Hiking Trails at Smileys Provincial Park

Our family spends a lot of time at Smileys Provincial Park. Although we have never camped there (we have lots of friends who have), we enjoy going there for picnics.

We often have a picnic in the open area with the playground. Or, sometimes down by the bride. The river there is shallow and makes a great place for the kids to cool off.

While everyone was cooling off, I decided to go check out the hiking trail. Although I had been here dozens of times, I had never hiked the trail.

Here’s what the website says:

A short hiking trail is tucked away in the far corner of Smiley’s provincial Park.

The trail itself is mostly hard packed gravel and has slight elevation changes as it meanders through an evergreen forest. To get to the start of the trail, you will walk through a towering tunnel of maple trees (near the children’s play park) as well as by a good example of a gypsum outcrop with a gnarly pine growing right over it.

The Route

I like maps, so I made sure I had a screen shot of the map from the website with me all times, since the trail really isn’t labeled.

There are several off-shoots heading to various parts of the campground, so technically, each time you walked it, you could go a slightly different way.

Directions to the Trail

You don’t need to pay admission to go into the park as a day visitor.

Go through the park, past the playground and picnic area. Continue through to the campground.

At the tree, bear right.

At the top of the hill, there is a large field with swings at the back.

Cut through the field to the sign marked HIKING TRAIL at the back.

Throughout the trail there are Orange squares you can follow, to keep you on the right path. Several times, the trail has off-shoot paths that will take you into the campground. Each time, try a different one!

I followed the orange squares and veered to the left.

I went around gypsum ponds, by fields, and through an old-growth forest. It was really beautiful and quiet in the woods!