Sunday, 15 December 2024

Exploring Horseshoe Canyon

      Guess what? We did a road trip to Banff again this year, for our joint birthdays. Our day of travel, we got a really early start, and the weather was beautiful.

So, when we arrived in the Alberta Badlands, we had a pitstop at Horseshoe Canyon and spent a little time walking down into the Canyon, to take in the incredible views. I have been coming to this spot since I was a child, and so I have plenty of memories in this beautiful place. 

As we were slowing making our way into the Badlands, I was snapping photos out the windows, because the views are so unique. 



At one point, the road winds alongside a small river (creek), which ranks high in my favorite things. 




"When he first returned to the Badlands in the summer of 1884, the austere landscape seemed to mirror his melancholy." ~Doris Kearns Goodwin



We arrived at Horseshoe Canyon, and began our exploration of all the various vantage points. To be honest, there isn't a bad one, and it really does capture the imagination. 


"All the earth colours of the painter's palette are out there in the many miles of badlands." ~Georgia O'Keeffe


The fall colours were in full swing and they added so much to this view! 




The stairs heading down into the canyon - there is a lovely trail you can walk along, but be forewarned, there is NO breeze in the canyon, so bring plenty of water, snacks, and so on. Despite it being mid-October, it was sweltering! 



So much love and appreciate for this scenery, and for the fellow Murdoch Mysteries fans, this brought up some good memories of that phase of my life! 




Spot Raccoon in the distance? Pictures truly do not capture how massive the hills are! 



Happiest when discovering new little things and making good memories. 




I picked a few of the weeds to bring home with me. I didn't see any signs saying I couldn't pick a few of the now dead blooms, and I really wanted a tiny piece for my bookshelf, that doesn't disrupt the natural environment by its removal. I know some people bring home pieces of the sand or rocks, but I really don't feel comfortable with doing that, so I never have. This is the first and only piece I will ever take.


One of my favorite things was stumbling across these tiny, gorgeous, purple flowers! Talk about blooming where you are planted! It is NOT an ideal spot to grow, and yet here this guy is, going for it! 




I will be returning soon with more of our amazing road trip to the mountains adventures! 



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