Information & Facilities Information & Facilities - Kootenay Plains Ecological Area

Location: located 54 km southwest of Nordegg adjacent to the south end of Abraham Lake; extends upstream for several kilometres along both sides of the North Saskatchewan River

Day Use (1)

Activities

Birding

Hiking - Backcountry

Interpretive Program

Geocaching

No Fires

Permitted activities may vary within a park. Please confirm details with park staff.

Note: Overnight camping and open fires are prohibited in Ecological Reserves. Two O'Clock Creek Campground, in nearby Kootenay Plains Provincial Recreation Area, provides rustic camping facilities. There are no facilities on this site.
Access: Public access in the Reserve is restricted to foot only. (Although not generally allowed, motorized access is occasionally permitted for scientific research.)
Background: The Kootenay Plains were visited by David Thompson in the early 1800's. The area has long been important to Aboriginal people; several sundance lodges are located on the plains.
Birding: Although there hasn't been a systematic survey in the Ecological Reserve, 65 bird species may occur. Species known or presumed to nest in the area include mallard, common goldeneye, American kestrel, spotted sandpiper, great horned owl, mountain chickadee, boreal chickadee, American robin, Swainson's thrush, mountain bluebird, yellow-rumped warbler, western meadowlark, pine siskin, vesper sparrow, Lincoln's sparrow and white-winged crossbill.
Hiking: A walking trail to Siffleur Falls crosses the reserve.

Maps & Guides

Kootenay Plains map and campground guide

Campground & Trail Map

Bear Smart
Living With Cougars

Park Management

Classification	Ecological Reserve
Legislation	Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas and Heritage Rangelands Act
Park Size	8496.8 Acres / 3438.66 Ha
Legal Boundary	O.C. 546/95
Administration / Information	403-845-8349
Regional Office	Central Regional Office
District	Rocky Mountain House
Special Designations
Natural Region	Rocky Mountain - Montane Rocky Mountain - Alpine and Sub-alpine
Natural Region Description	Vegetation includes dry grassland and aspen, lodgepole pine and white spruce forests. Grasslands are dominated by June grass, pasture sage, prairie groundsel and blue flax. Limber pine occurs on exposed ridges and river banks. There is Douglas fir on west-facing slopes above the North Saskatchewan River. More than 60 bird species, 14 mammal species and 2 amphibian species have been recorded. Kootenay Plains also provides important winter range for elk and mule deer.
Land Use Framework Region	South Saskatchewan

Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve

Information & Facilities

Kootenay Plains ER

Activities

Maps & Guides

Park Management

Special Permits

Planning

Updated: Mar 20, 2025