A national conservation organization says that a provincial park not far from Okotoks is a hidden gem and worth a visit.
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) compiled a list of parks from coast-to-coast that fly under the radar and are usually less crowded than more popular destinations.
Brown Lowery Provincial Park in Foothills County is one of four Alberta parks on the list.
The day use park is about 40 kilometres west of Okotoks, or 50 kilometres southwest of Calgary, and offers 12 kilometres of hiking trails through mature forests and wildflower meadows.
“With well-marked paths, interpretive kiosks and no crowds, it’s the perfect quick-escape destination for front-country hiking, wildlife spotting, mushroom foraging and nature photography," CPAWS said.
Chris Rider, CPAWS conservation director, said with free entry to national parks this summer, and more Canadians travelling within the county, some destinations can get crowded.
“The good news is that we have a solid 45 parks that most Canadians overlook, leaving these hidden gems open for exploration,” Rider said.
Other Alberta parks highlighted on the list are Big Hill Springs Provincial Park northwest of Calgary, Castle Provincial Park south of Crowsnest Pass and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park southeast of Lethbridge.
More information about these “hidden gem” parks, including an interactive map, is available at cpaws.org.
