are wet and muddy and some trails and bridges are underwater. Please check trail reports or staging area kiosks for closures before heading out. Use caution in wet areas, as beaver trenches may be hidden and pose a tripping hazard.

Information: 780-922-3293
Season: Year-round
Directions

Blackfoot Lake Staging Area is the most northern of the four staging areas. It offers designated truck and horse-trailer parking, a picnic shelter with a wood stove, and an information kiosk with maps. All amenities are first come, first served.

Located only 25 minutes east of Edmonton, 4km south of HWY 16 on Range Road 195, just east of the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village.

This staging area connects to equestrian, shared and hiking/biking trails, providing access to the entire park. In the wintertime, equestrian users are required to stage from Central or Waskehegan, as this trail system is utilized for cross-country and skate skiing, fat tire biking, skijoring, dog sledding and snowshoeing only.

Equestrian users should note that Lamont County has placed a 50% weight restriction on Range Road 195. Trucks hauling horse trailers are permitted to access this road at 50% capacity only. Equestrian trails can also be accessed from Central or Waskehegan Staging Areas. Smaller passenger vehicles are not impacted by this restriction.

Amenities

  • Check out the trail report here to see what activities can be done on which trail. Some trails change usage during the summer and winter (Dec 1 – March 31) months. Please obey all signage and trail designations. 
  • In winter, cross-country ski trails are for skiers only and require careful grooming. Visitors participating in other activities are asked to use other designated trails to keep everyone safe. You can read more about Winter Activities here.  
  • There is no potable water available at this site. Please bring your own.
  • There is no firewood provided at this site. Please bring your own wood as well as water to extinguish your fire.

Maps & Guides

  • Winter Trail Map Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Map, Baker Springs Trail, Beaver Trail, Blackfoot Trail, Boundary Trail, Buck Run Trail, Central Alleyway Trail, Cutoff Trail, Detour Trail, Don's Way Trail, Elkhorn Trail, Faraway Trail, Flattail Trail, Grouse Trail, Hare Trail, Heron Hollow Trail, Highline Trail, J.J. Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Meadow Trail, Middle Trail, Moose Link Trail, Morningside Trail, Muskrat Trail, N.U.L. Cycling Connector Trail, N.U.L. East Trail, N.U.L. North Trail, N.U.L. West Trail, Neon Lake Trail, Norris Ridge Trail, North Trail, Outlet Trail, Porcupine Trail, Push Lake Trail, Round Up Trail, Running Dog Trail, Siksika Trail, Springs Trail, Spruce Hollow Trail, Swan Trail, Tie-in Trail, Wanisan Trail, Wapiti Trail, Waskehegan Trail, Wellsite Trail, Whitetail Trail, Winter Trail Lost Lake Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Meadow Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Running Dog Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use Central Staging Area Day Use Islet Lake Staging Area Day Use Waskehegan Staging Area Day Use -- f4de62d7-648e-4666-bf4e-421e5cef3636 True
  • Winter Trail Tear Sheet Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Map, Baker Springs Trail, Beaver Trail, Blackfoot Trail, Boundary Trail, Buck Run Trail, Central Alleyway Trail, Cutoff Trail, Detour Trail, Don's Way Trail, Elkhorn Trail, Faraway Trail, Flattail Trail, Grouse Trail, Hare Trail, Heron Hollow Trail, Highline Trail, J.J. Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Meadow Trail, Middle Trail, Moose Link Trail, Morningside Trail, Muskrat Trail, N.U.L. Cycling Connector Trail, N.U.L. East Trail, N.U.L. North Trail, N.U.L. West Trail, Neon Lake Trail, Norris Ridge Trail, North Trail, Outlet Trail, Porcupine Trail, Push Lake Trail, Round Up Trail, Running Dog Trail, Siksika Trail, Springs Trail, Spruce Hollow Trail, Swan Trail, Tie-in Trail, Wanisan Trail, Wapiti Trail, Waskehegan Trail, Wellsite Trail, Whitetail Trail, Winter Trail Lost Lake Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Meadow Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Running Dog Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use Central Staging Area Day Use Islet Lake Staging Area Day Use Waskehegan Staging Area Day Use -- f4de62d7-648e-4666-bf4e-421e5cef3636 True
  • Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Trail Map Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Trails, Map, Buck Run, Central Alleyway, Elkhorn, Faraway, Gas Line, Heron Hollow, Moringside, Muskrat, N. U. L. East, Norris Ridge, Outlet, Springs, Wellsite, Whitetail Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use -- f4de62d7-648e-4666-bf4e-421e5cef3636 True
  • Summer Trail Map Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Map, Baker Springs Trail, Beaver Trail, Blackfoot Trail, Boundary Trail, Buck Run Trail, Central Alleyway Trail, Cutoff Trail, Detour Trail, Don's Way Trail, Elkhorn Trail, Faraway Trail, Flattail Trail, Grouse Trail, Hare Trail, Heron Hollow Trail, Highline Trail, J.J. Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Meadow Trail, Middle Trail, Moose Link Trail, Morningside Trail, Muskrat Trail, N.U.L. Cycling Connector Trail, N.U.L. East Trail, N.U.L. North Trail, N.U.L. West Trail, Neon Lake Trail, Norris Ridge Trail, North Trail, Outlet Trail, Porcupine Trail, Push Lake Trail, Round Up Trail, Running Dog Trail, Siksika Trail, Springs Trail, Spruce Hollow Trail, Swan Trail, Tie-in Trail, Wanisan Trail, Wapiti Trail, Waskehegan Trail, Wellsite Trail, Whitetail Trail, Winter Trail Lost Lake Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Meadow Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Running Dog Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use Central Staging Area Day Use Islet Lake Staging Area Day Use Waskehegan Staging Area Day Use -- f4de62d7-648e-4666-bf4e-421e5cef3636 True
  • Summer Trails Pamphlet with Map Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Baker Springs Trail, Beaver Trail, Blackfoot Trail, Buck Run Trail, Central Alleyway Trail, Cutoff Trail, Detour Trail, Don's Way Trail, Elkhorn Trail, Faraway Trail, Flattail Trail, Grouse Trail, Hare Trail, Heron Hollow Trail, Highline Trail, J.J. Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Meadow Trail, Middle Trail, Moose Link Trail, Morningside Trail, Muskrat Trail, Neon Lake Trail, Norris Ridge Trail, Outlet Trail, Porcupine Trail, Push Lake Trail, Round Up Trail, Running Dog Trail, Siksika Trail, Springs Trail, Spruce Hollow Trail, Swan Trail, Tie-in Trail, Wanisan Trail, Wapiti Trail, Waskehegan Trail, Wellsite Trail, Whitetail Trail, Winter Trail, Map Lost Lake Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Meadow Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Running Dog Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use Central Staging Area Day Use Islet Lake Staging Area Day Use Waskehegan Staging Area Day Use -- f4de62d7-648e-4666-bf4e-421e5cef3636 True
  • Winter Trails Pamphlet with Map Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Baker Springs Trail, Beaver Trail, Blackfoot Trail, Buck Run Trail, Central Alleyway Trail, Cutoff Trail, Detour Trail, Don's Way Trail, Elkhorn Trail, Faraway Trail, Flattail Trail, Grouse Trail, Hare Trail, Heron Hollow Trail, Highline Trail, J.J. Trail, Lost Lake Trail, Meadow Trail, Middle Trail, Moose Link Trail, Morningside Trail, Muskrat Trail, Neon Lake Trail, Norris Ridge Trail, Outlet Trail, Porcupine Trail, Push Lake Trail, Round Up Trail, Running Dog Trail, Siksika Trail, Springs Trail, Spruce Hollow Trail, Swan Trail, Tie-in Trail, Wanisan Trail, Wapiti Trail, Waskehegan Trail, Wellsite Trail, Whitetail Trail, Winter Trail, Map Lost Lake Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Meadow Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Running Dog Youth Camp/Day Use Group Use Blackfoot Lake Staging Area Day Use Central Staging Area Day Use Islet Lake Staging Area Day Use Waskehegan Staging Area Day Use -- f4de62d7-648e-4666-bf4e-421e5cef3636 True
Updated: May 11, 2026
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