Alberta Has A Secret Cliffside Meadow That Will Transport You Right To Ireland
Who knew! Just when you thought that you'd seen all the wonderful nature spots that Alberta has, you get your mind blown yet again. Bighorn Lookout in Alberta is a stunning meadow viewpoint that will make you feel like you're strolling down the hills in Ireland.
Only you don't have to purchase a single flight ticket to get to your destination. In fact, you don't even have to break a sweat as you're walking down the trail. It's that short of a hike.
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You can get to the trailhead by driving to the parking lot of the Bighorn Lookout Day Use Area. The lookout is near a hamlet named Millarville, which is in the heart of the Rocky Mountain foothills.
The drive down from downtown Calgary will be about just under one hour and twenty minutes.
It'll be a slightly longer trip for Edmontonians — around five hours on the road. But don't worry, it's not like there aren't lovely parks in and around Edmonton for you to enjoy.
This baby will be waiting for you whenever you're ready. From the parking lot, it's a smooth, short trek through Sheep River road.
The length of the whole trail is around 0.5 kilometres.
Albertan hikes can get fairly intense and tough but this one will hardly take you any time at all.
And there will be plenty of signs along the way to keep you from getting lost. But honestly, it's such a brief and straight-forward trek that you'll hardly be worried about any of that.
The viewpoint itself is truly a sight to behold. With lush, green meadows surrounding you and a dramatic cliff overlooking the river, you'll feel at one with nature like you've never felt before.
On lovely summer days, you might even be able to find wildflowers blooming nearby, making for a magical nature experience altogether.
There are plenty of other spots to explore within Sheep River Provincial Park if you want to make the most of your trip.
The road that brings you to the lookout also leads to a bunch of other hiking trails in the region. There's also the captivating Sheep River falls that you can check out.
All in all, a short day trip and an even shorter walk will treat you to gorgeously unique views in Alberta that might fool you into thinking you're in Ireland.
A worthwhile trip, indeed.
Bighorn Lookout
Address: Bighorn Lookout Day Use Area, Sheep River Provincial Park, AB
Why You Need To Go: To fall in love with one of Alberta's most unique hidden gems in the countryside.