Explore Outdoors
Medicine Hat Paddle and Camp Guide with Reta Boychuck
Reta Boychuck (@reta.sends) and crew paddle Medicine Hat and surrounding areas.
Reta Boychuck (@reta.sends) and crew paddle Medicine Hat and surrounding areas.
"We had no expectations, except to take in adventure and drink some quality coffee and beer." - Reta Boychuck
Reta Boychuck (@reta.sends) is the owner of Canadian River Stand Up Paddle Board in British Columbia. She visited Medicine Hat in summer 2023 with friends to explore the outdoors in Southern Alberta.
She and her friends loaded up to take in the Southeast Alberta city for three days and indulge in craft beer made by three breweries included in the Highway 3 Ale Trail.
"I called the crew, Aleasha, Andre, and their rad boys, Ashley, and Amanda. We loaded up our rigs, our crew, and started the smooth drive to Elkwater, Alberta with curiosity, paddle gear, fishing gear, and some bikes,” says Reta. “We had no expectations, except to take in adventure and drink some quality coffee and beer.”
A beautiful drive through the rolling prairie hills, farm lands, and windmills, they dropped into Elkwater in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, with beautiful lakes, massive trees, and comfortable camping. With the peace and quiet they’ve been dreaming of, as Reta described, they unhooked and moved in to relax for the evening.
Having large trees between sites made it feel they were alone with nature. The adults unpacked and relaxed, while the two high-energy, teenage brothers biked laps on the jump trail just behind their campsite. A peaceful state as they settled in and planned for their adventure for the morning.
Day one started with loading up the stand up paddle boards (SUP’s), rafts, and tubes, with a breakfast stop at 12-34 Cafe & Pub.
“Their selection was amazing. I ordered my go to cafe mocha with a brownie. Amanda loved the breakfast pizza, describing the crust as a garlicky bite of fluffy heaven and even took a second slice for the road. With caffeine and food, the crew was ready to roll.”
Arriving at Medicine Hat in the morning, they all carefully embarked on the South Saskatchewan River. Having a group of all ages, the goal was to minimize the shuttle time to maximize the fun, by utilizing the various parking lots and River access points at Police Point Park.
“Earlier in our visit, we heard the story of how Medicine Hat got its name and about the ‘breathing hole’ at the Visitor Information Centre. It was a must that we paddled to see that spot,” says Reta.
Below the cliffs, there is the confluence of Bullshead Creek and South Saskatchewan just above Strathcona Island Park. They could only imagine the mixing of currents near the Island is likely where the ‘breathing hole’, the place of the Great Spirit, was in the story of how Medicine Hat got its name.
“Paddling below these massive cliffs makes you feel small. The mellow flow made it effortless for us to stay safe, while playing and splashing around,” says Reta.
Their chosen paddle route from the top of Police Point Park to downstream Police Point park is about 3.5 kilometres.
After lunch at Medicine Hat Brewing Company on the beautiful and cozy patio, with cheesy pizzas, hearty burgers, and fresh salads, the afternoon was spent stocking up the cooler with brews from the Highway 3 Ale Trail breweries, Medicine Hat Brewing Company, Hell’s Basement Brewery, and Travois Ale Works.
Dinner to go was from Grit City Distillery. The signature dill pickle pizza and some custom spirits made it back to the camper. Reta’s favourite being the coconut gin.
“Our evening back at camp was filled with delicious food before each group had their own adventure. The brothers Kerrian and Aiden headed for a mini golf competition. Aleasha, Andre, Amanda, and I enjoyed the peace and quiet in the campground reading guide books and maps for our next adventure. As the sun began to set, everyone came back to camp to unwind and share their tales.”
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A need to see the 5:30a.m. sunset on Wednesday morning, and then venture off fishing, woke Reta, Andre, and Aiden. Reta prepared the day before and called her Dad to know which hook she needed for a Large Northern Pike.
“It was time to see if being the daughter of ‘Jack Fish Larry’ would pay off. I trolled, casted, and jigged. I think the fact I was talking the entire time might have scared the fish away, but I’ll be back,” says the avid paddler. “Being the only ones on the lake, it was peaceful and still allowed us to see every ripple as we paddled to find the perfect spot.”
While on Elkwater lake, they were surrounded by calm water, with steep cliff banks on the far shores and fishing bays tucked along the eastern banks, accessible by trails or paddle boards. The air slowly warmed them up as the sun popped over the tree, and heated up their feet and hands with its welcomed presence.
Returning to the camp, Reta woke the rest of the crew up to the aromatic smells of Medicine Hat-roasted coffee from Poolhouse Cafe & Roastery. After a morning mug of caffeine and house-made breakfast from Station Coffee Company, they all gathered and packed everything up to continue their adventure on the road.
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Photography by Ashley Voykin
The Crew:
Paddle Gear: @badfishsup @kokatatusa
A summer night staple for baseball fans and community members in the city.
Families and friends of all ages lather on sunscreen and dress in their best ‘Mavs’ wear to sit in the sunshine and watch an exciting and competitive game.
With a seating capacity of 2,200, the ballpark always calls for a crowd with collective energy that builds throughout the night, while Mavericks players from all over the world pitch, swing, and race to the desired base. And with the special event Bark in the Park, your pups can join for two nights.
“We are a very high profile league. A lot of players from North America come to play on our team, and we’ve had guys join from Japan, Dominican Republic, and Australia,” says Greg Morrison, owner and general manager of the Mavericks. “The stadium is beautiful. It’s become an outdoor community hub, where folk can watch these skilled players underneath the sunshine and have a good time with the people around them.”
A burger, a beverage, and a crowd, the sights, smells, and sounds of Mavericks baseball have wafted through Athletic Park for many years. The Mavs play in the Western Canadian Baseball League, a wood bat circuit for college-age players. They are three-time league champions (2003, 2014, and 2018), and they finished in 2nd in the 2023 Western Canadian Baseball League. Summer nights are so much better at the ballpark.
Scoop your way through small-batch shops that serve handcrafted ice cream.
Annegret’s Fine European Chocolates
Dairy-Free Available | Seasonal
Owner Annegret mixes and molds silky chocolate using her very own recipe year-round, and in the summer she adds 10 gelato flavours to the mix.
1235 Southview Drive SE
Dairy-Free Available | Year-Round
Serving annual and seasonal flavours handcrafted in-house, you can order by the scoop with a waffle cone, or fill up on a pint.
1870 6 Ave. SW
Dairy-Free Available | Year-Round
Alberta-made ice cream from Foothills Creamery is served at this convenience store. Order a classic scoop with a cone, or add it to your slushie.
303 Southridge Dr. SE
Dairy-Free Available | Seasonal
A classic ice cream spot since 1984, Swirls is a place where you park and stroll up to the window and order. With 75 flavours to choose from, you’re sure to find a nostalgic favourite or the excitement to try a new one.
2 4 St. SW
Seasonal
Before visiting the butterflies, turtles, and goats at the adjoining John’s Butterfly House, grab a scoop of Foothills Creamery ice cream and explore the beautiful garden centre.
920 1 St. SW
Handcrafted ice cream made with only quality ingredients, Cream Cult can be found at The Market Centre and RJ’s Convenience & Candy.
creamcult.com
Visit a few ice-cream shops and sample the creamy treats on a warm summer day.
Local filmmaker captures the story behind Medicine Hat's National Historic Site.
"Medalta closed in the 50s, but there's been so much that's happened since then. That was the mystery. There was a hidden story there." - Luke Fandrich
Medicine Hat's Medalta in the Historic Clay District had hard-working hands, eager minds, and persistent community members who were instrumental in transforming it into the National Historic Site it's become today. Medalta withstood many misfortunes, including two fires and a flood, but there was always a group of passionate people there to pick up and rebuild the broken pieces.
Luke Fandrich, the artist behind the production company Editing Luke, partnered with Telus to capture the voices and people who were actively involved in preserving the ruins of this industrial heritage site, namely Medalta Potteries. The approximately 90 minute documentary, Clay, Creativity & the Comeback brings many of these key players and their efforts to the forefront of the Medalta story.
This documentary was unique in that it was the first time all of these people had been pulled together into a single project to share their perspectives on what had happened. Fandrich recognized that it wasn't just a good story, but that if he didn't do this now, he might run out of time to even tell it.
Fandrich credits this approach in getting people to care about the history wherever they live.
Clay, Creativity & the Comeback was released in 2019 and inspired Fandrich to reconsider whether there were more Medicine Hat stories he could develop. His latest feature-length documentary 'Your Cinema Needs You' has been his most ambitious undertaking to date, and takes a closer look at Canada's oldest surviving cinema, the Monarch Theatre.
Watch the Clay, Creativity & the Comeback here.
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Fandrich specializes in filmmaking and travel photography, which has taken him all over the world - all 50 States, Europe, and Japan. But after every trip, the born and raised Hatter returns to Medicine Hat every time.
"It's a nice place to come home to, particularly because the business is about half travel photography and half production. A lot of the time throughout the year I'm in other places, and Medicine Hat is this little enclave that's secluded from everything. It's a really nice place to decompress and a good place to bunker down if I've got a lot of editing ahead of me. It's also a bit untapped. That's probably why as a storyteller I've really resonated a lot with Medicine Hat.
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Explore Medicine Hat with your Furry Friend!
Medicine Hat local Becca Weisgerber (@shopaholicyxh) and her five-year-old Rat Terrier named Reggie spent two days in Medicine Hat exploring the paved trails, visiting the locally-owned shops, and sitting in the sunshine on buzzing patios.
The two started their adventure on foot. Becca found photos and the length of each trail using AllTrails. The clean pathways of North Shore River Valley, Jefferies Trail, and Sunrise to Cottonwood led Becca and Reggie to beautiful views, including a panoramic, scenic sight of Downtown Medicine Hat.
“There are so many trails to choose from, and they all offer different qualities. On a hot day, it’s especially nice to have those shady trails to stay cool,” says Becca. “The city has potable water stations on the trails as well, so you don’t need to carry water for your dog. All I brought was his collapsible dish, and I’d fill it when we passed a potable water station.”
Medicine Hat has an average of 330 days of sunshine a year and is home to a 155-kilometre trail system. A Heritage Trail Map was also designed for a bird’s eye view of the city when planning to be on the trails.
During day two, Becca and Reggie stopped at four small shops in Downtown Medicine Hat. Reggie had another friendly pup to say hello to at Botanicals. At 7 Rivers Trading Co, he was greeted with a treat by the owner. As they wandered the downtown, Becca popped into DYL Fashions and River Bee Books and found they were also dog-friendly.
“Our downtown is so walkable. You can hit so many unique small shops during the day. My biggest advice to someone traveling with a dog is to pop in or call beforehand to ask if a store is pet-friendly. Reggie was so happy going into each store. He loved meeting the business owners, and everyone else in the store was so excited when they saw Reggie, too,” says Becca.
A morning wandering the historic streets, to then enjoying brunch on the pet-friendly patio at Medicine Hat Brewing Company. The server immediately brought over a water dish for Reggie, and a refreshment for Becca. The two enjoyed a meal, with some more sun, to finish their weekend exploring.
When Becca travels with Reggie, it’s easier for her when places are receptive to being pet-friendly. It’s always too hot to leave him in the car, she doesn’t feel comfortable tying him up, and the hotel room isn’t ideal when she’s out exploring for most of the day. When she can bring her dog, it brings a sense of ease. And the two love spending time together.
“Our time exploring Medicine Hat was a great outing for him, too. Having places be pet-friendly, and there being so many trails, made the city feel more like home. You feel that local love, and it’s very welcoming.”
Creamy handcrafted chocolate.
Robert and Annegret have owned Annegret’s Chocolates for over 20 years, originally opening in Kelowna, British Columbia. When they moved to Medicine Hat in 2020, it was important for them to continue the chocolate shop.
Located on the south side of the city, Annegret’s Chocolates has a long list of authentic European chocolates, served in various themed shapes and sizes. It's all hand-made, in-house by Annegret herself, using her own recipe.
Recently, Annegret and Robert teamed up with Tourism Medicine Hat to create the Tourism Collection Chocolate Bar. All are milk chocolate and wrapped with a badge, designed by Medicine Hat-born artist Cam Hoff.
The milk chocolate bars, made with Annegret's own recipe, can be found at Annegret's Chocolates (1235 Southview Drive SE) and at the Visitor Information Centre (330 Gehring Road SW).
Linda Hoang explored Medicine Hat in the summer of 2023! Here's her guide to Medicine Hat:
Linda Hoang is a Canadian blogger and social media strategist based in Edmonton, Alberta, and her newest blog has over 20 places in the city you can experience during a weekend in Medicine Hat!
"This was not my first nor my last time visiting The Hat (as the locals call it). I love visiting! Medicine Hat is an awesome city in Southern Alberta full of so many things to do, see, and eat —and it’s a bonus that some of our dearest friends live there too. There’s plenty to do in this area of the province (so much so you should plan several trips!)
Whether you’re a local who wants a tourist perspective on where you live (Medicine Hat), or you’re from around Alberta (or nearby B.C. / Saskatchewan) and are looking for ideas for a fun road trip—use my travel guide to plan your visit to Medicine Hat!" - Linda Hoang, posted on Linda-Hoang.com
She starts her blog with experiences. For starters, you can surround yourself with hundreds of butterflies and feed goats at John's Butterfly House inside the Windmill Garden Centre. Afterwards, hop on the Sunshine Trolley, and then stop for a bite to eat at a fresh bagel bakery, authentic Korean kitchen, or the tallest patio in the city!
Medicine Hat Pickleball Club opened one of the finest outdoor pickleball facilities in Alberta.
Built in partnership with the City of Medicine Hat, the South Country Co-op Pickleball Courts are a 20-court facility, with a 10-table social area and evening lights and an amenities building, which will have washrooms, storage and an outdoor covered social area.
Since opening in 2022, the Pickleball Club has hosted the Pickleball Alberta Provincial Championships, the 2023 Pickleball Canada Western Regional Championships, and will host the 2025 Pickleball Alberta Championship from July 10–13, 2025. This upcoming event will bring players and visitors from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba along with a player from the Yukon. A Player’s Lounge with beer gardens, food vendors, and live music will be featured at the Championships.
“A lot of pickleball players travel with their paddles, so we have people who visit Medicine Hat and play on our courts. The furthest we’ve had someone visit from is Dubai. Of course, they didn’t come just for the courts, but it was a very nice option for them to have while visiting the city,” says Wanda Lazar, President of Medicine Hat Pickleball Club.
In the evenings, the courts light up for people to play until their heart’s content, making it accessible for those with busy day time schedules. The club currently has over 400 members from Medicine Hat, and some from Calgary and Lethbridge. There is space for everyone, “our youngest player is six and oldest is 81,” says Lazar.
“We’re a positive, friendly group of people, and we are very proud to offer this space and so lucky to have a facility like this in Medicine Hat,” says Lazar.
For those wanting to try the sport, the club also offers two free, two-hour lessons providing
Instruction, balls, and paddles. Bookings for groups are also available. For those interested in joining and learning more about the sport or wanting to book a group
