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A Brief History
The Edson to Grande Prairie Trail was built by the Government of Alberta in 1911. The trail first shows on the Northern Alberta Department of the Interior map of 1911. The Kleskun Hill stopping place does not show on the Mundy maps of 1914 and 1919, although the Kleskun Hill is shown. An unnamed stopping place is shown at S29-T72-R03-W6M.
The Kleskun Hill - A Discovery Guide states in 1911, the provincial government agreed to build a trail connecting Grande Prairie to the Grand Trunk Pacific railway to Edson. When carrying all the equipment and supplies needed to homestead, this rugged 240 kilometer (150 mile) trail could take over a month to traverse. People walked, sometimes with a hand sleigh, or came with a yoke of oxen or team of horses. One East Kleskun family brought six horses, four cows, two dozen chickens and two wagons of furniture and food over the trail on foot. A small section of the Edson trail can still be seen as it cuts past the eastern edge of the Hills.
SITE INFORMATION
Other names: none
Founded: Stopping Place does not appear on any known map
Abandoned: Date of abandonment unknown
Ownership: Land owned by the County of Grande Prairie
Access: The public is permitted onto the site when the park is open
FURTHER READING & BIBLIOGRAPHY
Edson to Grande Prairie Trail, published by the DeBolt & District Pioneer Museum Society, 1982. This is the best source for information on the trail.
Kleskun Hill - A Discovery Guide, by Margot Hervieux, 2002
Delayed Frontier, by David W. Leonard, 1995
Mundy Maps, 1914 and 1919 & Mundy Pocket Guide, 1914
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