YaGotta: Grande Cache and Willmore Wilderness Park

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Ya'Gotta: Grande Cache and Willmore Wilderness Park

By: Bob Kenyon, Ya'Gotta Publisher

Willmore Wilderness Area, near Grande Cache
Photo Credit: Travel Alberta

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If you're seeking a mountain destination, that doesn't have the commercial tourism of many adventure travel destinations, then Grande Cache, Alberta is a must! A mining, logging and trapping centre of north central Alberta, Grande Cache is emerging as a pristine location for hiking, backpacking, trail riding, fishing, river rafting and winter activities.

If you're planning a trip the Canadian Rocky Mountains and visit Grande Cache and Willmore Wilderness Area, you can book your trip from our Ya'Gotta Travel.

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Grande Cache is accessed from the Yellowhead Trans-Canada Highway, via Highway 40 (The Ram Highway), that runs from west of Hinton. Known as the "Scenic Route to Alaska", the highway goes on to Grande Cache, Grande Prairie and west to northern British Columbia and Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory. A word of caution...If you take this highway, fill your gas tank at Hinton, or use non-fossil fuel burning vehicles. For this reason and also due to the light traffic on the highway, it can be a great cycle trip. You must, however, be aware that you are cycling in bear country.

The area, around the town, has many hiking and biking trails offering various degrees of challenge and the grassy, lower summits closer to the town are also excellent for scrambling. For those seeking a short, scenic trek, make sure to take in the spectacular view of the confluence of the cloudy Smoky River as the clear Sulpher River joins it at Sulpher Gates. The high, almost verticle, red conglomerate rock synclines, is one of the best geological features in Alberta (see photo above).

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The Sulpher Gates Recreation Area, north of the town, is the northern staging area for Willmore Wilderness Park. The park can also be accessed from Rock Lake staging area (98 kms. off Hwy. 40) at the north end of William Switzer Provincial Park. There are also other staging areas, south of Grande Cache (off Hwy. 40) at the Berland and Cowlick Creek. Driving into these staging areas requires sturdy vehicles, often with 4 wheel drive capability and shouldn't be attempted by drivers without rough backroad driving experience. Dust is always a problem with windshields and vehicle bodies getting damaged by flying gravel.

No motorized off-road transportation is allowed in Willmore Wilderness Park, so it makes for an excellent trek by foot, bicycle, or horseback. The park also offers opportunities for ridge walking, exploring for the graves of trappers, or taking a secluded, long trek into the north wilderness area of Jasper National Park.

For those experienced in map and compass, food storage and bear avoidance skills, Willmore Wilderness Park is a must do. For inexperienced back country travellers, there are many guiding services available and are recommended. One good book, does exist, that provides trail guides to the Willmore Wilderness Area Park. It's called 94 Hikes In The Northern Canadian Rockies, by Vicky Spring & Dee Urbick. 1983, Douglas & McIntyre Publishers, Vancouver, BC (ISBN 0-88894-381-4). Unfortunately, you'll have to search used bookstores and websites, for this out of print book.

For climbers, Grande Cache is ringed by mountains and the local Passport to the Peaks program identifies each mountain as bronze, silver or gold depending its level of difficulty.

Grande Cache has also become home to extreme racing with it's famous Canadian Death Race, an over-the-mountains and through-the-rivers race, held each Heritage Day long weekend (approx. August 1st). There's events for all, even spectators, with the adventure festival atmosphere. The best is watching the kids, 15 years and under, compete in their own 5 km. race. All the kids that complete the course, in the allotted time (90 minutes) get a medallion.

With rivers and lakes in abundance, the area is also has the best selection of white water in the province, with class I - V rapids for canoeing, kyaking and white water rafting. There are also many exellent locations for lake canoeing and either lake or stream fishing.

Grande Cache has camping, in the town and two provincial campgrounds north of the town at Smoky River (for river access) and Sulphur Gates (for Willmore access). For campers or trekers needing to clean-up or those just wanting a swim, go to the Akasaka Recreation Centre (on Hoppe Avenue). The centre is also the departure point for the schedule of local hikes and backcountry camping treks, organized by the local “Theamata” (things to be seen) Hikers.

There are also campgrounds, on the Ram Highway between Hinton and Grande Cache, as well as north of Grande Cache on the way to Grande Prairie.

There are several hotels and motels offered at a variety of prices and some bed and breakfast lodgings. For food and dining, there are a variety of restaurants, cafes, as well as an excellent grocery store.

Winter brings a whole new season to this wilderness, winter wonderland with abundant opportunities for snowshoeing, x-country skiing and, for the experienced, ice climbing.

For those with an interest the aboriginal culture and history of the Grande Cache area, visit the website of the Aseniwuche Winewak Nation (Cree for the Rocky Mountain People), famous for their guding, trapping and hunting skills.

At the south end of the town, there is an excellent Visitor Information and Interpretive Centre, where visitors can find out about the history of the area (including the dinosaurs!), wildlife and trails. Climbers can register for the Passport to the Peaks program.

Box 300
Grande Cache, AB T0E 0Y0
Phone: (780) 827-3300 Toll Free 1-888-827-3790

For local news about Grande Cache go to the Grande Cache Mountaineer.