Have you ever heard of Bluerock Wildland and Sheep River Provincial Parks in Alberta, Canada? Well until just recently, neither had we.
During our most recent road trip through the province of Alberta, we promised ourselves that we would make an effort to explore some parks that were new to us & not just fall back on “the classics” aka Jasper National Park & Banff.
Truth be told, we stumbled upon Bluerock Wildland & Sheep River completely by accident during our search for Public Land Use Zones, but we are so glad that we did. Not only did we have the opportunity so explore some stunning locations that were completely new to us, but we had the chance to explore them with little to no crowds as well (which was a huge bonus!)
Sheep River Provincial Park is located in what’s known as Kananaskis Country, and it straddles Alberta’s Rocky Mountains and foothills.
From what we read before our trip, Sheep River Provincial Park is the perfect winter getaway for those looking to enjoy some cross-country skiing … but we were there to enjoy the warmer weather & sun-kissed autumn views.
So in search of the perfect place to start off our morning, our first stop of the day was (of course) Sheep River Falls.
Sheep River Falls is a great (and easy) option for exploration outside of the more popular Alberta Parks.
The views of the falls from above & below are both beautiful (and accessible) and there are a number of smaller trails to explore nearby.
Although the crowds at Sheep River were minimal, we did notice that there were designated recreational areas located close by the parking lot, making it the perfect place to enjoy a morning coffee or afternoon picnic (we chose the former ☕).
Although we enjoyed a leisurely morning of slow exploration at Sheep River Falls, more and more people began to trickle in closer to lunch time at which point we decided to jump ship and head somewhere a little more serene; Bluerock Creek.
Bluerock Creek is more of a “blink and you’ll miss it” type of stop, but well worth pulling over for if you are looking for either a quiet place to walk, or a really cool photo location.
Although I am sure that we spent longer than most at Bluerock Creek, this spot truly felt like our very own slice of paradise. Not only were we the only two people at this stop, but Bluerock Creek is also where we were able to spot or first mountain goat of the day!
Fun Fact: This wildlife sanctuary also provides a year round home to Alberta’s Bighorn Sheep … so keep your eye out!
From Bluerock Creek we continued our journey along the main road observing smaller views & roadside stops along the way, but our third and final notable stop of the day had to be Bighorn Lookout.
Just a short walk (I’m talking 2 minutes max.) from the Bighorn Parking Area, you will find yourself at Bighorn Lookout. The moment that you emerge from the trees, you will be in awe of the autumn colors (should you visit in the fall like we did) and views out over the canyon.
Again, we only encountered one or two other people during our time at the lookout & would absolutely recommend this stop for anyone who enjoys a big, beautiful view.
Although we chose not to camp in Sheep River Provincial Park, please note that there are campground accommodations available here & that (at the time of publishing) Bluerock Wildland & Sheep River are open to the public from May to December.
As much as we absolutely love exploring in places like Banff & Jasper, there is no better feeling than exploring somewhere beautiful with minimal crowds & views all to yourself. So if you find yourself looking for somewhere new to explore, check out these two lesser known Provincial Parks & be sure to let me know which stop was your favorite.
This trip through Southern Alberta was sponsored by CanaDream RV Sales & Rentals. If you are planning a road trip for 2021, be sure to check out CanaDream and the variety of vehicle options that they offer. We chose to travel in their Maxi Travel Truck Camper & it was the perfect combination of comfort & use of space.