Miquelon Lake Park Big Loop

There’s always time for a little hiking and while on the road to adventure, where ever it takes us, we’ll search out local trails. One fine fall day finds us southeast of Edmonton and itching to put feet in motion. The prairies are hardly a hiking mecca, yet more often than not, trails can be found if one looks hard enough. If no other options are available, we’ll trek the streets of a small town, but finding ourselves close to a natural area known as Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, gave us some good options for fun.

Miquelon Park is an oasis of forest and lake on the northern plains and there’s a fair-sized network of easy routes of many lengths to choose from. We’ll piece a number of them together and make a big loop of it. There’s pleasant rolling terrain, beaver ponds and an old farm house to take in, so it sounds about perfect. We picked a colourful time to visit with the trees so many golden hues and it made the experience all the more memorable.

This outing takes place about sixty clicks southeast of Edmonton and on entering the park, head towards the ball diamonds east of the main road (shown as overflow parking on some maps). There’s other possible starts, but this one is the least complicated and you can get down to business right away.

The trail begins behind a backstop and there’s maps and signage along the way to help you along. It’s super easy, takes almost no brain matter (so perfect for us), the trails are wide and it’s really just a long stroll in the woods. There minimal elevation change and based on our experience plenty of alone time. We saw only a few folks at the start and then the rest of the hike, we had it to ourselves.

Turn right after a short while on intercepting the main trail.

It seems every body of water has a beaver lodge and in some places you’ll find well worn paths made by these critters, coming out of the water and heading into the woods. Sometimes these busy guys will drop a tree across the trail and no doubt the parks staff keeps busy clearing such obstructions.

For the next seven junctions keep left and in quick succession take in the northern legs of Beaver Hills, Chickadee, Deer, Ermine and Fox Loops. At certain locations there’s picnic tables and in places interpretive signs, plus the occasional biffy.

There are no hills to speak of, just forest and glade, pond and stream. It’s pleasant going and quite peaceful. You can also bike these trails and in winter they’re open for XC skiing or snowshoeing.

Mushrooms seem to grown in abundance, but we’ve never been good at IDing them. Or any plants in general, save for a few of the more common trees and shrubs…or anything that has yummy berries and all of a sudden we’re experts.

After the last junction you’ll find yourself on Grouse Loop, the largest of them all. It continues to the eastern edge of the park where it bends south before circling back in a wide arch. The park map and Google Earth both show a big lake along this stretch, but it’s was quite shrunken on our visit. These shallow flatland lakes often dry up later in the season and vary is size depending on conditions.

Bending west now, there’s a nice little side-trail leading to viewpoint overlooking a pond (more beavers). We find a bench a little past here and make it our lunch stop. Cheers! To those little razor-toothed rodents. Cheers! To those wonderful fall colours and the welcoming cool temperatures. Cheers! To bringing wine on every hike! CHEERS!

There’s mention of an old farm ahead along the trail and the collapsed barn is seen first. A few hundred metres later and the house itself comes into view. It’s just off the trail, nestled in the trees and pretty as a picture. An old stove can be seen inside, but it’s otherwise empty.

There’s no mention of a history, but it’s likely from the prairie settlement period of the early 1900s. This reminds us Miquelon Provincial Park is relatively new and only founded about sixty five years ago. There’s said to be a second old farm along another trail in the network, but that’s for another time.

Bending northward now come to the south leg of Beaver Hill Loop and go left, then keep left again at the next junction. In a few minutes come to the side trail (left) leading to ball diamonds and your car. It all comes to a depressing end and we always we hate to leave. Noooooo!

The past calls and the next day it’s a date with some amazing historic sites up in the area. We’ve yet to post about these places (hopelessly behind) but some are truly wondrous, so stay tuned.

Hope you enjoyed this little Miquelon Park outing and keep watch for more adventures coming down the pipe.

Know more (new tab): Miquelon Lake Provincial Park.

They’re saying…

”Well written and well researched. You feel part of the adventure!” David Fionn Clarke.

More like this…
West Bragg Creek Trails: Call Me.
Crimson Lake Amerada Trail.
Cross Conservation Big Loop.

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: October, 2021.
Location: Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, AB (SE of Edmonton).
Distance: 8km loop.
Height gain maximum: 40m.
Height gain cumulative: 80m.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports.

The adventure begins…

The trail’s pleasant and easy going.

We’ll do the outer loop seen on this map.

The beavers have been at it.

Their teeth must be razor-sharp.

Many lakes and ponds here – see the beaver lodge?

There’s nothing difficult about it.

Lots of these along the trail.

They’ve moved on.

Looking east at the far edge of the park.

They mow the trail.

Typical terrain and view.

Those glorious colours.

On the Grouse Loop section.

We raise a toast…

Remains of a barn.

Not far away, this old farm house.

It’s just off the trail.

A pleasant stroll in the woods.

You can take in the trails all year round.

There’s picnic tables at select junctions.

One final shot…we hate to leave.

The big hiking loop in Miquelon Lake Park.