Provincial Parks

Brazeau County has played an important role in helping to establish the area's newest protected areas - Eagle Point Provincial Park and Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation Area. These new land designations will now help to protect nearly the entire watershed of the North Saskatchewan River Valley in Brazeau County.

Eagle Point Provincial Park
The park has been established to protect 20 square kilometers of the North Saskatchewan River Valley (north of the Hwy 22 Bridge). It will accommodate the recreational interests of people while protecting the natural habitats within them. Low-impact recreation opportunities such as picnicking, Nordic skiing, hiking, camping, interpretive programs, wildlife viewing, and horse-backing riding will be permitted in designated areas and on designated trails.

Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation Area
The park has been established to protect 36 square kilometers of the North Saskatchewan River Valley (south of the Hwy 22 Bridge). It will accommodate the activities permitted in a Provincial Park plus carefully managed motorized recreation on designated trails in some parts of the area.

This area is now going to be managed by a local multi-stakeholder organization to ensure that the many interests, values and uses in the area are balanced with environmental protection. The Eagle-Point Blue Rapids Parks Council is a new community-based, multi-stakeholder non-profit organization that shares the planning, funding and management of the local provincial protected areas with the Department of Tourism, Parks and Recreation. The EP-BR Parks Council makes decisions by consensus, and includes representatives from government, local recreation groups, industry, and environmental organizations.

The EP-BR Parks Council is committed to enhancing the overall quality of life and the health of the environment in Brazeau County by working cooperatively and applying best management practices to park planning, funding and management.

Brazeau County holds a seat on the EP-BR Parks Council as well as operates Willey West Campground. For more information on the Council or the new protected areas: Eagle Point Provincial Park or Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation Area, please visit www.epbrparkscouncil.org