6 things that make visiting the Brooks Region near Calgary a must for nature lovers
If you’re looking to get out of Calgary this summer for the perfect outdoor adventure, the nearby Brooks Region has a range of awesome activities that’ll help you empty that sunscreen bottle.
Just two hours south of the city, you’ll be able to explore some of Alberta’s largest man-made lakes and dive into the heart of the Canadian Badlands.
From corn mazes to dino adventures, here are just a few things that make the Brooks Region the idyllic spot for anyone who loves nature.
Boat rentals and tours
For water lovers, By the Lake Rentals offers boat, kayak, and canoe rentals that will get you out on Lake Newell for some fun with a splash.
Whether you want a relaxing boat tour that stops at a private beach, or you’re looking to try out some adrenaline-pumping water sports, they’re able to cater to whatever your needs are and can accommodate groups.
White Barn Fun Farm
Rated one of the top five farms to visit in Alberta, White Barn Fun Farm offers a premium, interactive experience you won’t find anywhere else in Canada.
You’re able to interact with friendly farm animals including yaks, emus, goats, donkeys, alpacas, llamas, and goats, but White Barn is the only petting farm in Canada to have a white Bactrian camel and a white buffalo.
Winning Rural Ag Business of the Year in 2019, Tourism Business of the Year in 2020, and the 2022 Agricultural Spirit Award, some of the animals you can meet are internet famous — and you can follow along with what’s going on through their TikTok page, Mrs. Chores.
Brooks Corn Maze
A classic in the region, the Brooks Corn Maze is all-ages fun that has visitors wandering through a lush field of corn.
Open late August through mid-October, there are plenty of child-friendly activities to do outside the maze, like Giant Dominos, The Human Hamster, Pasture Putt Golf, The Corny Sandbox, and a small animal farm with ponies, donkeys, bunnies, and goats.
They also have limited-time events like raspberry picking available during August and September, farm fresh apples, other seasonal produce, and a wide variety of pumpkins in the pumpkin patch in time for October.
Engage with the local history
The Brooks Region has a rich history that’s been preserved through the region’s dedicated residents and farmers.
With a history built on agriculture, oil and gas, and pure willpower, the Brooks & District Museum’s seven acres and 13 historic buildings perfectly encapsulate the community’s unique spirit. Enjoy a self-guided tour through the main building and be on the lookout for their blue kiosks that showcase historical re-enactments and photos through a series of videos to enhance the experience.
Go explore their displays that pay tribute to ranching, John Ware, the 4th Duke of Sutherland, the Royal North-West Mounted Police (now the Royal Canadian Mounted Police), the Canadian Pacific Railway, and much more.
There’s also the EID Historical Park located in Scandia, which offers you a 17-acre plot to explore, with the first elevator in Alberta, the Scandia Pool Elevator, the Bow Slope Shipping Yards, and more.
Take to the skies on a scenic flight
If you’ve ever wanted to get a birds-eye view of Alberta, here’s your chance! Quikway Air Services offers several different packages for you to explore everything the Brooks Region has to offer.
Take a sightseeing tour through Dinosaur Provincial Park along the Red Deer River, or explore the Brooks Aqueduct, one of Alberta’s “Top 10” engineering milestones and a treasured National Historic Site, from a different angle.Â
If one of the preplanned guided tours doesn’t suit your interest, they also offer custom tours where you can tailor your very own tour of the Albertan skies.
Dinosaur Provincial Park Tours
If you love dinosaurs, you’ll really dig the Dinosaur Provincial Park’s new list of summer tours.
Puzzle lovers will want to try Cretaceous Science Investigations, where they can dig into the mysteries of dinosaurs while using the research methods of contemporary paleontologists to analyze fossils with unusual features.Â
There’s also the Capture the Badlands bus tour, which has you exploring the park’s most scenic sites and striking landforms.Â
They’re also bringing back their ever-popular Guided Excavation, a one- to two-day experience working alongside an experienced palaeontological technician to expose and collect 75-million-year-old fossils as part of an active bonebed excavation.
To learn more about having an action-packed outdoor adventure near Calgary, you can visit Brooks Region Tourism for more information and itinerary inspiration.
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