Elkwater, Alberta

Elkwater
—  Unincorporated community  —
Location of Elkwater in Alberta
Coordinates: 49°39′39″N 110°16′54″W
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Southern Alberta
Census division	1
County	Cypress
Elevation	1,234 m (4,049 ft)
Population (2006)
• Total	107
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Highway	Highway 41
Waterway	Elkwater Lake

Elkwater is an unincorporated community at the western edge of the Cypress Hills in southeastern Alberta, Canada, 65 kilometres (40 mi) southeast of Medicine Hat. The main access route is via Alberta Highway 41 (Buffalo Trail), which leads south from the Trans Canada Highway.

The former hamlet is located within Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park on the south edge of Elkwater Lake, and consists mostly of a collection of cabins.

Natural history

During the last ice age the Cypress Hills were not covered with ice because they were high enough to rise above the surrounding flatlands. As a result it has rare soils found on the upper plateau area. Thick pine and spruce forests cover the hills.

Animals found there include white-tailed deer, coyote, elk, wild turkey, cougar and moose. Moose and wild turkeys are not native to the Cypress Hills, but were introduced.

Administration

Since the Elkwater townsite is in a provincial park, it is administered by the provincial government. Residents can never own the land on which their cottages or homes are built. Leases must be negotiated with the provincial government.

Accommodation

Elkwater has one hotel, the Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort, which features condos, cabins, and suites.

There are 7 campgrounds near the townsite. They are:

• Elkwater (Main)
• Lakeview
• Old Baldy
• Beaver Creek
• Ferguson Hill
• Lodgepole
• Firerock

To the east of Elkwater, camping can be found at Spruce Coulee and Reesor Lake. Closer to the Saskatchewan border, Battle Creek and Upper Graburn campgrounds are found. A number of group camp sites may also be rented.

Elkwater also has bed-and-breakfast and Lake Lodge accommodation, the Bar-Zee Bed & Breakfast.

Other services and facilities

Services and facilities include a convenience store, gas station, restaurant, visitor centre, ski hill, 9-hole golf course and a marina. Park administration offices for the Alberta section of the park are also located here.

Climate

Elkwater experiences a subarctic climate (Köppen climate classification Dfc) that falls just short of the boundary with the humid continental climate zone (Köppen Dfb). Winters are long and cold, while summers are short and warm. Precipitation is moderate, with an annual average of 529mm.

Climate data for Elkwater
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	5.7 (42.3)	8.6 (47.5)	16.1 (61.0)	19.2 (66.6)	28 (82)	30 (86)	31.9 (89.4)	31 (88)	30.1 (86.2)	20.6 (69.1)	17.5 (63.5)	13.1 (55.6)	31.9 (89.4)
Average high °C (°F)	−4.5 (23.9)	−0.7 (30.7)	2.5 (36.5)	7.7 (45.9)	13.3 (55.9)	16.9 (62.4)	20 (68)	19.9 (67.8)	15.1 (59.2)	10 (50)	1.3 (34.3)	−2 (28)	8.29 (46.93)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−9 (16)	−4.5 (23.9)	−1.8 (28.8)	2.6 (36.7)	8.1 (46.6)	11.7 (53.1)	14.7 (58.5)	14.4 (57.9)	9.8 (49.6)	5.1 (41.2)	−2.1 (28.2)	−6.1 (21.0)	3.6 (38.4)
Average low °C (°F)	−13.5 (7.7)	−8.2 (17.2)	−6.1 (21.0)	−2.6 (27.3)	3 (37)	6.4 (43.5)	9.4 (48.9)	8.8 (47.8)	4.6 (40.3)	0.1 (32.2)	−5.5 (22.1)	−10.1 (13.8)	−1.14 (29.94)
Record low °C (°F)	−26.9 (−16.4)	−20.8 (−5.4)	−18.8 (−1.8)	−14.7 (5.5)	−9 (16)	−5 (23)	−1 (30)	−4 (25)	−10 (14)	−11.9 (10.6)	−16.4 (2.5)	−32.1 (−25.8)	−32.1 (−25.8)
Precipitation mm (inches)	33 (1.3)	6 (0.24)	23 (0.91)	44 (1.73)	81 (3.19)	110 (4.33)	70 (2.76)	52 (2.05)	32 (1.26)	18 (0.71)	21 (0.83)	40 (1.57)	529 (20.83)
Source: The Weather Network

References

• Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort

External links

• History of the town and modern day Elkwater - Westworld magazine