Discover The Abandons filming locations and stunning scenery as Netflix's Western epic transforms Alberta, Canada into the American frontier.

Netflix's latest Western epic, The Abandons, has been dominating the charts, and honestly, the scenery is just as much a star as Lena Headey and Gillian Anderson. Those jaw-dropping mountain vistas and rugged badlands have everyone wondering—where on earth did they film this stunning show? While the story is rooted in the 1850s Washington Territory, the cast and crew didn't actually head to the modern-day Pacific Northwest. Nope, they packed their saddles and headed north!

The entire first season was filmed on location in and around Calgary, Alberta, Canada, with the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains serving as the perfect stand-in for the American frontier. Talk about a perfect match! The production team built entire sets on real working ranches and campgrounds, creating that authentic, lived-in feel that makes the show so immersive. It's basically like the crew time-traveled to the 1850s, but with better craft services.

Let's break down the key spots where the magic happened:

🏞️ The Heart of the Drama: Main Filming Locations

• The Abandons Ranch (Fiona's Home): This central homestead was built at the Nakoda Lakeside Lodge in Mînî Thnî, a remote village on Nakoda First Nation land about 50 miles west of Calgary. This is where Fiona Dolan and her family's story unfolds.

• Angel Ridge (The Frontier Town): The bustling, and often dangerous, town of Angel Ridge was constructed at C L Ranches. This is a real working ranch with a ready-made movie backlot perfect for Westerns, located less than 30 miles from Calgary.

• The Van Ness Mansion: That dramatic, fiery finale location? It was built near the Nakoda Lodge at the Stoney Park Campgrounds, just across the Bow River from Mînî Thnî. Poof! Goes the lavish estate.

💧 Rivers & Badlands: The Natural Stages

The show makes incredible use of Alberta's natural beauty. The Bow River was used extensively throughout the seven episodes to represent the mighty Columbia River on screen. But the crew didn't stop there! They also traveled about 100 miles northeast of Calgary to film around the Red Deer River, specifically at two iconic Alberta landmarks:

1. Horsethief Canyon – Sounds like a place straight out of a Western, right? It is!

2. The Drumheller Badlands – These otherworldly, rugged landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for the show's grittier, more perilous moments.

It's wild to think that these Canadian locations could so perfectly double for the Pacific Northwest. The production design team deserves a massive round of applause for their work. They didn't just film in pretty places; they built a world. From the creaky wooden signs to the dusty main street of Angel Ridge, every detail sells the illusion of the 1850s frontier.

With that explosive season 1 ending setting up a potential second season, all signs point to the production heading back to these beloved Canadian locations. If season 2 gets the green light (fingers crossed!), we'll likely see the cast and crew return to Calgary and its stunning surroundings. Maybe we'll even get to see the founding of Oregon play out against those same breathtaking backdrops. One thing's for sure—the landscape is a character in its own right, and its story is far from over.

So, next time you're watching Fiona stand her ground or Constance Van Ness scheme her next move, remember: you're not just looking at Washington Territory. You're gazing at the raw, beautiful heart of Alberta, Canada. Now that's some movie magic.