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The Okotoks Erratic, also referred to as Big Rock, is a massive glacial boulder composed of quartzite. It's part of the striking Foothills Erratics Train, a succession of rock fragments carried from the Rockies and deposited across the plains

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Size & Weight: Weighing approximately 16,500 tonnes (18,200 tons), the erratic measures roughly 41 m long × 18 m wide × 9 m high. It's broken into two primary pieces

Geologic Odyssey: Originating in the Gog Formation near what is now Jasper National Park, this quartzitic block was carried over ~400 km atop glacial ice during the waning Pleistocene. It landed and remains on the flat prairie west of Okotoks, Alberta
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Historical Designation: In 1978, the Government of Alberta designated Big Rock a Provincial Historic Resource, recognizing its cultural and geological significance
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Cultural & Indigenous Significance
Indigenous Landmark: The name “Okotoks” derives from the Blackfoot word o'kotok, meaning “rock.” Long before settlers arrived, Big Rock served as a navigational marker for Indigenous peoples to locate a crossing on the Sheep River
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Pictographs & Spirituality: The site holds spiritual importance and contains rock art—pictographs that are protected and culturally significant. Visitors are strongly urged to respect the site and avoid climbing, as it threatens both the art and the boulder's structural integrity
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The Blackfoot Legend of Napi: A captivating myth offers a folkloric explanation for Big Rock's distinctive split. In the tale, the Blackfoot trickster "Old Man" (Napi) offers his robe to the rock in exchange for a place to rest. When he takes it back, the rock chases him until it’s split in two by bats. This story not only explains the rock’s condition, but also reminds listeners of the importance of honor and keeping one’s word
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Visiting Big Rock Today
Location: Just west of Okotoks—approximately 5 miles (8 km) from town—along Highway
Access & Preservation: The site features public parking and signage. However, to protect both the rock and ancient pictographs, climbing is discouraged and subject to trespassing restrictions
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Why It Matters
Geological Marvel: Big Rock exemplifies glacial mechanics—how colossal boulders were transported vast distances during the last ice age.
Cultural Landmark: Revered in Indigenous tradition and story, it's both a guidepost and a sacred site.
Educational Site: It’s a living lesson in geology, history, and Indigenous heritage.