Recommendation for Jr High students camping down south? Help! :)

[Smitty]

Hey everyone:

Planning a camping trip down south Sept-19-21 with a group of 20+ students. Looking for a few recommendations.

1) Any nice day-use picnic areas between Okotoks and around Black Diamond / Longview? Wanted a nice spot for a quick (30 minutes) lunch

2) Wanted to take the students on a short, easy hike along the Whaleback Ridge. Any recommendations here? Anything related to the science curriculum would be great; unique geology, fauna, plants, trees, animals, etc. Also, if this short hike could gain some modest elevation so some scenic pictures could be taken, that would be awesome. 

[bcubed]

The Big Rock Erratic SW of okotoks should be a spot for lunch, plus can throw some science at them

plateau mountain would be cool, but not sure the implications of school group in Kananaskis country 

 

 

[Smitty]

Add to the above:

3) Good place to eat in Black Diamond on the way back?

Thanks bcubed. Keep the replies coming, friends!

-Smitty

[bcubed]

8 hours ago, Smitty said:

Add to the above:

3) Good place to eat in Black Diamond on the way back?

Thanks bcubed. Keep the replies coming, friends!

-Smitty

Cut over to High River from the Bar U south of Longview and go to the Hitchin Post. I’d say for 20 kids, call ahead

[ÜberFly]

Mike

Does your school board require youth hire a guide (or have a minimum of an OCC Field Leader cert) for this type of thing (some do)?

Peter

[matt1984]

2)Keep in mind this is 2 days after the general rifle season opens in the oldman/livingstone area. Expect it to be VERY busy and expect lots of gunshots.  Take a look at the hike up to plateau mountain though, it remained unglaciated so the top of the mountain has unique frost polygon features. Also, I believe this lies just into WMU 404 so it is out of the general hunting zone.

3) Westwood restaurant in Black diamond is a great spot, local ingredients and great food.

 

 

[Smitty]

9 hours ago, ÜberFly said:

Mike

Does your school board require youth hire a guide (or have a minimum of an OCC Field Leader cert) for this type of thing (some do)?

Peter

Nope.

 

6 hours ago, matt1984 said:

 

 

 

 

 

2)Keep in mind this is 2 days after the general rifle season opens in the oldman/livingstone area. Expect it to be VERY busy and expect lots of gunshots.  Take a look at the hike up to plateau mountain though, it remained unglaciated so the top of the mountain has unique frost polygon features. Also, I believe this lies just into WMU 404 so it is out of the general hunting zone.


Dammit.

 

3) Westwood restaurant in Black diamond is a great spot, local ingredients and great food.

Thanks!

 

Thanks, both of you. Keep the suggestions coming!

[fishinglibin]

Or Motoburitto in Turner Valley is good for killer burittos tacos and burgers, outdoor lunch food trailer, lots of room, then can go to Blue Rock and hike.

 

[Pipes]

Mike if you are looking to hike the whaleback you can access at the bob creek staging area.  Turn right just before the old man river bridge.  Road ends at the staging area.  Easy hike access to the whaleback.   This is not general rifle season in the whaleback.

You can also access via Waldron grazing lease right off highway 22 and hit up Black mountain.  Right across from one of the Waldron ranches.

think Bob Spirko has some online descriptions of this one