My roadtrip through Southern Alberta was all about reconnecting with my Canadian heritage. The sites I visited related to some of the indeginous history in the area inspiring me to understand the strength and resilience of the First Nations ancestors. I remember learning in grade school about Indegenious history, that was back in the early 70’s therefore a refresher was definitely due.
Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump Heritage Site
The museum and heritage site Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is located south of Calgary on the site where buffalo were run off a cliff to kill them. The informative exhibits explained how the Indegenious people killed and used the buffalo for their survival. Learning about the hard work, knowledge and planning needed to execute these massive hunts was awe inspiring.
Peolpe used the entire buffalo from its carcass to its bones. Exhibits show tools made from bones, skins used for teepee covers and clothes. They dried and pounded the meat to make pemmican for winter eating. The bladder was even used to carry water. The tribe used every bit of the animal for their survival.
For nearly 6000 years people hunted buffalo in the area. Things started to change in the mid 1800’s when the first white settlers arrived. The settlers saw the massive animals and starting killing the buffalo for greed and sport. Prior to this there were several million buffalo roaming these prairies. If it wasn’t for the government creating parks and protecting the buffalo, this majestic animal would be extinct today. Approximately 100,000 wild buffalo live in southern Alberta today.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Waterton Lakes National Park is a stunning national prak located in the southwestern corner of Alberta. It borders Glacier National Park in Montana, USA. Together they formed the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s first international peace park.
Waterton has dramatic scenery, with the rugged Rocky Mountains abrutly rising from the rolling prairies. This park has pristine lakes, rivers, waterfalls and lush valleys. The parks namesake feature, Upper, Middle and Lower Waterton Lakes. Upper Waterton is the deepest lake in hte Canadian Rockies.
The park is home to a wide range of wildlife including grizzly bears, black bears, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, cougars, and wolves. It also has over 250 species of birds. I was lucky enough to have two different sightings of bears. Waterton is also known as the “Wildflower Capital of Canada” because of the abundance of variety of wildflowers throughout the park.
The area has significance to the Indgenous peoples, particularly the Blackfoot Nation, who lived and travelled through the region for thousands of years.
Waterton Lakes National Park offers a peaceful and less-crowded alternative to other popular Canadian parks like Banff and Jasper. I truly enjoyed my stay in this park. It provided breathtaking scenery making it a hidden gem in my opinion and a must see spot.
Okotoks Erratic (Big Rock), Southern Alberta
Okotoks Erratic is located near the town of Okotoks, south of Calgary. This massive glacial erratic, left behind during the last Ice Age, holds significance for the Blackfoot people. The rock features in Blackfoot oral tradition as part of the creation stories and teachings. The “Big Rock” is a geological wonder and worth a visit. It is a short walk to the rock and the history of how it came to be here is truly mind bloggling.
Saamis Teepee in Medicine Hat
Saamis Teepee it the tallest teepee in the world, orginially built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. An entreprener bought it and moved it to Medicine Hat, Alberta before it was destroyed creating a beautiful structure to visit.
The teepee structure is inspired by the Plains Indegenous peoples’ and serves as a general symbol for their culture and history. The site includes 10 intrepretive panels that hightlight stories and history of the local indigenous groups, including Blackfoot, Cree and other First Nations. The stunning artwork and the scenic area where the teepee is located is worth a visit.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park
As I drove through the rolling hills of the southern Alberta prairies in the distance I could see mountains of green. Cypress Hills Interprovinal Park is a unique and scenic areal located in south western Alberta and the south eastern corner of Saskatchewan. The governments of both provinces jointly manage the first interprovincial park in Canada.
This is the only area in the southwest where pine Cypress trees grow. The area was passed over during the last Ice Age which left a unquie green belt. This park has a rich Indigenous history, having been used for thousands of years as a meeting place and hunting grounds.
On the Alberta side there are two stunning view points. First is Horseshoe Canyons looking towards Medicine Hat. The second is Mountain Top Viewpoint which is the highest point in Canada between the Rockies in the west and Labrador to the east. The Cypress Hills rise over 1400 meters (4593 feet ) above sea level, giving stunning expansive, must see views towards Montana, USA.
Connecting the Alberta and Saskatchewan sides of the park is a gravel road only passable if dry. I was lucky enough to have beautiful dry weather and blue skies making this hour long journey over a bumpy road well worth it for the stunning scenery.
Once I got to the Saskatchewan side of the park I stopped off at Fort Walsh and learned about the Cypress Hills Masscure. A very gruesome and sad part of Canadian history. This event brought our Canadian Mounted Police to the west in the late 1800’s.
Conclusion of my Southern Alberta Roadtrip
My southern Alberta roadtrip was awe inspiring for the natural beauty and my reconnection to some of Alberta’s Indigenous history. If you are looking for a roadtrip that offers a mix of history, culture and jaw-dropping scenery Southern Alberta needs to be at the top of your list. Happy travels!