Medicine Hat
A sunny prairie city in the South Saskatchewan River valley.
About Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat is known for its river valley trails, coulees, historic brick and clay industry, and for being one of Canada's sunniest cities. It makes a handy base for Cypress Hills, Red Rock Coulee and Dinosaur Provincial Park.
A brief history
A town site grew up when the Canadian Pacific Railway reached the river in 1883. The area's huge natural gas reserves led Rudyard Kipling to describe it as having "all hell for a basement", and early industry earned it the nickname "the Pittsburgh of the West".
RV tips
- Directly on the Trans-Canada Highway, with RV services and campgrounds.
- Summers are hot and dry, so keep tires and A/C in good shape.
- A good fuel and supply stop before heading into the back roads.
Before you go: Hours, road conditions, campground availability, passes and fire bans change. Check the official source below, 511 Alberta and Alberta Fire Bans before you travel. National parks need a Parks Canada pass, and Kananaskis needs a Conservation Pass.
Campgrounds
See Alberta campgrounds in this region for typical costs, hookups and booking links.
Sources & more information
Related trip planning: Alberta RV routes · Pre-trip checklist · Crown land camping