Content updated Aug 2024
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park UNESCO World Heritage Site
"A man standing behind a shield" petroglyph at Writing-on-Stone World Heritage Site
Fun facts about Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
Contains the greatest rock art concentration on the North American Plains
There are thousands of petroglyphs & pictographs at Writing-on-Stone (Áísínai’pi) Provincial Park that are mainly located inside the park's Archaeology Reserve. These petroglyph carvings tell stories of the First Nations people who visited this location many years ago; which include carvings & drawings of hunting tales, battles that took place here, pioneer settlers arriving and other ancient spiritual stories.
Archaeological studies have been recorded at Writing-on-Stone since the early 1960's. In addition to the discovery of these stunning petroglyphs, many other incredible artifacts have been located in the 80+ archaeological sites around the park. These artifacts included Tipi rings, cairns, remnants of bison bone deposits & buried campsites in the valley at the bottom of the coulees that date all the way back to 1050 BCE.
The petroglyphs, pictographs and other ancient artifacts provide information on how First Nations people came to this location for hunting, cultural development, vision quests and to share new ways for survival with neighboring communities.
A petroglyph of a hunting scene! Notice the "holes" on the body of the animal? Those are actual bullet holes from the North-West Mounted Police using the carving for target practice in the early 1900's.
Petroglyphs of a wagon and the first motorized vehicle from when the early pioneers were arriving. The initials are unfortunately from people vandalizing the area before it was designated as an Archaeological Reserve.
A North-West Mounted Police camp was set up to prevent cross-boarder whisky smuggling!
In 1887, a North-West Mounted Police (NWMP) outpost was set up in the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park valley south of the Milk River. This outpost was created because Canadian authorities felt there could be a possibility of smuggling whisky across the American boarder and to also prevent First Nations horse-raiding parties.
Thankfully, neither of these potential threats became a serious issue in the area. The NWMP spent most of their time riding hundreds of monotonous kilometers doing boarder patrol, fighting grassfires during the hot prairie summer months and herding stray cattle back over the American boarder.
Before the start of World War 1, pioneers began to arrive in the area which immensely helped with the boredom the Mounties were struggling with. By the time 1918 came around, the Canadian authorities felt there was little threat of criminal activity in the area and it was decided to close the Writing-on-Stone Mountie outpost. Not long after its closure, the outpost was victim to arson and burnt to the ground by people who were never caught.
A reconstructed outpost was created between the years of 1973-1975 which is still standing to this day!
Replica of the North-West Mounted Police Post south of the Milk River
A sacred & spiritual location for First Nations people dating back 9000 years!
The archaeological discoveries found at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park prove people had been visiting these parts for over 9000 years.
Many First Nations people believed the towering cliffs and hoodoos were the homes of powerful spirits who protected the valley. It is also believed that young warriors, who were on "vision quests," recorded the dreams they were having by carving images with bone or antlers in the sandstone rock during their spiritual journey. There are many rock carvings describing the power of the spirit world along with messages spirit-guides provided the young warriors.
For those who may be interested in learning additional information about the Blackfoot mythology, feel free to click on the following link because we feel it is quite fascinating.
Looking down onto the hoodoos that were carved from melting glaciers thousands of years ago.
A view of the towering cliffs along the Milk River at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is Canada's 20th UNESCO World Heritage Site location and was designated in early July of 2019. The history of the Blackfoot culture along with all of the petroglyphs & pictographs are the reason UNESCO recognized this location needed to be shared on a world-wide scale.
The UNESCO application was actually filed under the name Áísínaiʼpi, which originates from the Blackfoot language. The word translates to "it is pictured" or "it is written" making the park also known as the Áísínai'pi National Historic Site.
Guided tours & hiking trails
There are many options for guided tours through Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park and highly recommend going this route because they offer a wealth of knowledge about the petroglyph's & pictographs in the park.
The other great thing about the guided tours is that visitors will get to go into the Archaeological Preserve to view drawings most people do not get to see. Many of the petroglyph pictures on this page are from those tours and felt our guide was nothing less than incredible.
Here is a list of the tour options available:
Markings of Aisinaipi - Historic tour that is approximately 2hrs and is considered "moderate/Blue" in difficulty.
- Adult: (18 & Older) $24.00 per person
- Youth: (7-17) $15.00 per person
- Children: (3-6) $9.00 per person
- Infant: (0-2) FREE
Beings of the Land - Historic tour that is approximately 1.5hrs and is considered "moderate/Blue" in difficulty.
- Adult: (18 & Older) $21.00 per person
- Youth: (7-17) $13.50 per person
- Children: (3-6) $8.00 per person
- Infant: (0-2) FREE
Haffner Coulee Guided Hike - Historic tour that is approximately 3.0hrs in length and is considered to be "difficult/black" in difficulty.
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- Adult: (18 & Older) $28.00 per person
- Youth: (7-17) $18.00 per person
Living Landscape - Historic tour that is approximately 2hrs in length and considered "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
- Adult: (18 & Older) $21.00 per person
- Youth: (7-17) $13.50 per person
- Children: (3-6) $8.00 per person
- Infant: (0-2) FREE
There is also an amazing self-guided trail that makes its way through the hoodoos to two really incredible rock art locations. This trail has amazing view points along the entire trail and there was a powerful feeling while walking through the Matapiks.
Hoodoo Trail - 5.6 km in length with 122m of elevation gain and considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
We have added a few pictures below along the Hoodoo Trail to help spark some inspiration for planning a trip!
**Please Note** All the tours inside the Archaeological Preserve are not wheelchair or stroller friendly due to the gravel paths and stairs. Any further questions please reach out to the visitor center
Looking to book a tour?
We have provided a link below that will take everyone to the Writing-on-Stone tour booking page.
The Visitor Centre operates with seasonal hours and would be more than happy to answer any further questions people may have.
2024 Seasonal Hours:
May 19th - Sept. 3rd
Monday - Friday: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: 9:00am - 7:00pm
Sept. 4th - Oct. 9th:
Monday - Sunday: 9:30am - 5:00pm
Oct. 10th - May 16th:
Monday - Friday: By Appointment Only
Saturday & Sunday: CLOSED
P: 403-647-2364
Our "Rock Art Tour" guide providing exceptional knowledge on the history of the petroglyphs in the Archaeological Preserve.
Photographs of the the pictographs that were discovered in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park during the Rock Art Tour. The ink for these drawings used "red ochre" which is a mixture of iron ore, water & bison fat.
Hoodoo Trail pictures
The "Battle-Scene" interpretive signage along the Hoodoo Trail
The "Battle-Scene" petroglyphs along the Hoodoo Trail. Difficult to see due to the sun while we were there but can assure everyone it's incredible viewing them in person.
A view along Hoodoo Trail
A slithery Bullsnake friend we made along the Hoodoo Trail. We took the picture from up above and for size reference, it was roughly 4-5 feet in length and really neat watching it move!
Site & comfort camping
The Campground at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is something worth mentioning because it is situated along the Milk River with beach access for swimming, a hand boat launch, comfort camping options, offer interpretive programs, a camp store, a playground, geocaching and great area for wildlife viewing.
Here is a breakdown of the campsites offered at Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park:
Serviced Campsites:
- 47 sites available
- 15/30amp hookup (available year-round)
- Picnic table
- Fire-pit
Un-serviced Campsites:
- 14 sites available
- Picnic table
- Fire-pit
**Please note**
There are areas for filling up water & a sewage disposal area for any campers with water/toilet availability.
When the water is turned off during the offseason, there are pit/vault style toilets available for use.
3 comfort camping (aka. glamping ;) sites available for those looking to spend their nights in "luxury style" camping units.
Here is a list of what the comfort campsites include:
- Cabin-style unit
- Bunk bed - double mattress as lower bunk and single mattress for top bunk
- Electric heater, fan, lights and outlets for charging devices
- Gas barbeque
- Fire-pit & outdoor picnic table
- Mini fridge, small dining table & stools (located inside the unit)
- Parking for one vehicle
Since these comfort units are still considered "camping," guests will have to bring the following items:
- Towels & toiletries
- Cookware including plates, cutlery, dish soap, garbage bags & paper towel
- Bedding including sheets, blankets as well as pillows for both the single & double beds
- Food & drinks for the duration of the stay
Some other recommended items to bring while camping & staying at Writing-on-Stone would be:
- Appropriate footwear & clothing for the time of the year with extra options just in case
- Lawn or camping style chairs for around the fire-pits or beach
- Hat & sunscreen because it can get very hot under the prairie sun
- Water bottles to stay hydrated while enjoying the park
If any items are missed and/or forgotten, the park's grocery/supply store will be happy to help!
**Please note**
There is no ATM on-site. The town of Milk River is very close to the campground that offers many options for ATM withdrawals.
We have provided a campground map below for easy access of the campsites available.
Book a camping site today!
The Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park Campground is open year-round.
2024 Campsite Pricing:
May 17th - Sept. 29th
- Un-serviced: $31.00 per night
- Power: (15/30 amp) $39.00 per night
- Winter: (un-serviced) $21.00 per night
- Winter: (15/30 amp) $31.00 per night
2024 Comfort Camping:
May 19th - Sept. 24th
- $125.00 per night (sleeps 3 people)
Just a heads up, there is also a non- refundable reservation fee (for administration purposes) when booking online and wanted to let everyone know so there are not any surprises upon check-out.
- Reservation Fee: $12.00
Water services generally start up just before the May long weekend and close in late September depending on weather.
Water Services include:
- Showers (coin operated via loonies & toonies)
- Flushing toilets
Do not hesitate to reach out to Parks Office for any other questions. They are always happy to help and provide a wealth of information!
P: 403-647-2364
Map of the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park campground
Photo: compliments of Alberta Parks
Map of the Hoodoo Trail starting at the Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park campground.
Photo: Compliments of Alberta Parks
Natural beach access for relaxing, kayaking & canoeing
There is something magical about being on the Milk River at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park soaking up the stunning scenery in the Southern Prairies.
Beach Access:
The beach has easy access from the campground with a great area to set up for the day. We have seen people build sand castles, play in the water, have picnics, and just enjoy the day during the lovely summer days!
Whether people are staying a few nights or just visiting the park for the day, the beach along the Milk River is a beautiful spot for people of all ages to enjoy.
Kayaking & Canoeing:
Not only is there an amazing natural beach, there is also the option to hand-launch kayak's, canoe's, stand-up paddle boards, or whatever floatation device suits each person best.
The really neat thing about being on the water is the ability to view the coulee cliffs from a different point-of-view! People would be able to spend hours paddling up and down the Milk River because the current is not that strong during the summer months after the spring thaw has come to a close.
Our favorite thing to do is dock on the south side of the river just across from the Writing-on-Stone campground and explore the backcountry hiking. Since there are no designated trails, being there provides a feeling of what the First Nations people, Pioneers, & North-West Mounted Police experienced when they wandered these parts many years ago.
Wondering if there are any advisories?
Not to alarm anyone because advisories are not very common but do tend to happen.
We just always like to recommend checking on any advisories at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park to help plan accordingly before visiting.
Some areas to look out for are:
- Water conditions
- Wildlife threats
- Backcountry Safety
- Trail Reports
- Minimizing Impacts
**Please Note**
Alberta Parks does not monitor ice conditions.
Kiddo's playing on the natural beach at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park Campground.
Kiddo's enjoying the Milk River and having a picnic on the natural beach on a beautiful prairie summer day!