Pictures of Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreation Area

The photos in this collection were taken at Sulphur Gates Provincial Recreation Area, Alberta in September of 2021. The Sulphur Gates are a natural cliff formation that is located where the Sulphur River joins the Smoky River. This is located just a few kilometers from Grande Cache, and it is accessible by turning off west off Highway 40.

The high cliffs that make up the gates are natural formations that have been carved out of the rock by the Smoky River. The cliffs have risen up along with the rise of the Rocky Mountains. The Smoky River is powerful enough to carve out the rock as it rises. Over time, this process created high cliffs with the river below. The Sulphur River is not as powerful as the Smokey and it has taken an different path through the mountains. The paths of these two rivers meet immediately downstream of the gates.