Canada has a number of Provincial Parks, similar to State Parks in the US, which offer pleasant, low-cost campgrounds administered by the provincial government.
Our first night inside Alberta, Canada, we passed through the town of "Milk River" and drove on dirt roads to the "Writing on Stone" Provincial Park.
It is an area of spiritual and ceremonial significance to the Blackfoot "First Nations" tribe. They have used it for thousands of years to record pictographs and petroglyphs on the soft sandstone eroding beside the river. The riverbanks also eroded in such a way as to fashion eerie hoodoos, similar to those in the Bisti Badlands of NM.
Panorama of the Milk River Valley of Writing on Stone Provincial Park
Difficult to make out in bright light, but this stone carries depictions of animals, warriors with shields and traditional Blackfoot offerings.
Photo of an early Blackfoot leader named "Yellow Kidney"
More Hoodoos above the river course
Unusual sculpted outcropping where young men might go to fast for 4 days and nights on a Spirit Quest.
The tranquil Milk River - named for its opacity from carrying particulate matter.
Park Management in Alberta
In Milk River, Population 816, a 100th Birthday is a BIG deal. There was a parade, softball games, free swimming at the pool, a BBQ and much merriment.
Paul racing one of the earlier inhabitants of the Milk River community.
Next, we drive through Calgary to the beautiful Banff area.
Thanks for "traveling along" with us.
Barbara and Paul
This is an area I have never been - nor even heard of, for that matter. Very interesting. I'm glad you caught the 100th Anniversary celebration. Thanks for sharing.
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