Calgary Trip Overview
Going on the Cowboy Trail is really an opportunity to immerse yourself in that western culture and explore some cool little towns along the way.
Within the charming hamlets and towns that dot the trail, you’ll find all kinds of unique shops featuring artisan goods, antiques, and western-themed mercantile.
The trail winds its way through rolling foothills with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. Driving alongside grazing pastures with herds of cattle and horses flanking the highway, you get a taste of Alberta’s storied western heritage. You’re reminded of how ranching has shaped the province.
Additional Info
Duration: 10 to 11 hours
Starts: Calgary, Canada
Trip Category: Cultural & Theme Tours >> Historical & Heritage Tours
Explore Calgary Promoted Experiences
What to Expect When Visiting Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Going on the Cowboy Trail is really an opportunity to immerse yourself in that western culture and explore some cool little towns along the way.
Within the charming hamlets and towns that dot the trail, you’ll find all kinds of unique shops featuring artisan goods, antiques, and western-themed mercantile.
The trail winds its way through rolling foothills with stunning views of the Rocky Mountains. Driving alongside grazing pastures with herds of cattle and horses flanking the highway, you get a taste of Alberta’s storied western heritage. You’re reminded of how ranching has shaped the province.
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Pass By: Millarville, Millarville, Foothills County, Alberta
Just south of Calgary, Millarville offers one of the best views in the foothills. The hamlet settled in 1885 will further enchant you with its famous farmers market and racetrack, historical art gallery, a winery, unique local artisan studios and a whole lot of western culture.
Stop At: Turner Valley, Turner Valley, Alberta
In 1886, two brothers from Scotland, Robert and James Turner, filed for homestead on neighbouring quarter sections (the S.E. and S.W. quarters of Section 10, Township 21, Range 3, West of the Fifth Meridian) at the northern end of a large valley near the north fork of “Sheep Creek.” (To add a heaping helping of confusion to this story, what was then called Sheep Creek is now the Sheep River and its north fork, or tributary, is now named Threepoint Creek. Isn’t naming fun!) The Turner brothers, soon joined by a cousin, John Turner, acquired more land for their ranch and became noted breeders of purebred Clydesdale horses.
Duration: 30 minutes
Pass By: Black Diamond, Black Diamond, Alberta
Just to the east of the Town of Turner Valley, is the Town of Black Diamond. The name is inspired by the coal deposits found in the area. A coal mine opened in 1899 and a small community serving the mine and the area’s ranchers and homesteaders began to develop.
Stop At: Longview, Longview, Alberta
Longview (aka “Little New York”)
Located about 15 kilometres south of Turner Valley and Black Diamond (and four kilometres south of Royalties) is the village of Longview. Longview predates the discovery of oil and gas in the region, but the community flourished because of the oil. The name Longview came into official use when a post office of that name was opened in July 1908.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, Township Rd 17B and Township Rd 17A, Longview, Alberta T0L 1H0 Canada
The Bar U Ranch, originally owned by George Lane (one of the four founders of the Calgary Stampede), can be found 13 km south of Longview. It has been preserved as a National Historic Site. Also nearby is the ranch of Canadian country music legend Ian Tyson (songwriter and performer of the timeless folk song “Four Strong Winds”).
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Chain Lakes Provincial Park, Willow Creek Valley, Nanton, Alberta Canada
This park is located in Willow Creek valley between the Porcupine Hills and Rocky Mountains. The creek was dammed to form Chain Lakes Reservoir. Large clumps of willow and open grassland result in willow parkland, which is not well represented elsewhere in Alberta’s parks and protected areas network.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Lundbreck, Lundbreck, Alberta
Lundbreck was named for two coal miners (Lund and Breckenridge). Started out as a coal mining town, quickly growing to a size of about 1,000 people until the coal mines closed, at which time it quickly shrank.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Pincher Creek, Pincher Creek, Alberta
The history of Pincher Creek dates back to 1868. Today this small town has been home for workers and contractors maintaining and operating the invisible network of wells and pipelines. Recent the rapid deployment of wind generation made Pincher Creek the wind energy capital of Canada.nAs a gateway community to Waterton Lakes National Park, Pincher Creek has a year-round tourism economy.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Twin Butte, Twin Butte, Alberta
Twin Butte is a hamlet near the entrance to Waterton Lakes National Park. This is a popular stopping point for travelers and tourists along The Cowboy Trail Between 1885 and 1915, 43 ranching families settled the region. The community was given its name by Tillie Mitchell a prominent earlier pioneer to the area in the early 1900s. The name was given after two small hills, visible landmarks similar in shape and size overlooking the Yarrow Creek to the north of Mitchell’s property, both noticeable to many travelers, traveling through the area.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Waterton Lakes National Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
This park is so distinctive that it has four joint international designations – International Peace Park, Biosphere Reserve, World Heritage Site and the first transboundary International Dark Sky Park (IDA). This is the smallest
Stop at the Bison Paddocks where Bison reintroduction project is taking place. As dominant grazers on the landscape, bison shape vegetation and help to maintain natural ecosystems by limiting tree and shrub expansion into grassy meadows. This decision is ecologically significant for the park and culturally significant for First Nations communities in southern Alberta.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Red Rock Canyon, Red Rock Pkwy. off park access rd., 10 km north of Waterton Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Canada
The Red Rock Canyon Parkway is one of the most beautiful drives in Alberta. It’s 9 km of rolling hills, mountains, and grassland prairie with plenty of pull-off points.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Cameron Lake, Akima Pkwy. 13 km southwest of town of Waterton Park, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Canada
The Akamina Parkway is a winding mountain road which starts in the Waterton townsite and runs 16 km along the Cameron Valley, ending at Cameron Lake. Along the way, stop at the First Oil Well in Western Canada National Historic Site.
Crandell Lake, Lineham Falls, Rowe Lakes, Akamina Pass, Cameron Lakeshore and Carthew-Alderson (Summit Lake) trails all are located along this road.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Cameron Falls, Evergreen Avenue, Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta Canada
Located at Cameron Falls in Alberta’s Waterton Lakes National Park, on a regular day, the falls flow with typical clear water. And while still beautiful, the sight simply does not compare to the falls following a rainstorm.
After heavy rainfall, the waters upriver from the falls get stirred up with a red mudstone called argillite. As the water flows towards the falls, it turns to a beautiful pink hue when light reflects on the mineral water.
Duration: 30 minutes
