Not far from the mountains, to the east, you'll find Alberta's grasslands, or prairie. This too often overlooked wonder makes up a significant portion of the province. This is big sky country where you'll be presented with unforgettable scenic vistas. Nature lovers will have the opportunity to observe the peregrine falcon, swift fox and, if you're lucky, the burrowing owl.

Boreal forests cover most of Alberta's north. This region boasts mighty rivers like the Athabasca, Hay and Peace. It's a wild and untamed area where you'll find a great diversity of vegetation and wildlife within the wetlands of the Hay or the lush, mixed forests of the Lakeland area. Here, river otter are brethren to the woodland caribou and share land with the still endangered whooping crane.

On the shores of Lake Athabasca, in the Canadian shield region, sand dunes frame the landscape. These in turn, fade into the solid green back drop of the pine forests. The wooded areas provide habitat for species found nowhere else in the province and of course the deserts support unique life systems rarely seen at this latitude.

This far northern region is one of Alberta's harshest and most spectacular natural regions. Again, you're likely to observe the peregrine falcon and perhaps the golden eagle, both of which make their home here. In the winter, the arctic is well represented in the north by the barren ground caribou, the ptarmigan and the beautiful arctic fox.

Alberta has some of the best hiking and backpacking in the country. Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is one of Alberta's largest provincial parks, encompassing almost 500 square km. The park's trails offer a variety of hiking experiences, ranging from day hikes and short loop trails, to high alpine backpacking adventures, all without the crowds you'll find in the Jasper/Banff area.

Cypress Hills is Albert's second largest provincial park and has a beautiful rolling landscape which offers great hiking, backpacking, and mountain biking. The park is tucked into the province's south eastern corner, far from the main corridor, which makes for a great get away.

The spectacular 4600 square km Willmore Wilderness is a destination for skilled adventurers seeking solitude and endless natural splendor. The waterfalls, clear streams, lakes, wildflowers, ridges and mountains will invariably be yours alone to appreciate. There are no roads in this park, just 750 km of trails, making this one of the wildest and most remote yet still accessible areas of Alberta. Backpacking and horse packing are your best ways to travel in Willmore.

The four sisters, Yoho, Kootenay, Banff and Jasper have over 600 km of mountain bike trails to keep rolling through the backcountry. Jasper, alone, boasts over 300 km of mountain biking terrain. If you're looking for something a little different you might pay a visit to Cypress Hills. Here you'll find lots of rolling, twisting trails along with some great scenery to round out the offering.

Climbers are the big winners in Alberta. Mt. Assiniboine is a provincial favorite, with an amazing amount of traffic for such an inaccessible mountain. The area caters to all levels of abilities. You can choose from any number of routes exactly matching your experience and skill level.

Other great climbing areas are Lake Louise, Mount Athabasca, Mount Louis and Bow Valley. If you're an experienced mountaineer, you'll have endless peaks to choose from.

Of course all of those mountains feed many rivers. Canoeists and kayakers can count themselves lucky. Take your choice from the North Saskatchewan, Athabasca, Columbia, Kootenay and the Bow. Of course you can find quieter stretches for some easy paddling if you're just looking for a peaceful canoe trip.

When you're visiting Alberta, remember that the Rockies are not the only place for outdoor recreation and nature appreciation. There are eight spectacular regions with endless possibilities that you don't want to miss.