Twin Buttes Natural Area

The natural area supports exceptional wildlife diversity, particularly for grassland-dependent species. The region hosts dense populations of raptors including ferruginous hawks, golden eagles, and prairie falcons that nest along canyon rims and buttes. Threatened and endangered species include the mountain plover, burrowing owl, greater sage-grouse, loggerhead shrike, Sprague's pipit, and long-billed curlew. Mammals include significant populations of pronghorn antelope, along with mule deer, coyotes, and reintroduced swift foxes that use the Milk River area as recovery habitat. Reptiles and amphibians thrive in this arid environment, including prairie rattlesnakes, bullsnakes, western hognose snakes, short-horned lizards, and threatened northern leopard frogs. The area represents one of Alberta's most important biodiversity hotspots for grassland species.

The vegetation consists primarily of native mixedgrass prairie dominated by blue grama grass, needle-and-thread grass, speargrass, and June grass, with transitions to foothills fescue at higher elevations. Big sagebrush, silver sagebrush, and winterfat provide essential shrub cover for wildlife throughout the badlands and prairie expanses. Riparian areas along seasonal drainages support cottonwood groves, chokecherry, serviceberry, and wild rose. The area harbors at least 11 plant species considered rare in Canada, adapted to the extremely arid conditions and thin soils. Prickly pear cactus, cushion cactus, and various native forbs including pasqueflower and prairie crocus add diversity to the grassland mosaic. The native grasslands have remained largely intact due to limited agricultural conversion and continued ranching use.

The landscape was shaped by millions of years of sedimentary deposition during ancient inland seas, followed by erosion processes that created the distinctive badlands topography. The exposed bedrock consists primarily of Upper Cretaceous formations including the Pakowki, Lea Park, and Foremost formations, which contain marine shales, sandstones, and mudstones. The Twin Buttes themselves are erosional remnants capped by more resistant sedimentary layers that protect underlying softer materials. Deep coulees and gullies have been carved by seasonal runoff and wind erosion, exposing multicolored clay and sandstone layers in dramatic badland formations. The Milk River Ridge represents a subtle but significant topographic rise that creates distinct microclimates and influences precipitation patterns across the region.

The natural area experiences Alberta's most arid climate conditions, classified as part of the Dry Mixedgrass Natural Subregion with annual precipitation averaging less than 300 millimeters. Summers are hot with temperatures frequently exceeding 30°C, while winters are cold but typically receive minimal snow accumulation due to low moisture and frequent chinook winds. High evaporation rates and intense sunlight create challenging conditions for both plant and animal life. The higher elevation of the Milk River Ridge moderates these extremes slightly, providing marginally cooler temperatures and increased precipitation compared to surrounding lowlands. Spring and fall can bring rapid temperature swings, while severe thunderstorms occasionally develop during summer months, contributing most of the annual precipitation.

Indigenous peoples including the Blackfoot, Kainai (Blood), and other Plains tribes utilized this region for thousands of years, following bison herds and harvesting prairie resources. The area's buttes and high points served as vision quest sites and lookouts for spotting game and potential threats across the vast prairies. Archaeological evidence including tipi rings, cairns, and stone tool sites demonstrates sustained human presence. European settlement beginning in the late 1800s brought cattle ranching, which became the dominant land use and continues today. The name Twin Buttes refers to the prominent paired hills that served as landmarks for early travelers and ranchers. Unlike many prairie regions that were converted to cropland, this area's rugged topography and thin soils helped preserve the native grassland ecosystem under ranching use.

Twin Buttes Natural Area was formally designated in 1995 as part of Alberta's protected areas system, recognizing the ecological significance of the Milk River Ridge grasslands and their exceptional biodiversity. The establishment aimed to conserve representative examples of Alberta's native prairie ecosystems while maintaining compatible ranching operations. The natural area designation allows continued livestock grazing as a management tool to maintain grassland health and prevent woody plant encroachment. Conservation efforts have focused on protecting habitat for species at risk, particularly grassland birds and reptiles that have declined dramatically across the prairies. The area contributes to broader landscape-level conservation initiatives in the Milk River watershed, working alongside neighboring protected areas including Milk River Natural Area to create connected habitat for wide-ranging species.

The natural area features primitive access with minimal developed facilities, emphasizing low-impact recreation and wildlife observation. The Twin Buttes themselves offer panoramic viewpoints across the surrounding grasslands and badlands, with hiking opportunities along ridgelines and through coulees. Wildlife viewing is exceptional, particularly for observing raptors soaring along ridge updrafts and grassland birds in native prairie habitat. Photography opportunities abound, especially during golden hour when dramatic lighting accentuates the badlands topography and prairie vistas. Spring wildflower displays and autumn grassland colors attract nature enthusiasts, while the area's dark skies provide excellent stargazing opportunities. Backcountry exploration requires self-sufficiency and navigation skills, as formal trails are limited and the landscape can be challenging to traverse.

Twin Buttes Natural Area is accessed via secondary roads south of Highway 501, approximately 25 kilometers east of the town of Milk River in extreme southern Alberta. The natural area has no developed visitor facilities, services, or formal parking areas, requiring visitors to be completely self-sufficient. Access is primarily on foot from roadside parking along range roads, with exploration requiring good physical conditioning and awareness of the challenging terrain. No camping facilities exist within the natural area, though nearby Milk River Natural Area offers limited backcountry camping opportunities. Visitors should carry adequate water, sun protection, and navigation tools, as the remote location has no cell phone coverage. The best visiting periods are spring (April-June) and fall (September-October) when temperatures are moderate and wildlife activity is high, while summer heat and winter cold can be extreme.

The natural area is managed primarily through continued ranching operations using carefully controlled grazing practices that maintain native grassland health and prevent invasive species establishment. Conservation priorities focus on protecting critical habitat for Alberta's highest concentration of species at risk, including grassland birds, reptiles, and rare plants adapted to prairie conditions. Threats include potential energy development, habitat fragmentation, invasive plant species particularly leafy spurge and crested wheatgrass, and climate change impacts on already marginal moisture conditions. Monitoring programs track population trends for key species including ferruginous hawks, burrowing owls, and swift foxes to evaluate habitat effectiveness. Collaborative conservation efforts work with neighboring landowners, Indigenous communities, and conservation organizations to maintain landscape-level connectivity across the Milk River watershed. The heritage rangeland designation ensures long-term protection while sustaining the cultural and economic traditions of prairie ranching.