Butcher Creek Natural Area (71.9 km)
Butcher Creek Natural Area, managed by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), is a 507-acre site located near the Red Deer River. The area features a mix of white spruce and aspen forests, with grassland patches containing willow and silverberry thickets, providing vital riparian habitat. Visitors may encounter a range of bird species, including the Pied-billed Grebe, Sora, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted Sandpiper, Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Boreal Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Swainson's Thrush, Pine Siskin, and Mourning Dove, alongside wildlife such as moose, elk, and beavers. The area is ideal for birdwatching and casual hiking, though its rugged trails can be disorienting, so the use of a GPS is recommended. Additionally, the site includes plant species like Wood Lily, Yellow Avens, Caragana, Honeysuckle, Brown-eyed Susan, Paintbrush, Coltsfoot, and Highbush Cranberry. While there is a parking lot, the road can be rutted, so plan accordingly.
Access: From Bowden, head west on Highway 587 for 26 km, then turn north onto Range Road 35 and left onto Township Road 350. The site is 650 meters ahead on the north side.
Partners: AEP
Alberta Discover Guide: No
Butcher Creek Natural Area, managed by Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), is a 507-acre site located near the Red Deer River. The area features a mix of white spruce and aspen forests, with grassland patches containing willow and silverberry thickets, providing vital riparian habitat. Visitors may encounter a range of bird species, including the Pied-billed Grebe, Sora, Wilson's Snipe, Spotted Sandpiper, Bald Eagle, Downy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo, Boreal Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Swainson's Thrush, Pine Siskin, and Mourning Dove, alongside wildlife such as moose, elk, and beavers. The area is ideal for birdwatching and casual hiking, though its rugged trails can be disorienting, so the use of a GPS is recommended. Additionally, the site includes plant species like Wood Lily, Yellow Avens, Caragana, Honeysuckle, Brown-eyed Susan, Paintbrush, Coltsfoot, and Highbush Cranberry. While there is a parking lot, the road can be rutted, so plan accordingly.
Access: From Bowden, head west on Highway 587 for 26 km, then turn north onto Range Road 35 and left onto Township Road 350. The site is 650 meters ahead on the north side.
Partners: AEP
Alberta Discover Guide: No
