Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is located about 100 kilometres southeast of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, or 44 kilometres east of the community of Milk River, and straddles the Milk River itself.
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I'd be lying if i said i totally agree with how Writing on stone park runs. Only a small portion of the park is open year round. The rest (vast majority) of the part is situated within a “Preserve” in which only Archaeologists and First nations people are permitted to enter, with the only exception being guided tours that run during the summer, but even these tours only explore a certain area, with many areas left only for archaeologists and first nations.
My biggest question would be: Why bother making it a park if people can't see most of it? With what they have going, they might as well just not label it as a park. I'd also like to note that a lot of Alberta’s rock art sites are situated on private land, which also doesn't sit right with me. Everyone should have the right to learn and embrace our province’s history, it's not something for one person to claim ownership of.
Among the biggest concerns for Rock art sites is the threat of vandalism. While keeping the areas closed might help with this, other options including surveillance or barricades would be great substitutes, and it would allow for more visitation, without keeping these treasures off limits for all but a few select people.
To me, Writing on stone’s current setup is basically that of one giant museum, a small portion of the collection is out on display, while the rest is hidden away for only a small amount of people to see.
If you have an interest in early first nations history, I Strongly recommend you visit Head Smashed in buffalo jump instead, it has a far better setup compared to...
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Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Alberta's newest UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a truly remarkable place that seamlessly combines natural beauty with cultural significance. This sacred space offers a unique experience filled with stunning landscapes and fascinating history.
One of the highlights of my visit was joining the Markings of Aisinapi guided tour, and it exceeded my expectations in every way. Our guide, Rebecca, was not only incredibly knowledgeable but also passionate about sharing her insights into the Blackfoot people and the remarkable markings they left behind. Her enthusiasm and genuine love for the park made the tour both educational and captivating.
Preservation is paramount when it comes to sites like Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, and it is evident that great care is taken to maintain its natural and cultural integrity. The importance of preserving this place for future generations to learn from and appreciate cannot be overstated. It is a testament to the park's commitment to conservation and the recognition of its historical significance.
While exploring the park, keep your eyes peeled for the diverse wildlife that calls this area home. From rabbits to rattlesnakes, there is a good chance of encountering some of these fascinating creatures. However, it is worth noting that cell service may be limited in certain parts of the park. To ensure a smooth visit, I highly recommend downloading an offline...
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We arrived at 1130am from Lethbridge to the visitor centre.
They have a really nice restrooms on site. Plus a water bottle filling station inside to the left of the centre
As it was a weekday we had missed the 10:00am guided tour and the next one was not until 2:00pm.
The info desk was manned by a couple lovely ladies, who gave us a map for the Hoodoo Trail. We were told that there was no entrance fee.
We headed off on the designated trail down to the campground and onto the Hoodoo trail.
I got to say that it was a most enjoyable and thought provoking hike.
We were a bit disappointed to see that a cage had to be installed to prevent further graffiti doing harm the the main writing on Stone features. I sure hope that MARY is happy with herself for defacing it..
Anyways, we headed up to the observation lookout and saw a rattle snake in the grass. A most majestic specimen to say the least.
From the observation point you can see the NWMP station, which had been rebuilt for the RCMP's 100 anniversary down on the south side of the river. There are informative placards up on the hill explaining quite a few things, which was highly appreciated.
Instead of hiking back along the Hoodoo trail to the info centre, we walked back along the road and were thankful for the breeze that gave us a bit of a respite from the...
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