PIPESTONE - History, Location, Campsites, Wapiti River, Pipestone Creek, Museum, Dinosaur Bones. Northern Alberta
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PIPESTONE CREEK PARK GOOGLE MAP

PIPESTONE CREEK PARK
 ALBERTA, CANADA



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Welcome to Pipestone Creek Park located in the Country of Grande Prairie, Alberta.


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Campsite Map - Enlarge Map

Rates: $20. Rates subject to change. No services. Tap water, includes firewood. Caretaker on premises. Open May 15 to October 15. Park information: 780-766-2391.

NEW FEATURE 2013
CAMPGROUND REPORT


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Pipestone Creek Park has 99 unserviced spots on the banks of the Wapiti River. Horseshoes, ball diamond, playground, hiking, group camping, showers.


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A new Dinosaur themed playground (2011) is situated in the overnight camping area, along with horseshoe pits and ball diamond. The second playground is located in the day use area, located near the entrance to the park.


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There is lots of free firewood for the campsites.


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Free showers and washrooms including flush toilets are located near the main entrance of the park as well as the RV sani-station.


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A small road leads to the Wapiti River where you can get your boat on the water.

Pipestone Creek Cemetery 1900-1940. 14 Graves are marked. Ik Kiskisiwin, Francios Chatelaine, Pete Chatelaine, Alice Chatelaine, Lious Karankote, Henery Stoney, Mairie Stoney, Henery Kenny, Baptiste Kenny as well as the child's graves of White, Stoney, Wilson, Kenny and Chatelaine.


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PIPESTONE CREEK PARK

Located 17 km south of Wembley, Alberta off Highway 43 on gravel road is Pipestone Creek Park, situated in the Wapiti River Valley. The land at Pipestone Creek was a meeting place for the 1st People of the area who travelled from Lake Saskatoon on the trail to Jasper, Alberta.

MORE PHOTOS: Click on the mini-pictures above to enlarge photo.

As far back as the 1800's, Pipestone Creek was a popular Indian campground. Tom-toms beating and dogs barking could be heard for miles. Aboriginal people made their pipes out of the argillite (river clay) found on the shores of the Pipestone Creek. In 1933 the Pipestone Creek Post Office opened with A.K.Watts, the first postmaster.

The Wapiti River flows by the park. The name Wapiti is named after the Cree word for Elk. The Wapiti River flows east into the Smoky River. The Pipestone Creek Store once located in the area is now located in Grande Prairie at the Pioneer Museum.

A short hike on the west side of the park takes you down to Pipestone Creek where it joins the Wapiti River. The interesting cliffs are very scenic and a challenge to climb. Many hike along the creek bed, which usually dries up in the summer, to see if they can find the Pipestone Dig location.

Many people come to Pipestone Creek Park for the afternoon just to swim, while others bring their families to enjoy the outdoors, the playgrounds and the campfires. (free campfire wood) Many variety of birds in the area, as well as small fish and small snakes. With Pipestone Golf Course only a few km away, some golf during the day, and camp at Pipestone Creek Park in the evening.



Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum (River of Death Discovery Dinosaur Museum)
A multimillion-dollar dinosaur museum was proposed for Pipestone Creek Park, 17 km south of Wembley. The site was later found to be unstable so another location had to be found. In March 2010 County Councillor and Museum Society Chair Jack O'Toole, announced the location for the River of Death Discovery Dinosaur Museum would be east of the Wembley entrance along Highway 43 at a cost of over 26 million dollars. In April 2011 the name of the museum was changed to Philip Currie Dinosaur Museum. Currie has been involved with the Royal Tyrrel Museum in Drumheller and over the last 25 years has been involved with the Pipestone Creek bone bed.
Bickell Bridge to the Bonebed was officially opened in March 2011. It was named after Roy Bickell who has spent 40 years collecting fossils in the area that will eventually be donated to the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum. (5,000 fossils) The bridge now offers access to the Pipestone bone bed near the Wapiti River. (click on mini photos below to enlarge)


A group gathers at a Dinosaur Dig on the banks high above Pipestone Creek to watch as Dinosaur Bones are uncovered in the summer of 1987.
HISTORY OF DINOSAURS IN THE PEACE COUNTRY
Dr. Philip Currie of the Royal Tyrrell Museum was in the Peace Country and talked about the discovery of the Dinosaur Bones at Pipestone Creek.
Play VIDEO> 3:50min.
JETBOATS ON THE WAPITI AT PIPESTONE CREEK PARK
The Wapiti River at Pipestone Creek Park offers hours of fun. Jetboating, canoeing and swimming are popular. Has boat launch area.
Play VIDEO> 1min or View Flash VIDEO>
2011 OUTLAW EAGLE WORLD JETBOAT MARATHON
July 6, 2011: Many gathered at O'Brien Park, to watch the jetboats race down the Wapiti River, 11 km south of Grande Prairie. The World Jetboat Marathon took place over 9 days starting in Hay River, NWT, then Peace River, Grande Prairie, Fort Assiniboine, Whitecourt, and Fox Creek.
View VIDEO> (5:40min) View Flash Format VIDEO>


PIPESTONE CREEK PARK, ALBERTA


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Pipestone Creek Museum located at Pipestone Creek Park at the main entrance. (Day-use area)


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Largest ever find of a Pachyrhinosauris skeleton was found on the banks of Pipestone Creek. (A short hike west of Pipestone Park)
Next to Drumheller, this is the second largest deposit of Dinosaur Bones in Alberta. A cast of the skeleton found in the summer of 2002, is displayed at the Grande Prairie Regional College and Centre 2000 Heritage Discovery Centre.


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The adult skull and infant skull cast of the Pachyrhinosauraus are displayed at the small museum at Pipestone Creek Park.

The Pipestone Ferry crossed the Wapiti River to enable travellers to get to Grovedale (to the south) until a bridge was built at O'Brien Park in 1958 (located 11 km south of Grande Prairie.) The remnants of that old ferry can still be seen at Pipestone Creek Park. Restoration of the the ferry was considered by the County of Grande Prairie but it was too far gone to save.


PIPESTONE

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