Calgary 
There are several reasons to visit Grande Cache and the surrounding natural areas, like camping, horseback riding, snowmobiling, and hiking. Whether here for a while or driving through on Highway 40, there are many scenic places to stop for a picnic, for views, or a quick rest.
Credit: Alberta parks
Tucked away on that highway is one of Alberta’s smaller Provincial Recreation Areas, also home to some of the most incredible river views. The Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreational Area borders the northern side of the Willmore Wilderness Park in a secluded area overlooking the Smoky River. If you are unaware of what awaits at the top of the road and in Sulphur Gates Park, the views create an incredible surprise. While the PRA offers a great rest or picnic area, it also offers overnight stays at unserviced campsites.
The Best Trails around Sulphur Gates
For the more adventurous, there are several day hikes around Grande Cache and the Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreational Area, which go over 20km, include scrambles up mountains, and may take 8-12 hours to complete. There are several other moderate or easy hikes in the area, including those that provide access to the views of the Smoky River.
Credit: BeesWriting
- The best of the Sulphur Gates trails heads from the campsites and day-use parking lot. The trail leads through a small, wooded section before bringing you out and around the massive cliffs over the Smoky River. There are two main lookout points on the short trail.
- From the access road and beside the equestrian camping is another short trail which leads past the famous Crack of Doom. This giant split rock is large enough that hikers can walk right through it.
- The Eaton Falls Hike offers a bit more of a workout with elevation gain as you leave the campground. The trail is 7km out-and-back with the turnaround point being Eaton Falls. For most of the way the hike follows the Kvass-Flats Trail. At about 3.2km there is a fork and possibly a sign for Eaton Falls.
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Exploring the Wilmore Wilderness Park
The Eaton Falls Trail will bring you a little way into the Wilmore Wilderness Park south of Sulphur Gates. However, this is just a small slice of a massive nature park in Alberta’s northern Rockies.
- Willmore provides numerous opportunities for backcountry camping with many different types of scenery to choose for your adventure. The park also maintains a handful of backcountry cabins which campers are free to use.
- The Sulphur Gates PRA is the northern access point for the park via the Kvass-Flats Trail.
- To the south, hikers and campers can access Willmore via Rock Lake Provincial Park.
Camping at Sulphur Gates PRA
The camping season at the Sulphur Gates PRA is all year! These first-come, first-served campsites are not serviced, but there is a fire pit and picnic table at each site and access to vault toilets.
- There are 15 non-serviced campsites, 11 of which are open during the winter months.
- Plus, there are 22 equestrian campsites. The surrounding trails are popular for horseback riding, and the park offers riders hitching posts and corrals for their horses.
Whitewater Rafting Tours
Wild Blue Yonder are a rafting company with locations in Grande Cache and Revelstoke. Those in Grande Cache or visiting Sulphur Gates can take advantage of Wild Blue Yonder’s Canyon Whitewater trip. It is a 4-hour trip that is open to kids as young as 8 years old.
Planning your Trip – Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreational Area
What: The Provincial Recreation Area surrounds the Sulphur Gates, a name given to the geological formations caused by the Smoky River. The park is located in an elevated foothill area at the top of the rock and cliff formations with two main viewpoints, a campground, and an equestrian campground.
Best time to go: year-round; access road is not maintained in the winter
Cost: camping $30 per night
Location and how to get there:
5 km north and 7 km west of Grande Cache off Hwy AB-40
For more information:
Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreation Area
