As the sun dips below the horizon and paints the sky in shades of orange, pink, and purple, there’s no better place to be than Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park – or as I like to call it, Nature’s Own Instagram Filter. Nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, this park is not just a feast for the eyes but also a buffet for the adventurous soul.
My journey to Mt. Assiniboine was nothing short of an epic saga, involving multiple layers of clothing, an encounter with a squirrel that I’m quite sure was actually a secret agent, and a backpack that felt increasingly like it was filled with bricks. But as any wise sage (or travel blogger) will tell you, it’s not about the destination; it’s about the stories you gather along the way. And gather them, I did.
Upon arrival, the park greeted me with a spectacle I was hardly prepared for. The evening light bathed the iconic, pointy peak of Mt. Assiniboine in a golden hue, turning it into a shimmering beacon for photographers, nature enthusiasts, and that one guy who somehow managed to lug his entire painting setup to capture the scene. It was like Mother Nature herself used her best Snapchat filter on the landscape.
As I set up my camp (a feat that involved fighting with a tent that had a will of its own), I couldn’t help but marvel at the pristine beauty around me. The park, with its rolling hills, sparkling lakes, and the majestically jagged silhouette of the Rockies, was showing off, and I was here for it.
As evening turned into night, the light show didn’t stop. The stars came out to play, dotting the sky with glittering specks of light, undimmed by city lights and undaunted by the cold. Wrapped in every piece of clothing I owned, I lay back and watched the cosmos unfold above me, feeling utterly insignificant and yet connected to the universe in a way only a night under the stars can make you feel.
In conclusion, an evening in Mt. Assiniboine Provincial Park is like stepping into a fairytale – if the fairytale involved more hiking boots and less glass slippers. It’s a reminder of the incredible beauty our planet has to offer and a call to all of us to step outside our comfort zones (and into several thermal layers) to experience it. So, pack your bags, charge your camera, and maybe bring a squirrel-proof container for your snacks. Adventure awaits, and the evening light at Mt. Assiniboine is not to be missed.