Categories: Travel

This Alberta park is a world heritage site with 3,000-year-old rock art

Image via Shutterstock Ronnie Chua

Planning your Alberta summer road trip? This provincial park is a stunning place to visit and a gem of local history and heritage. Áísínai’pi, or Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta, is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The rock formations and sweeping views are reason enough to visit, but there’s something even more special waiting for those who explore.

From stunning hoodoos to ancient rock art dating back 3,000 years, here are all the reasons to visit Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park in Alberta.

What to expect

Located three and a half hours southeast of Calgary, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is a place unlike any other. Beloved for its stunning views, unique rock formations, and towering hoodoos, it’s a great spot for hiking, camping, or swimming in the summer months. But that’s not all.

Writing-on-Stone is a place of deep cultural significance. As the name suggests, it’s home to a collection of important pictographs detailing the day-to-day activities, battles, and journeys of Indigenous Peoples.

“Writing-on-Stone/Áísínai’pi is a sacred site in a mixed grassland prairie region on the northern edge of the Great Plains,” explains Parks Canada.

“The Blackfoot people Nation (Siksikáítsitapi) has left engravings and paintings on the sandstone walls of the Milk River Valley, which bear witness to spirit messages. The landscape is considered to be sacred by the Blackfoot people, and centuries-old traditions are perpetuated today in various ceremonies and in the respect in which the place is held.”

Take a walking tour while you’re there to learn more about the area’s cultural history and significance.

Know before you go

Before you pack up the car, there are a few things to keep in mind.

If you decide to explore the Matapiiksi (Hoodoo) Trail, note that it’s not stroller-friendly and can get pretty warm in the summer. There also isn’t a lot of shade. Parks Alberta recommends bringing a hat and water, and staying on the designated paths.

It’s also important to remember that Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park is a heritage site, so please be respectful when you visit. Please stick to the paths and do not write, carve, or leave any other marks on the rocks.

We’re so fortunate to visit a place with so much history, so let’s keep it beautiful for generations to come.

If you haven’t already, make sure you visit Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park this summer!