And who could forget experiencing “One of the first surprise appearances for you on my Alberta bucket list, I hope, is the brand new (not even fully completed) Nanaksar Gurdwara Gursikh, a massive I have personally been to the Golden Temple, the holiest temple in the Sikh faith, in Amritsar, Punjab three times, and it is probably my favorite place in all of India. I’ve always been drawn to the religious centers and spiritual sights of the world. The park is split in two by Highway 16, with plains bison occupying the northern section of the park, where most of the park’s visitor facilities are located, and wood buffalo found on the southern side.Somehow, sometime in the past, the Canadian prairie provinces began a tradition of making the world’s largest random things, and Alberta has the highest concentration of them. If you haven’t been skiing in the Rockies, then you haven’t been to Alberta. Today you can explore the ruins on a fascinating interpretive trail.Canmore is where most locals stay when they visit the Banff area. Tucked into a coulee between Cochrane and Airdrie, Big Hill Springs is a hidden gem where you can observe and learn about tufa, porous rock formed when moving water deposits minerals more rapidly than it erodes the rock underneath.Everything about Yoho National Park is grand and wild and this star-attraction waterfall is right at home amidst its striking surroundings. When I was a kid, my father and I hiked down to the base of the waterfall, forded the river somewhere downstream (in the dark…don’t try this, kids!

The Rockies are also a dream come true for wildlife watchers; you are practically guaranteed to spot elk and deer, while lucky visitors may also see bears, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, coyotes, wolves, lynxes, cougars, and more.We will begin in the north with Jasper National Park. More things for me to add to the list. A visit to Crescent Falls can also be combined with a visit to the famous ice bubbles at Abraham Lake. The drive takes about three hours, but that’s not counting the many stops at glaciers, lakes, and other scenic attractions you’ll want to make along the way.Several of the following entries are all located along or a short drive off the Icefields Parkway, but I feel this most epic of Alberta road trips deserves its own entry.Just like there are too many gorgeous lakes in Alberta to list all of them here, the same can be said about waterfalls. It is surrounded by immense boreal forests, and outdoor activities like skiing, ATVing, snowmobiling, canoeing, and more abound.

Take a short, steep trail with ropes down to the pool below the upper falls to watch the pounding water gush, surrounded by views of a dramatic canyon. I compiled this Alberta bucket list as much for myself as I did for the reader; I’ve personally only checked off two thirds of the entries (I’ve used stock photos for places I haven’t been to yet), but my list will likely grow as I continue to uncover more amazing Alberta attractions that I MUST visit before I die.Please note that because I’ve put this together during the days of isolation, many places I mention, including all national parks, are closed until further notice. In today's post, I want to explore a different route that I've never heard anyone talk about before - the drive between Calgary/Banff and Nordegg. The grain elevator in Raley, southwest of Lethbridge in Southern Alberta, is the oldest in the province.Another quintessential sight in the Alberta prairies are the flowering canola fields, which paint entire plots of farmland vibrant yellow. Needless to say, stumbling upon this beautiful structure unexpectedly while driving out of Edmonton one day was a great delight!Elk Island is a perfect natural retreat right on the doorstep of Edmonton.

We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. As a child, just about all of our family holidays revolved around camping, sometimes for weeks at a time. Crescent Falls is a 0.4 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Nordegg, Alberta, Canada that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. Calgary is in fact slightly larger than Edmonton by population. You can hike right down into the canyons to admire the impressive layers in this out-of-this-world landscape.To complete your tour of the Drumheller badlands (also known as the Continuing a few minutes past the hoodoos will bring you to my next Alberta bucket list destination: Besides general admission, a variety of unique tours are available, from photography-focused ones including local badlands landscapes to experiencing the working life of miners and enjoying Hungarian-style family miner’s meals.To cap my selection of Drumheller-area entries, don’t miss stopping in for a beer at Alberta’s most quintessential saloon: the Adding to the adventure, you’ll need to cross no less than 11 small bridges to get there.The informative interpretive center at Head-Smashed-In is built naturally into a sandstone cliff and hosts a variety of programs, performances, and events.Another sight in Southern Alberta that makes my Alberta bucket list is The smallest and least-known of Alberta’s Rocky Mountain national parks in The national park centers on Waterton Lakes, two connected lakes, with its most iconic view being of the landmark Two hours to the east of Waterton Lakes, and also just a stone’s throw from the US border, This UNESCO-listed park encompasses a beautiful section of prairies with picturesque sandstone outcrops and hoodoos.