Effective Date: December 1, 2025 - Until Further Notice
Where: Cypress Hills PP , Willow Creek Road, Golf Course Road, Murry Hill Road past Spring Creek, Graburn Road, Bull Trail North, Battle Creek Road
Details:Winter Road closures are in effect until April 30, 2026.
Effective Date: November 29, 2025 - Until Further Notice
Where: Beaver Creek Trail Trail , Cypress Hills Visitor Centre VisitorCentre , East End Day Use , Elkwater , Ferguson Hill Road Trail , Learning Centre , Mitchell Creek Trail , West End Day Use , West-Central Day Use
Details:Fireguard construction work will occur over the winter (from November 29, 2025 to March 1, 2026) around the Mitchell Creek and Beaver Creek areas. Trails will be closed as forestry equipment will be working in the area.
Follow the direction of all signage and personnel in the area and stay out of active construction zones.
FAQs
Effective Date: May 29, 2025 - Until Further Notice
Where: Cypress Hills Visitor Centre VisitorCentre , East End Day Use , Elkwater , Learning Centre , West End Day Use , West-Central Day Use , Marina in Cypress Hills Provincial Park and West side of Main Beach.
Details:Please be advised that Alberta Forestry and Parks is closing the area encompassing the Elkwater Lake Marina, to support marina refurbishment construction activities.
Construction activities will include:
Timeline: May to November 2025
The area is being closed:
Other facilities and services in Cypress Hills Provincial Park will not be impacted. Visitors looking for water recreation alternatives can call the Alberta Parks Information Line at 1-877-537-2757 or stop by the Cypress Hills Visitor Centre.
Follow the direction of all signage and personnel in the area and stay out of active construction zones.
Map of Affected Area
Effective Date: October 15, 2025 - Until Further Notice
Where: Cypress Hills Visitor Centre VisitorCentre , East End Day Use , Elkwater , Learning Centre , West End Day Use , West-Central Day Use , Elkwater Townsite on park land, road right-of-ways, and non-leased lots
Details:Please be advised that FireSmart vegetation management work is being completed in and around the Elkwater townsite as part of ongoing efforts to manage vegetation for public safety, wildfire mitigation, infrastructure maintenance, and ecological health. This is a continuation of work from earlier in 2025. No work or tree removal will be completed on leased lots. This work will only take place on park property, including:
What to Expect: Residents and visitors may observe heavy equipment operating within the park. There will be increased noise levels during this work, and temporary closures of certain areas may be necessary for safety. We appreciate your patience and understanding as these essential projects are completed.
Open House: Open houses will be held on the below dates to provide more information
Effective Date: September 5, 2025
Where: Beaver Creek Campground , Elkwater Campground , Firerock Campground , Lakeview Campground , Old Baldy Campground
Details:Water services to campgrounds, standpipes, flush toilets, and showers have been turned off for the season.
The Sani-dump station will be shut off October 10, 2025.
Year-round water, flush toilets, and showers are available at the Lakeview Shower House, located at the entrance to Lakeview Campground.
Water to campgrounds, standpipes, flush toilets, and showers is not guaranteed or charged between September 14, 2025, and June 1, 2026.
Located in Cypress Hills Provincial Park, Hidden Valley Ski Resort is a down-hill ski resort operated by Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Parks. Our unique topographical environment provides stunning vistas overlooking the prairies toward Medicine Hat. Hidden Valley Ski Resort is located 20 km southeast of Medicine Hat on Hwy. 1 & 30 km south on Hwy. 41. The nearby Elkwater townsite is home to year-round amenities including a visitor centre, café, hotel and nordic trails.
We are fortunate to receive significant snowfalls annually; however, we also have an extensive snow making system to ensure visitors are able to hit the slopes.
Hidden Valley Ski Resort is open Wednesday to Sunday with extended hours during vacation times and holidays. Our lifts run from 9am to 4pm.
Your safety is our top priority. We reserve the right to close lifts due to extreme weather and temperatures. Should this occur during an operational day, refunds will be issued to day pass holders.
For updates on conditions and closures, follow us on Facebook.
Contact:
During our operating season, we are open Wednesday to Sunday. Hidden Valley opens at 8:30 a.m. and the lift starts running at 9:00 a.m. Weather permitting, Hidden Valley Ski Resort will open on December 23, 2025, for the 2025/2026 season. Our season runs until Mach 15, 2026. We offer extended hours during vacation periods.
Hidden Valley Ski Resort Terrain Park offers a range of features from rails, boxes, barrel taps and various sizes of jumps. The terrain park is typically re-modelled at least twice per season to give variety and progression for all levels of ability. The Mini Park is great place to start or for our less aggressive riders and sliders to ride the rollers, and hit the jumps. Please be aware of rules and etiquette before using the parks.
The Day Lodge is ready to serve you with the Mountain Side Cafe on the main level, Brown Bag Lunch area in the basement and a Warm-Up room on ground level. There are open cubbies in the Warm-Up room. Lockable ($1) lockers are available in the basement. The Day Lodge opens at 8:30 am and closes at 4:00 pm. No liquor service will be provided in the lounge this season.
Safety is our top priority. While we hope you never need them, our highly trained, full time patrol is there to assist visitors when needed. First aid is located in the lower level of the day lodge.
Yes… we make snow. Lots of it! Around 7 million gallons of water are used each winter to provide some of the nice white stuff for you to play on. The addition of two new fan guns since 2014 has improved our capacity to get you sliding. Around 95 per cent of the resort is covered by the snow making team and its quite a science… ask us for more information during your next visit.
We are not offering a bus to Hidden Valley Ski Resort this season. Parking is available on site. Visitors are encouraged to monitor highway driving conditions on Alberta 511.
In the early 1960s, Hidden Valley Ski Resort began as a toboggan hill, developed by local residents wanting to spend time outdoors and enjoy the picturesque evergreen forests of Cypress Hills Provincial Park. Around this time, the Cypress Skiers Association installed a rope tow and in 1967, the association installed a T-Bar with several runs. A member of the original group, Leonard McGee, continued to develop and operate what was then the Mile High Ski Hill. He will forever be known as “Mountain Man” for all he contributed to the area.
In 1981, Dave Fischer took over the planning and operations for the area and the ski hill became Hidden Valley Ski Resort. Alberta’s government invested in the future of the facility in 1987, which enabled the development of more lifts, a day lodge, a snowmaking system, new runs and the recontouring of the base. The Fischer family operated the facility until 2015, at which time the Alberta government assumed its operations.
Today, Hidden Valley Ski Resort is known for its consistent snow conditions, facilities and friendly staff and visitors. The trails and amenities are diverse, offering something for visitors of all skill and experience levels to enjoy. Hidden Valley Ski Resort is conveniently located near Elkwater, which offers a number of additional activities and amenities.
