Hidden Valley Wildlife Refuge

Hidden Valley Refuge is a great place to do some valley hiking across the Qu'Appelle Valley from Craven if you want to watch spring come alive through crocuses, and if you enjoy watching birds and deer. From the north facing coullee where you park make your way across the prairie heading south and after half a km you will encounter an even deeper and longer side valley that hangs off the Qu'Appelle. You can then loop back to the overgrown parking area.

Gorgeous patch of wilderness not too far from Regina, and extra special because public access nature areas are rare around here. Pets and mountain bikes are not allowed, nor is the trail suitable for wheelchairs or strollers. The trail hazards and scramble out of the valley make the view at the top all the more exquisite. Highly recommend this out-of-the-way, hike-at-your-own-risk wildlife refuge to intrepid wanderers and nature-lovers. Combine an excursion with brunch at 641 Grill in Craven for the perfect countryside adventure.

Suggestions for a pleasant visit:
- wear appropriate footwear (no sandals) -- cacti grow along/on the trail and can puncture soft soled shoes;
- pay attention to your surroundings -- the whole area is crisscrossed by many forking wildlife trails and there is no directional signage;
- exercise caution if you tackle the "stairs" up the steep embankment you can see from the parking lot. Exposed re-bar sticking up out of the hill could easily impale a clumsy hiker;
- take appropriate precautions for ticks, especially in the spring. In 2018, my visits in April were tick-free, whereas during a visit in mid-May our party of four people encountered over two dozen ticks.