The rolling valleys and towering peaks of The Bighorn are a living landscape, where elk browse the open meadows, mountain goats tread confidently along rocky ridges, and bighorn sheep—the region’s proud namesake—stand watch over nature’s great show.

These animals are not merely passing through; they are part of the land’s enduring story. Shaped by the same winds, seasons, and rugged terrain as the forests and rivers themselves, their presence weaves a vivid tapestry of life on the Eastern Slopes.

Along the shores of Abraham Lake or among the high passes of the Front Ranges, sightings come naturally to those willing to slow down and look beyond the obvious. Each glimpse—whether of a grazing herd or a lone figure outlined against the skyline—offers a rare connection to the rhythms of an untamed place.

Respect for the space they call home ensures these timeless encounters continue, inviting travellers to experience the wild not as spectators, but as quiet participants in something far greater.

Roaming windswept grasslands and forested hillsides, the Wild Horses of The Bighorn carry with them the echoes of a layered past. These feral horses are descendants of animals once essential to Indigenous communities, settlers, and industries like logging and mining. Released or escaped during the early 20th century as mechanization took over, many were left to adapt and thrive in the sweeping beauty of the Eastern Slopes.

While the Alberta government classifies them as feral, some Indigenous Nations, including the Stoney Nakoda, honour these horses as spiritually significant—living links to both land and lineage.

Today, the Nordegg region offers a rare and wonderful opportunity to witness these powerful animals in their natural element. Visitors are asked to observe quietly and respectfully, keeping a safe distance to protect both the horses and the experience itself. Their presence speaks not only to survival, but to the deep, untamed spirit of Alberta’s mountain frontier.