Porcupine Hills Trail Network

The Porcupine Hills rise like islands from Alberta’s prairie, offering a maze of ranch roads and old cattle trails with 360-degree views from the Rockies to the wheat fields of Saskatchewan. These rolling hills south of Calgary were traditional hunting grounds for the Blackfoot and later became prime ranching country. Head Canyon Road is the main artery, but dozens of two-tracks spider off into coulees and ridges where you’ll find Hutterite windmills, old homesteads, and some of the best stargazing in southern Alberta.

Easy to moderate driving suitable for any high-clearance vehicle, though spring mud can trap the unwary. Public access is limited to designated roads and trails — respect private land and close gates behind you. Best in summer and fall when roads are dry and hunters haven’t taken over. No services once you leave Highway 2, so carry water and fuel. What you get is classic Alberta rangeland, big sky country where you can see weather coming from three provinces away, and the kind of solitude that reminds you why cowboys chose this life.