Whispering Pines Camp
Home to Medicine Hat Astronomy Club's Southern Alberta Star Party.
The camp is located in a Bortle 2 area of the spectacular Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park Dark‑Sky Preserve, just 1.7km from Elkwater, Alberta.
Whispering Pines Camp is privately owned by Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada.
Whispering Pines Amenities
The 6‑acre field has lots of room for tents and RVs.
Twelve rustic cabins are also available, with heating and lighting, ten of which are in an open area with unobstructed views of the sky.
The main building features washrooms, showers, a large auditorium with audio‑visual equipment, laundry facilities, a games room, and a large communal kitchen and dining room.
Camping at SASP
The camping field is very well maintained. It is mowed, level and free of rocks and holes. There are a few disc-golf targets around the field so care should be taken not to bump into one in the dark.
There are no designated sites in the camping field, so camping is offered on a rush basis.
Potable water is available from a standpipe near the camp entrance.
Power in the field is limited, but every cabin has an external 15‑amp plugin, so bring an extension cord and park near a cabin if you need electricity.
Cabin Accommodation at SASP
In the open field are ten cabins with power, lighting and heating. Washrooms and showers are in the main building. Each cabin has two rooms with bunks for six people.
Another two cabins are available under trees, with auxiliary washrooms and showers nearby. Both cabins have a single, large room with bunks for 8‑12 people.
Hostel-style cabin sharing is offered at a reduced price to guests that attend individually. If you are attending with friends, let us know and we will ensure you are placed together, otherwise hostel rooms are shared with up to one other person of the same gender.
All cabin bunks have mattresses, but guests must bring their own pillows and bedding.
Around Whispering Pines
Elkwater townsite is 1.7km away, with a convenience store, a visitor centre and museum, a gas station, a hotel, two restaurants, and a mini-golf course.
Elkwater Lake offers boating, fishing (licence required), a swimming area, and a beach.
The nearest full-service centre is Medicine Hat, which is approximately 65km away.
Solar and Lunar Ephemerides for SASP '22
|
18 Sun |
19 Mon |
20 Tue |
21 Wed |
22 Thu |
23 Fri |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
07:03 | 07:05 | 07:06 | 07:08 | 07:09 | |
|
19:28 | 19:25 | 19:23 | 19:21 | 19:19 | |
|
23:48 | 00:47 | 01:53 | 03:04 | 04:16 | |
|
16:31 | 17:17 | 17:53 | 18:20 | 18:41 |
Entry to Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park is free on the Alberta side.
SASP 2022 fees
Camping
in the field
$150
per family unit
- 5 days Star Party
- Bring your own tent/RV
- Potable water standpipe
- Shared electricity
- Quiet dogs welcome
- Choose your spot
Shared
cabin room
$180
per person
- 5 days Star Party
- Up to 1 other occupant
- Heating
- Lighting
- Electricity
- Unobstructed sky
Exclusive
cabin room
$200
per family unit
- 5 days Star Party
- Sleeps 1 to 6
- Heating
- Lighting
- Electricity
- Unobstructed sky
Exclusive
cabin
$250
per family unit
- 5 days Star Party
- Sleeps 8 or 12
- Heating
- Lighting
- Electricity
- Under trees