BOU AVENUE
Matapiiksi (Hoodoo) Interpretive Trail
Teresa Kosmala, Zosia Zgolak and I hiked the Matapiiksi (Hoodoo) Interpretive Trail at Alberta's Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park on 31 August 2025.  While Zosia had previously visited the park before, this would be the first time for both Teresa and me.  The park is renowned for its hoodoos and petroglyphs which are best appreciated by hiking the interpretive trail along the north bank of Milk River.  We accessed the trail via its eastern terminus beside the park's group campground.  The trail is easy to follow, and although it undulates a fair bit, we were probably too distracted by the mind-blowing scenery to even notice all the ups and downs.  Scattered along the trail are numbered signposts that refer to information found in an accompanying trail guide.  Although some areas have been cordoned off either for safety reasons or to preserve the fragile sandstone formations, we still had our fill of scrambling on and poking around the many hoodoos along the trail.  Ultimately, we hiked as far as the petroglyph known as "The Battle Scene" before turning around and retracing our steps all the way back to the group campground.
We actually started hiking from the info centre! Teresa and Zosia check the map at a trailhead information kiosk.

Already looks amazing and we're not even that far from the trailhead here!

The Matapiiksi (Hoodoo) Interpretive Trail runs along the north bank of Milk River.

 

Hoodoo yoga! Zosia strikes a balanced pose atop a hoodoo.  On the horizon in the distance is West Butte of Sweet Grass Hills in Montana.
Nice to have some shade from the hot sun! The trail drops down here to go through a forested section below these cliffs.
A petroglyph is a rock carving. A pictograph is a painting on rock. Teresa and Zosia stop to view one of the first petroglyphs along the trail.
The Hoodoo Trail lives up to its name! Zosia and Teresa pass by more hoodoos along the trail.
Steer clear--it has a very painful sting! Resembling a spider, the velvet ant is actually a type of wingless wasp.
Please keep out of these areas! Many of the hoodoos along the trail are off-limits to the public probably because of their fragility and for safety reasons.
Not quite the Guardian of Forever, but it looks cool nonetheless! Teresa and Zosia spot a window in a hoodoo.
All we need is a barbeque and some cold drinks! A short side trail leads to this fenced balcony overlooking Milk River.
Oh deer! A mule deer tries to remain inconspicuous in the shade of some hoodoos.

Milk River doesn't look milky at all!

Here is a look back at some hoodoos that are right on edge of the river.

 

Kinda reminds me of Minas Tirith...

The hoodoos behind Teresa and Zosia resemble the buildings of a city.

 

Smile for the camera! Zosia and Teresa stop again to look at more petroglyphs.  Note the security camera at bottom left.
I wonder if the fence is electrified... A protective fence guards "The Battle Scene", the last and most elaborate petroglyph along the trail.
Maybe in another thousand years, the modern etchings will also be revered! Here is a closer look at one section of Battle Scene.  Note the more modern graffiti etched into the rocks above.
We enjoyed the park! Zosia, Teresa and Sonny give enthusiastic "thumbs-up" to Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.
Long drive to get here but well worth it! Total Distance:  3.4 kilometres
Round-Trip Time:  2 hours 3 minutes
Cumulative Elevation Gain:  28 metres

GPX Data