Explore Outdoors
Full Day with Family in Medicine Hat
Keep your family smiling and experiencing with this list of activities.
Keep your family smiling and experiencing with this list of activities.
Bask underneath the sun and enjoy a game of chess on the World’s Largest Chess Set. Contact mhchess.com to book your game. Bill Taylor is the visionary of the popular space, which has been in Medicine Hat since August 2005.
He also worked with expert woodworker Adam Szulski for several years to design a 21-foot-tall, over 4,000 pound, GIANT King Piece and installed it beside the Chess Set on Nov. 4, 2021.
John’s Butterfly House is located inside Windmill Garden Centre. This tropical paradise has hundreds of butterflies. Relax on the deck and read about the life cycle and habits of the beautiful insects. Stroll the walkway to observe the red-eared turtles and swimming Koi.
Leinweber Park is conveniently located beside Gilwell Park, turning the nine-basket disc golf course into an 18-basket course. Lay down a blanket, pack a picnic, bring some more activities, and enjoy the game with a view. Disc Golf baskets are also found in Kiwanis Central Park, Kin Coulee Park, and Medicine Hat College Campus.
This waterpark is full of fun features, like a giant bucket that fills with water and pours over those who stand underneath it. There is a large green space to lay a blanket and bask in the sunshine and have a picnic. This park is located in a family-orientated neighbourhood near the south side of the City close to hotels, restaurants, and shopping.
An 18-hole miniature golf course that’s fun for families of all ages. There’s a clubhouse that offers snacks and a meeting room for birthday parties and special events.
A large, inflatable water park to run on, climb, and bounce off of into the swimming lake at Golden Sheaf Park. Located only 20 minutes outside Medicine Hat, make the stay an overnight experience and book a campsite.
In a 12,000 sq.ft space, families can axe throw, play virtual reality, and swing a round of golf with the simulator, and more in Medicine Hat’s Historic Downtown. Grab a bite to eat at a neighbouring restaurant, then head to Six One Six Entertainment for hours of fun.
Load up your e-token card, and let the playing begin. A large variety of new and retro games, from racing to sports, and claw machines to virtual mazes. Once you’re all played out, collect your prizes to take home.
A winter tradition for many Hatters.
When it was announced Hidden Valley wouldn’t open in late 2021, the Medicine Hat community collectively voiced their concerns on social media, reaching out to leaders, starting and signing petitions and using hashtags to show why it was important that the ski hill stay open.
The park was more to the community than just hills with snow. It was an oasis they looked forward to every winter, where they’d pile on snow gear, pack up the vehicle and drive 45 minutes to a winter wonderland. They’d race down the slopes and feel the rush of the wind and their adrenaline for several minutes, with friends and family members, and when they’d reach the bottom they’d do it all over again.
The Elkwater Ski Club sent letters to MLAs and the Minister of Environment and Parks lobbying to keep the region-wide favoured ski hill open. They created the hashtag #littlehillontheprairie and encouraged locals to share photos using the hashtag. As a result, many families posted their smiling faces on the chairlift, at the top of the hill and carving down the slopes.
“Hidden Valley, as a part of Cypress Hills, hosts a unique ecosystem that is stunning year round. In the winter, visitors are often treated to a winter wonderland with bluebird skies and snow covered pines, even when there is no snow in Medicine Hat," says Morgan Blair, member of Elkwater Ski Club. "You can watch for moose, deer, eagles, hawks and owls that live in the hills, and on the way home, see if you can spot the snowy owl that hunts from the tops of telephone poles along Highway 41 at sunset."
She says it’s prime for the Medicine Hat community to be situated in the prairies with a nearby ski hill that’s less than an hour drive away. One minute, they’re surrounded by breathtaking coulees and relaxed flatland, and the next they are encircled by tall pine trees and invigorating hills in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park.
Only a 45 minute drive from Canada’s Sunniest City, Hidden Valley Ski Resort encompasses eight hills that range from beginner to advanced skill levels and is now open for the 2022 season.
To say the residents of Medicine Hat were happy when Hidden Valley Ski Resort announced its opening is an understatement, considering the social media responses have been full of excitement and optimism. 2022 will be the start to another thrilling season at Hidden Valley Ski Resort, and another thrilling year for those who plan to spend the majority of the first four months of the year riding the chair lift up and flying down as snow trails behind them.
Find more information about Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
Find the list of places to stay while skiing and snowboarding the slopes at Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
From January 26-31, 2026
Live performances inside a Canadian National Historic Site, including a beehive kiln that once fired pottery in the early 1900s.
Tongue on the Post has been a folk festival in Medicine Hat for two decades, and the Historic Clay District once produced 1/3 of all clay in Canada in the early 1900s.
A combination of story-telling through history and raw, modern music during a Canadian winter in January.
“Medalta has been a natural home for Tongue on the Post. Both Medalta and the festival are rooted in Medicine Hat, and we’re happy to showcase this crown jewel in the City.” - Rob Pape, executive director of Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival.
Looking for a winter job? Hidden Valley Ski Resort is hiring!
Hidden Valley Ski Resort is nestled in the Cypress Hills Provincial Park near Elkwater in an alpine environment with stunning vistas overlooking the prairies and just 65 kilometers South West of Medicine Hat. Operated by Alberta Parks, the resort opens in December and remains in operation until March.
Thousands take to the resort every year to ski and snowboard — with all experience levels accommodated. Nearby Elkwater also has many activities to enjoy, from Snow Shoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Ice Skating Trails, Ice fishing, Backyard Luge Track and selected rental equipment are available.
As snow season approaches, check out these job postings:
Nothing beats a beautiful Autumn Sunday on the road!
Finally, it’s Autumn! The season where us fair weather folks thrive. Comfortable temperatures, beautiful fall colours, apple cider, pumpkin pie, spooky decorations — it really is a season worth waiting for. Summer gets all the glory of being the perfect time for family road trips, but nothing beats a beautiful Autumn weekend on the road, where life feels a little slower and there are so many fun activities to enjoy. Here’s a great list of can’t-miss locations for you to check out.
Enjoy the Fall Colours in the Cypress Hills
If you have never seen the Cypress Hills in the fall — NOW IS YOUR CHANCE! The Cypress Hills are absolutely beautiful this time of year, lit up with vibrant orange and red foliage. Perfect for a warm day’s hike or even just to drive through, it’s worth the stop.
Open: Any time!
Directions: To Elkwater, head East on the #1 towards Swift Current, turn right onto the 41, Buffalo Trail, and follow the signs.
Explore the Corn Maze in Brooks
Located just an hour away, the Brooks Corn Maze is the closest attraction of its kind for Medicine Hatters. Once you are done finding your way through the maze, the farm has many other activities like picking your very own pumpkin in the pumpkin patch, magnetic fish pond, mini golf, train rides, and farm animals to pet.
Open: Saturdays and Sundays from mid-August to the end of October, 1-5 pm.
Directions: South of the City of Brooks. Take 7th Street East South, cross the CPR train track, turn left (East) on Industrial Road, in a 300 meters drive through the gate.
Grotto Gardens Family Fun Farm
A petting zoo, mini golf, and farm train tours that are wheel chair accessible, this farm has it all. On the train, visitors will have a guided tour that winds around the animal pastures through the berry orchard, around the perennial gardens, flower displays, and past the other farm animals who make their home at Grotto Gardens. There is oppurtunity for families to feed the farm animals.
Open: Tuesday to Sunday from 11a.m. - 7 p.m.
Directions: 21 Saskatchewan 1, in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, about an hour heading east on the Trans-Canada Highway.
Pick Your Pumpkins and Go For a Wagon Ride at Molnar’s Pumpkin Festival
Heading West on the #3 highway, Molnar’s Pumpkin Festival is just past Taber and a perfect spot for some pumpkin picking festivities! Along with spying that perfect pumpkin to carve up, Molnar’s has a mini corn maze, pony rides, bouncy house, and wagon rides.
Open: Saturdays and Sundays for the month of October, 10am-2:30pm.
Directions: Barnwell Range Road 173, Barnwell, AL T0K 0B0.
Bring your family on an adventure to three Southeast Alberta destinations!
Medicine Hat is close to so many nearby attractions that make for a great day trip. Whether you’re by yourself, a group of friends, or for the whole family, these locations are sure to be boredom busters!
Head Towards the Hills
A popular day trip for locals and visitors alike is to Elkwater, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park. Don’t miss the treasures along the way, like the Prairie Memories Museum in Irvine.
A must-see attraction for anyone interested in rural history, this museum portrays various aspects of pioneer life. They have many artifacts and buildings including an old schoolhouse, church and lumber store. Be sure to check out Irvine’s 20 Milepost Days held annually during September’s long weekend. This event features all kinds of events, including a parade, rodeo, gymkhana, bench show and much more.
In Elkwater, there are many options for activities such as renting paddle boards, hiking the trails, riding horses, relaxing on the beach or mini golf. If your group is looking for a bite to eat, is always a great stop.
Stick around after the sun goes down, the Cypress Hills are a Dark Sky Preserve. Due to its high elevation and lack of urban light pollution, Cypress Hills was the first designated Dark Sky Preserve in Alberta. The park also offers a variety of camping options, so cozy up by the campfire and gaze at the starlit sky. If the conditions are right, you may even see the Northern Lights.
Explore the Badlands
Head west on Highway 3 to find some of the most breathtaking natural views in the area. Start off your adventure at Red Rock Coulee.
Red Rock Coulee Natural Area is 324 hectares (800 acres) of badlands, hard sandstone capped hoodoos and large, round, red boulders. Formed in prehistoric seas as layers of sand calcite and iron oxide collected around a nucleus formed by shells, leaves, or bones. These concretions grew larger as the circulating waters deposited more layers. The reddish colour comes from iron oxide. At 2.5 metres (8 feet) in diameter, they are among the largest in the world. Along with the exposed rocks, you will also find prairie inhabitants such as deer, coyotes, rabbits, rattlesnakes and nighthawks.
Once you have had a chance to explore your first stop, continue on towards Etzikom for the Etzikom Museum and Historic Windmill Centre.
The Centre features outdoor restored examples of windmills encompassing over 200 years of Canadian wind power (particularly water pumpers). Indoors at the Museum are many hands-on displays in time-period settings, featuring early pioneer life, native artifacts, fossils, petroglyphs, homesteader tools and a historic church.
Next up, hop over to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to view some of the coolest hoodoos and natural formations in Southern Alberta. The unusual landforms of Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai'pi resulted from the dynamic interaction of geology, climate, and time. The sedimentary rocks exposed in the Milk River valley were formed 85 million years ago at the edge of a great inland sea. Huge volumes of meltwater began eroding the soft sandstone after the last ice age. This is how the coulees and hoodoos you see today were formed. The unique habitat created is suitable to many diverse species not typically found in surrounding areas.
On the way home, head north and go through Bow Island, where you can visit Pinto Mcbean, the 15-foot-tall mascot of the bean capital of the West, and grab a bite to eat. We recommend The Rolling Pin Bakery and Cafe, a local favourite serving up some of the best lunch in the region.
Walk with the Dinosaurs
Discover and experience a unique landscape of haunting formations and rich fossil resources at Dinosaur Provincial Park. You will be amazed when the gently rolling prairie grass
lands suddenly drop off, plunging the visitor into a remarkable world of hoodoos, pinnacles, coulees and buttes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site situated along the Red Deer River just
Just 90 minutes west of Medicine Hat, the Park is the largest area of badlands in Canada and one of the richest sites in the world for late Cretaceous fossils.
While you’re in the area, don’t miss Lake Newell, considered one of Alberta’s best kept secrets! Lake Newell, located 14 kilometres south of the City of Brooks in the Newell region, is one of southern Alberta's largest and warmest human-made lakes. The clear warm waters are perfect for canoeing, sailing, fishing, swimming, motorized water sports and more. Visitors can camp at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park, which is situated right on Lake Newell, or stay in one of the many options within the City of Brooks. Extend your stay and enjoy some of the nearby attractions, including the Brooks Aqueduct and the world-famous Dinosaur Provincial Park. Lake Newell is also home to Lake Newell resort, which includes a marina and boat launch facilities.
A road trip isn't complete without your best friend.
But when your BF has four legs, logistics are a little more complex, especially with the summer heat. Almost all patios are pet friendly in Medicine Hat, so we recommend calling the eatery you'd like to dine to make sure. Here are a handful of recommendations below:
Hell's Basement Brewery are true dog lovers, with many of the staff bringing their furry friends with them to work. Hell's Basement has expanded their drink options for all tastes, and their patio is family-friendly. If beer isn't your thing, pick from the rotating list of seltzers, hard sodas or try the non-alcoholic Heck-of-a Root Beer!
This bustling eatery has a great outdoor setup in the heart of downtown Medicine Hat. With a great menu and even better beverage selection, serving all of our city's brewery and distillery options, you won't be disappointed. Dogs are welcome on the boardwalk of the patio, which is set up only during the summer months.
Find a dish on their full menu and enjoy the 'out-of-town' feeling of this rustic patio, with a selection of 23 timeless craft beers on tap to choose from. This brewery is on the outskirts of town, so if you're just stopping through for a quick bite to eat (and to fill your growlers), you and your furry friend don't have to venture too far off the trail. Especially handy if you're hauling a camper.
With a brand new kitchen and revamped menu, the Silver Buckle is a popular local hangout with a dog-friendly patio and frequently has live music. Check their socials to see their most recent events.
The perfect place to stop for a coffee and enjoy the sunshine on the patio. Located downtown, it's a great stop while doing some shopping, sightseeing or enjoying nearby city parks. There is also delicious food (light meals) and treats (often GF options available).
If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth, Swirls is a must-visit. This Medicine Hat staple is the perfect pitstop for you and your pup to grab a cone. Their offerings are never-ending and even include vegan ice cream options.
Medicine Hat's newest brewery and latest patio addition. Sit in the sunshine and sip on a brew or kombucha downtown on 3rd Street. Travois Ale Works routinely features new brew creations, like their immediately famous Purple Haze and newly featured food menu.
Must-see chainsaw carvings around Medicine Hat.
Five years ago, Marina Cole had never used a chainsaw. Fast-forward to 2021, and she is finishing up yet another awe-inspiring wood carving in Medicine Hat.
Cole who lives in Irvine Alberta, only 15 minutes from Medicine Hat, takes old, dead trees and gives them new life by transforming them into works of art. Over the past few years, Cole has created must-see chainsaw carvings throughout the city.
Cole’s sculptures at Gas City Campground were created with the intention of getting young children out and teaching them about the animals they may encounter during their stay.
“There are probably ten or more and there is also a small scavenger hunt for kids to complete based around the tracks of different animals that live in the area. Kids can spend a day running around the park looking for all of them.” says Cole who in addition to being an accomplished sculptor is also a mom.
While it is not the largest or most well-known park in the city, Dan MacCharles Park is home to an amazing Dragon Sculpture by Cole. Cole created the dragon’s body out of a tree stump, then added the wings, which she carved separately. How many other cities can say they have a resident dragon?
“I heard it was a dragon spruce that was coming down, so it just made sense to make a dragon,” she says. “The dragon is one of the cooler pieces I’ve done” says Cole.
Another of Cole’s earlier works, is the tall sculpture celebrating all things Canada and Canadian heritage. Anyone walking the Kin Coulee loop on a summer afternoon will notice the sculpture just past the Kinette Corner near the baseball diamond.
Cole allows the material and her intuition guide her creative process often without a clear vision of the finished sculpture.
“Sometimes you start working, and things come together.” says Cole. “I did the first three pieces and then had a fourth stump to carve . I didn’t know what I wanted to do with it, but as I worked on those first three pieces, I noticed so many people walking their dogs at the park. After I finished the bear, mushroom and the house, I created an ‘Ode to Dog Walkers’ that is dedicated to everyone walking their dogs through the park.”
Many who grow up in Medicine Hat have fond memories of Kiwanis Central Park and the whale slide residing in it.
Cole’s four sculpture pieces at the park now provide a new generation of Medicine Hat children with memories, and offer unique photo opportunities to those passing through the city.
The piece at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede is a collaboration of what the stampede is all about, including bull riding and horses, and also a memoir for the Indigenous children that were taken from their families.
“When you walk around the back of the carving, you’ll see an eagle with the look of a young boy and girl in the wings,” says Cole.
Cole’s latest work and possibly her most breathtaking so far should be finished by the end of April. An angel sits atop the stump of a tree that collapsed during a 2018 windstorm at a heritage home in the Medicine Hat Flats.
Cole says the piece can have different interpretations. “I think it’s definitely going to change from person to person. To some, this could just be art they find cool,” she said. “For others, the angel can have a bit of a deeper meaning.”
In November 2021, Cole decided to showcase other artists around the province and opened Chainsaw Spirit Gallery in Irvine, Alberta. Here, you can find a number of her pieces for purchase, as well as other artistic, hand-made home decor items.
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