On the very first day of filming Anna Pigeon, a grizzly bear showed up on set. With two cubs.
Park rangers had to alert the cast and crew and let them know “to not wander too far and keep your bear spray nearby.” For lead actress Tracy Spiridakos, it was the perfect introduction to what Anna Pigeon was going to be – raw, unpredictable, and completely, unapologetically real.
Instead of a Hollywood sound stage, the show inspired by Nevada Barr’s beloved book series was shot entirely on location in Canada’s Kananaskis mountains, which neighbors Banff National Park. No green screens. No backlot shortcuts. Just wilderness, weather, and the occasional wild animal wandering through your shot.
Anna Pigeon Filming Locations
Anna Pigeon premiered on August 7, 2026, and was filmed in Alberta between July and November 2025. According to USA Network, the series was filmed in Alberta around Kananaskis Country, with the province standing in for the American wilderness where the series is set.
Alberta, Canada
Alberta has long been Hollywood’s favorite secret. The Calgary region, including Bragg Creek, Cochrane, Kananaskis, High River, and surrounding communities, has become an increasingly popular filming destination for major Hollywood and streaming productions. For Anna Pigeon, the province’s wild, untamed terrain was the perfect canvas.
Although the novels take place in real U.S. national parks, the television adaptation was filmed entirely in Alberta, Canada, where forests, mountains, and small towns doubled for several American locations.
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Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada
Kananaskis Country is the heart of Anna Pigeon. It’s where the show truly breathes.
Instead of a Hollywood sound stage, the show inspired by Nevada Barr’s beloved Anna Pigeon book series was shot entirely on location in Canada’s Kananaskis mountains, which neighbors Banff National Park.
Lead actress Tracy Spiridakos couldn’t stop talking about it. She told E! News: “Where we were filming was absolutely gorgeous, we could not believe that we got to be there. There’s no studio, everything’s practical. It was just a gorgeous environment.”
Kananaskis provides the kind of expansive natural environment required for a story built around national parks and wilderness investigations. The combination of forest, rugged terrain, and dramatic scenery allowed the production to create a convincing sense of distance and isolation while remaining within Alberta.
But shooting in the wild came with real-world consequences. Spiridakos shared: “Our first day of filming there was a grizzly nearby set with her two cubs. The park rangers had to alert us and let us know to not wander too far and keep your bear spray nearby.”
Other productions filmed in Kananaskis Country: Legends of the Fall (1994), Brokeback Mountain (2005), The Revenant (2015), and HBO’s Game of Thrones – Banff National Park joined the list of worldwide filming locations for the fantasy epic.
Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada
Bragg Creek is a small hamlet about 19 miles west of Calgary. It punched well above its weight for Anna Pigeon.
The production team made the most of the natural and wild terrain of the hamlet of Bragg Creek. They reportedly set up camp at the Bragg Creek Backlot, also known as Artek Backlot, located on Alliance Road off Highway 66. Opposite the backlot is the Easter Seals Camp Horizon at 1 Camp Horizon Road, which also served as a key shooting site.
Another remarkale filming location is a private luxury home in Bragg Creek, based on mountain architecture. Built as a secluded retreat for an entrepreneur and his family, the home served as one of the series’ most eye-catching locations.
Several of the sweeping landscape shots showcase Mount Baldy, one of the prominent peaks in Kananaskis Country, viewed across the shoreline of Barrier Lake in Bow Valley Provincial Park. The reservoir and surrounding mountain scenery provide some of the series’ most striking establishing shots.
Other productions filmed in Bragg Creek: Fargo (FX, Season 5), Tin Star (Amazon/Crave), and several episodes of Heartland (CBC).
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McLean Creek Campground, Kananaskis Country
Not every location in Anna Pigeon is a polished backlot. Some are refreshingly, genuinely wild.
The cast and crew taped pivotal outdoor scenes around the McLean Creek Campground at 285 McLean Creek Trail and Canyon Creek Ice Cave.
McLean Creek is a working campground open to the public. The crew filmed here to capture the authentic feel of a ranger living and working in true wilderness.
Other productions filmed near McLean Creek: Hell on Wheels (AMC) and Wynonna Earp (Syfy/Space).
High River, Alberta
High River is a small city about 37 miles south of Calgary. For Anna Pigeon, it served as a stand-in for small-town America.
The Highwood Centre, located at 128 5 Avenue Southwest in High River, was one of the more distinctive locations used for Anna Pigeon. The historic event venue was transformed by the production to fit the fictional world of the series, including changes to its exterior signage.
The Highwood Centre in High River was transformed into the fictional Copperhill Bank by replacing its signage and adding American-themed set dressing.
For viewers, this is one of the more interesting locations because it shows just how much television productions can change the identity of an existing building. A venue that normally serves an entirely different purpose can suddenly become part of Anna’s investigation simply because a few production decisions make it look as though it belongs somewhere else.
Other productions filmed in High River: Heartland is perhaps the most famous, based on a book series, Heartland follows Amy Fleming and her family as they navigate the ups and downs of ranch life. The popular series was filmed in-studio and on-location in High River, the Millarville Racetrack, and throughout Calgary neighbourhoods like Inglewood. Fargo (Season 5) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) also used High River locations.
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary is the economic backbone of the Anna Pigeon production. It provided urban infrastructure, studio space, and versatile city locations.
The wider Greater Calgary area was another central part of the production, providing the series with access to a mixture of built-up locations and outdoor environments.
A notable Calgary landmark even made a brief on-screen appearance. “The Conversation” sculpture in downtown Calgary appeared in the background of a scene with Tricia Helfer. Sharp-eyed viewers familiar with Calgary’s public art scene spotted it immediately.
Alberta was used to stand in for both Montana and New York settings throughout the production. Calgary’s modern skyline and architecture handled the urban sequences while the surrounding wilderness covered everything else.
Other productions filmed in Calgary: The darkly comedic crime drama Fargo returned to Alberta for its fifth season, filmed throughout Calgary and the surrounding area. Stars like Jon Hamm, Juno Temple, and Joe Keery were spotted around the city. The Korean Netflix drama Can This Love Be Translated? (2024) also showcased Calgary’s skyline and Heritage Park.
Anna Pigeon Cast & Characters
Anna Pigeon stars Tracy Spiridakos in the titular role, with Paulina Alexis, Ronnie Rowe, Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz, and Melanie Scrofano in supporting roles. Here’s a full breakdown of the main cast:
| Actor | Character | Role |
| Tracy Spiridakos | Anna Pigeon | Park ranger and crime investigator |
| Ronnie Rowe Jr. | Frederick Stanton | FBI agent and wanderer |
| Tricia Helfer | Molly Pigeon | Anna’s older sister |
| Kim Coates | Jeremiah Paulson | Wealthy landowner and antagonist |
| Ryan Northcott | Geoff Miller | Anna’s supervisor and park manager |
| Cooper Levy | Jesse Garland | Anna’s occasional love interest |
| Paulina Alexis | Zoey Bear Child | Supporting park ranger |
| Manuel Rodriguez-Saenz | Manny López | Supporting cast |
| Jordan Sledz | Zach Redhill | Anna’s former romantic partner |
| Crystle Lightning | Frieda Dierkz | Park dispatcher |
| Nikki Hallow | Christina Clark | Supporting cast |
| Melanie Scrofano | Bethany López | Supporting cast |
Tracy Spiridakos joins Anna Pigeon in her first major role following her exit from NBC’s Chicago P.D. after seven seasons with the police procedural in the role of Haley Upton. At the time, she told Deadline she was “curious about what else was out there and wanted to switch it up.”
Star Trek‘s Ronnie Rowe Jr. plays FBI agent and “wanderer” Frederick Stanton, and Tricia Helfer plays Anna’s sister, Molly Pigeon. And Cooper Levy, who recently appeared in the Prime Video comedy Overcompensating, plays Anna’s occasional love interest in the series.
Behind the Scenes
The production story behind Anna Pigeon is almost as dramatic as the show itself.
Director Lea Thompson spent 15 years developing the show. She described directing the pilot as a “dream come true.” Thompson also serves as an executive producer alongside showrunner Morwyn Brebner, who previously created Rookie Blue and Saving Hope.
Cineflix Studios and December Films produce the series. The show is also a notable cross-border co-production. In Canada, Anna Pigeon is Bell Media’s first co-commission with Versant’s USA Network.
Filming entirely on location in Alberta’s wilderness had practical consequences for the cast and crew. The absence of functioning toilets wasn’t the only unique aspect of filming in the wild. In addition to unruly weather, Spiridakos and cast often encountered the occasional furry friend roaming their natural habitat.
Anna Pigeon star Tracy Spiridakos shared that her deep connection to nature helped her slip into the role. “Her deep love of nature and animals, that’s something that really resonated with me as well,” she confessed to E!
The show is based on Nevada Barr’s long-running novel series. Anna Pigeon will mark the first adaptation of Barr’s novels, of which there are 19. The first installment, Track of the Cat, was published in 1993.
Where to watch Anna Pigeon?
Finding the show depends on where you live. Here’s a clear breakdown:
| Platform | Region | Notes |
| USA Network (live) | United States | Airs Fridays at 10 p.m. ET |
| YouTube TV | United States | Requires USA Network in your plan |
| Hulu + Live TV | United States | Requires USA Network in your plan |
| Fandango at Home Free | United States | First two episodes free; full season 30 days after finale |
| Crave | Canada | New episodes available Saturday mornings at 6 a.m. ET |
| Peacock | United States | Not available |
Anna Pigeon will air on USA Network in the U.S. and Crave in Canada but it won’t be available on Peacock due to a change at NBCUniversal. As a Versant property, USA Network no longer falls under NBCUniversal’s umbrella. Therefore, the cable channel’s current programming like Anna Pigeon won’t be available to stream on Peacock.
The first two episodes of Anna Pigeon will stream for free on YouTube and Fandango after airing. Fandango will have the full season 30 days after the finale airs.
Anna Pigeon Reviews
The reception has been genuinely split, and that’s worth knowing before you commit ten hours.
Critical Reception
Anna Pigeon holds a Metascore of 51 on Metacritic, based on 6 critic reviews — landing in “Mixed or Average” territory.
On Rotten Tomatoes, Anna Pigeon debuted with an underwhelming 50% “rotten” score.
The Wrap gave it a positive 70, noting: the show “bops along with a pleasing rhythm, modest plot puzzles and a jaunty heroine brought to life by the charismatic Spiridakos.”
RogerEbert.com also scored it a 70, observing that some of the mysteries she uncovers are predictable “but in a comforting sort of way,” and that Anna Pigeon is “a satisfying way to spend an hour or so a week.”
Variety was far less charitable. Despite praising the “absolutely breathtaking backdrop and a stellar lead performance,” the review concluded that Anna Pigeon “feels like a dry, monotonous rehashing of Netflix’s Virgin River.”
The Hollywood Reporter was similarly underwhelmed, writing that it delivers “pretty people blending into photogenic Alberta backdrops” but conceded that if that’s the level on which you choose to approach it, “it’s an unambitious mission generally accomplished.”
Audience Reception
Here’s where the story turns interesting. Audiences are clearly connecting more than critics are.
Fandango’s community rating features a 4.5/5 score based on 21 reviews, indicating those who have tuned in are enjoying it.
The ratings back that up dramatically. Anna Pigeon has debuted as the highest-rated USA original scripted series premiere in nearly eight years and a top new entry on ad-supported cable both in total viewers and in the 18-49 demo. In the three days post-August 7 premiere, Anna Pigeon averaged 2.25 million total viewers with 269,000 in the key demo across USA, E!, and SYFY.
The exquisite scenery is also one of the show’s biggest pulls. Blooming grasslands, breathtaking sunrises, glistening rivers, and immense mountaintops are characters in their own right — often pulling audiences in when the storyline itself is drastically lacking.
The bottom line: if you want a comfort procedural with world-class scenery and a strong central performance, Anna Pigeon delivers. If you want edge-of-your-seat thrills, you may want to adjust expectations going in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Anna Pigeon set?
The show is set in Montana’s fictional Glacier National Park.
Where was Anna Pigeon actually filmed?
The series was filmed in Alberta, Canada, with production moving between specific locations in Greater Calgary, High River, Bragg Creek, and Kananaskis Country to create its national park setting.
Is Anna Pigeon based on a book?
Yes. Anna Pigeon is based on the novel series by Nevada Barr, developed by showrunner Morwyn Brebner.
How many episodes does Season 1 have?
The new USA Network show has a total of ten episodes. Each episode runs approximately one hour.
Will there be a Season 2?
USA Network has yet to weigh in on a potential Season 2. However, given the strong premiere ratings, the odds look promising.
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