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Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area

Alberta Parks
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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.

Central 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
Directions
Season: Year-round

Central Staging Area, as the name implies, is located towards the center of the park, although access is from the southeast corner. It is one of four staging areas’ to Cooking Lake–Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area. 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 30 minutes east of Edmonton on HWY 630 off Range Road 195 and Township 515A.

This staging area connects to both shared and hiking/biking trails, providing access to the entire park.

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
  • Central Staging Area Trail Map Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA, Central Staging Area, Trails, Map, Beaver, N.U.L. Cycling Connector, N.U.L. North, N.U.L. West, Round Up, Tie-In, Wapiti Central 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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