Nearby parks make CPAWS national list of hidden gems

By Lethbridge Herald on August 26, 2025.

Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The end of summer is rapidly approaching, and for a final taste of the outdoors there are provincial parks within a one- to two-hour drive from Lethbridge which are less busy than national parks like nearby Waterton. Two of them – Castle and Writing on Stone Provincial Parks – recently made an exclusive list of provincial parks that are hidden gems, as compiled by the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

“With so many Canadians choosing to stay in-country this summer, and a free Canada Strong pass for national parks, there’s never been a better time to do some serious staycation sightseeing and camping in our provincial and national parks,” said Chris Rider, National Director of CPAWS. “The problem is that everyone else will likely be doing the same thing at the most popular destinations … so it could get crowded. The good news is that we have a solid 45 parks that most Canadians overlook in favour of more popular destinations, leaving these hidden gems open for exploration.”

About 90 minutes away from Lethbridge, Castle Provincial Park’s amenities include various campsites (front-country camping, group camping, comfort camping, and random camping), fire pits, and picnic tables. Visitors can also find pit toilets and designated staging areas. While some campgrounds offer potable water, others require visitors to bring their own.

Over 1,000 square kilometres of towering Rocky Mountain peaks, montane forests, and sweeping valley meadows. Home to grizzly and black bears, wolverines, elk, and cutthroat trout, with more than 200 rare or at-risk species like whitebark pine and harlequin duck.

Visitors can explore diverse front‑country campgrounds, comfort‑camping sites, or venture into

backcountry trails for camping, hiking, scrambling, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and winter recreation. Whether you’re chasing summit views, waterfall-swimmable rivers, or true wilderness solitude, Castle delivers an immersive four-season mountain escape with minimal

crowds and maximum adventure.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park (Áísínai’pi) located about 100 km southeast of Lethbridge, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site celebrated for its dramatic sandstone hoodoos and the most

extensive collection of Indigenous rock carvings and paintings on the North American plains. Nestled along the Milk River valley. 

This sacred prairie preserve protects petroglyphs and pictographs created by the Blackfoot and other First Nations and supports diverse wildlife, from prairie falcons and pronghorn antelopes to rattlesnakes and bobcats.

Visitors can explore interpretive trails, join guided rock-art and coulee hikes, paddle or swim in the river, and camp under cottonwoods beside the water.

A comprehensive list of the hidden gems is available at paws.org.