Vagabond Tales – Leave It to Beaver

August 7, 2026. Cypress Hills Provincial Park Fire Rock Campground Site B55

Alberta, Canada

Today was a rest day. Harry and I had planned to do two trails. One in the morning with Finn and the other in the afternoon with a Ranger to see wildflowers. We hiked the Soggy Bottom trail bordering the lake with Finn leading this morning. 

So much of the trail was boardwalk over the Soggy Bottom Marsh. In the spring Red Winged Black birds build their nests among the cattails that you see on the other side of the walk.
I took this for all of my fishermen and ladies out there. Doesn’t this look like the perfect spot to pull out a lunker?
After this hike we headed back to the camper for lunch. Our plan was to rest a bit and then head out for the wildflower walk… The old saying “ You snooze you lose” comes to mind. We both were just going to rest our eyes and before we knew it the hike was starting in 5 minutes clear over to the other part of the park. So, Harry mapped out another hike for us. One in which, Finn could participate.
We headed here for more trail information.

Since we had missed the wildflower walk we challenged ourselves to find some different species than yesterday. Without the ranger we had quite the challenge. It seemed yesterday we saw the lion share. On the side of the welcome center building there was a beautiful brick relief mural depicting stories-archeological, aboriginal and present day. It is an interpretive piece depicting the history of Cypress Hills.

I took close-ups of each of the three sections. Bottom right is all of it as it progresses through the years.

Harry chose the Beaver Creek Hike…relatively easy except for the first part that was straight uphill and other than a few mountain bikers, we had it to ourselves. Although this trail was called Beaver Creek…there were no beavers and the creek almost nonexistent. Those buck-toothed varmints had already come and gone. They worked until they ran out of food and went onto their next job… Thus the title…Leave It To Beaver.

Check out this busy guy. Goldenrod Honey anyone?
The meadows were gorgeous! We were hesitant for Finn to be in the lead on this one, as he is almost like a mop cleaning everything in sight. But we were thankful no stickers were mopped in this area.
Going down from the left side- Red Baneberry, The Harebell related to the bluebell, Red-osier-dogwood shrub, Right side- Plume Thistles
This guy was very vocal. Not sure who he is but he sounded similar to our bluejay. If you know…please share! Today 12,391 steps or a little over 5 miles. Now we’re talking.

Tomorrow is another long drive day. Weatherman predicts another gorgeous day!

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Vagabond Tales

3 thoughts on “Vagabond Tales – Leave It to Beaver”

  1. Hey Karen! I think that is a black billed Magpie. We saw a lot of these when we lived in Montana. Be careful! They like to steal “stuff”! Also, you can teach to talk like a parrot! Funny birds!

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    1. So cool! He was chattering away behind the limbs of the tree. Guess he felt safe…never came closer to give me a better view of him! Very interesting he can be taught to talk! Thank you! We knew we had seen them somewhere but couldn’t place him!😘❤️. Thank you!

      Reply

  2. This looks like a calm, peaceful place to visit. The mural looks like it is 3-D. Is it? Whomever the artist was did a wonderful job!

    12,000+ steps!! WOW!! Great!!

    Travel safe!

    Diane

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