Mary and Cliff Soper Natural Area (15.8 km)
The Mary & Cliff Soper Natural Area, donated by the Sopers in early 2017, spans 25 acres east of Blackfalds and remains in its natural state for passive recreation, including wildlife observation and nature walks. The area features a parking lot, washroom facilities, and garbage bins for convenience. Trails wind through a forested landscape with white spruce, trembling aspen, and balsam poplar trees, offering a habitat for a variety of birds such as barred owls, downy woodpeckers, mountain bluebirds, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Wildlife sightings include white-tailed and mule deer, moose, coyotes, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, and porcupines. The area also supports plants like wild red raspberry, wild sarsparilla, chokecherry, saskatoon, and red-berried elder, along with shrubs like red-osier dogwood and buckbrush. This location is ideal for birdwatching and exploring nature, with dogs required to be on a leash.
Access: From Blackfalds, travel east on Township Road 394 2.7 km. Pull into the parking lot, located on the south-side of the gravel road.
Partners: Lacombe County
Alberta Discover Guide: No
The Mary & Cliff Soper Natural Area, donated by the Sopers in early 2017, spans 25 acres east of Blackfalds and remains in its natural state for passive recreation, including wildlife observation and nature walks. The area features a parking lot, washroom facilities, and garbage bins for convenience. Trails wind through a forested landscape with white spruce, trembling aspen, and balsam poplar trees, offering a habitat for a variety of birds such as barred owls, downy woodpeckers, mountain bluebirds, and yellow-bellied sapsuckers. Wildlife sightings include white-tailed and mule deer, moose, coyotes, red squirrels, snowshoe hares, and porcupines. The area also supports plants like wild red raspberry, wild sarsparilla, chokecherry, saskatoon, and red-berried elder, along with shrubs like red-osier dogwood and buckbrush. This location is ideal for birdwatching and exploring nature, with dogs required to be on a leash.
Access: From Blackfalds, travel east on Township Road 394 2.7 km. Pull into the parking lot, located on the south-side of the gravel road.
Partners: Lacombe County
Alberta Discover Guide: No
