2022 Experience Southern Alberta

Photo Courtesy of John Krampl

Experience Southern Alberta

Publisher’s Welcome

Welcome to the third edition of Experience Southern Alberta, a visitor’s guide to the attractions, and stunning landscapes within the region, from Prairies to Peaks!

In this traveller’s companion, you’ll learn about the history of southern Alberta, and discover incredible experiences within the region, through compelling stories & images. And you’ll love our user-friendly maps!

Whether you are discovering southern Alberta as a couple, a young family on a staycation, with your grandchildren on a Grandcation, or just exploring on your own, we’re here

to help! The themed tours in this guide will not only high light the major attractions, but we’ll also unveil numerous hidden gems throughout this stunning landscape.

Our stories offer safe and fun activities that often contain educational components. And you will love our coverage of both the themed loop tours as well as the communities within southern Alberta.

We sincerely hope you have a magical time here and are truly honoured to be of service.

Christine Weston

To download this, or any of our maps & magazines to your mobile device, go to experiencetravelguides.com/library

Our Contributors

Lee Hart is a long-time Calgary writer. He began his writing career working as a newspaper reporter in his home province of Ontario before moving west 45 years ago. While the first half of his career he worked as a writer and editor with various weekly and daily newspapers, for the past 30 years he has specialized as a writer and editor for agricultural publications.

(Experience South Central Alberta pg 36)

Allen R. Gibson is a writer and marketer who’s enjoyed Western Canadian road trips since childhood. He shares his love of the west through travel writing and as a tour guide with Insight Vacations, when he’s not helping tourism businesses with their marketing.

Allen can be reached at EightStarTours@gmail.com

(Southern Alberta is a Pretty Spooky Place pg 30)

Karen Ung (aka @playoutsidegal) went on her first backpacking trip at 6 weeks old and hasn’t stopped playing outside. She loves maps, moun tains, and mochas and is always planning her next road trip. With her Geography degree and experience leading hikes and backpacking trips in the Rockies, she is full of ideas on where to go and what to do.

(Newell County pg 22)

Tanya Koob is a freelance travel and adventure writer. She lives with her husband and 12-year old son in Calgary. She loves hiking, camping, skiing, stand up paddle boarding, and mountain biking. She is the author of the blog, Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies.

rockiesfamilyadventures.com. (Experience Camping pg 10)

Andrew Penner is an independent writer and photographer living in Calgary, Alberta. His work has been featured in Westworld, Westjet Magazine, Golf Magazine, Golf Tips, Golf Canada, and many leading golf and lifestyle publications. When not travelling or working, he enjoys reading, movies, and chilling out in the backyard with his wife, Dawn, and their four boys. (Southern Alberta Golf Swing pg 48)

Experience Southern Alberta

Welcome to the 2022 - 2023 Edition of Experience Southern Alberta

Use it to plan your holiday and as your companion once you’ve arrived.

Experience Publishing is a privately-owned company with offices in Calgary, AB. We specialize in the production of our Experience Travel Guides & Maps in print as well as digital formats. Printed copies are delivered to our network of distribution outlets throughout Alberta and BC and into Montana and Saskatchewan. Travellers are encouraged to pick up a FREE printed copy through these outlets or download a mobile-friendly edition , or any of our current or archived guides from ExperienceTravelGuides.com/library.

We wish to thank the Downtown Drumheller Merchants Association, Waterton Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Lethbridge, Travel Alberta, and all of our contributors, sponsors, and our advertising partners for their generous support.

Please support our advertisers and sponsors. If you get the chance, kindly mention where you saw their ad. Without their support this guide would not be possible.

Founder: Bob Harris bob@ExperiencePublishing.ca

Associate Publisher: Christine Weston christine@ExperiencePublishing.ca Ph: (403) 479-2849

Cartographer: Rob Storeshaw robstoreshaw@shaw.ca

Book Keeper: Adrienne Albrecht adrienne@ExperiencePublishing.ca

Circulation Managers: Warren Pearson Dale Schultz Kelly & Carla Schultz

Editor: Larry Thomas larrylt2solutions@gmail.com

Advertising Sales Reps: Dan Clements David Saxby Joseph Macdonald

Circulation: Free copies available through most Visitor Information Centres, AMA travel offices, retail stores, attractions, and hotels & motels in the region. For a complete list: experiencedinosaurtrails.com/our-distributors

Cover Photo: Courtesy of Travel Alberta,

Share Your Experience: Upload your photos and videos to be eligible to win great prizes: ExperienceTravelGuides.com/Contests

Table of Contents

Communities

Black Diamond (Diamond Valley) 46

Drumheller 16

Lethbridge 32-34

Medicine Hat 26 Newell County 22 Pincher Creek 43

Turner Valley (Diamond Valley) 46 Waterton 40-42

Specialty Pages

A Fully-Charged Road Trip 38

Alberta Badlands 14-17 Campground Directory 50 Camping 10-13

Experience Indigenous Culture 20

Experience Pioneer Living 24

Experience South Central Alberta 36 Fire Lookouts in Southern Alberta 18

Hiking Trails 44 Photo Contest 3

Pretty Spooky Places 30

Southern Alberta Circle Tours 8

Southern Alberta Golf Swing 48

Map Pages

Drumheller Downtown 17

Drumheller & Area 16

Lethbridge 34

Southern Alberta Regional Map 6-7

All dates were correct at the time of printing but please confirm dates on their websites.

Experience Southern Alberta Circle Tours

With a metro population of 1.37 million, Calgary is the largest city in Alberta with tons of adventures to experience. However sometimes, it’s nice to just get out of town – to explore the many attractions located nearby. Whether you’re a single, young family, or a grandparent (“grand”cation) looking for a way to entertain the grandkids, here are two getaways, easily reduced in length, that are sure to please.

Day 1

• Take Hwy 2 south to Hwy 7 west 14 km past Okotoks to see Big Rock, the largest well-known glacial bolder deposit in North America. Get up close and personal. On your way back toward Hwy 2, be sure to stop at Chinook Honey, just 4 km east, to learn about bees and sample their mead.

• Follow Hwy 2A south into High River. The friendly staff at the Info Centre can answer all of your questions about the popular TV series, Heartland. Try to find all 16 of the town’s historic murals.

• Take Hwy 23 east and south to Vulcan. Journey to your own “final frontier” at the Star Trek station. Then follow Hwy 534/533 west to Nanton. You can stop for lunch, shop for antiques, tour the Bomber Command Museum or the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre.

• It’s a 25 min drive south along Hwy 2 to Claresholm. Horse lovers must visit the Appaloosa Horse Museum and the Frontier Western Shop. Have dinner at a great restaurant, such as Roy’s Place. Are you an avid golfer? You will want to check out the 18-hole golf course.

Day 2

• Pick up a coffee at Tim’s and take Hwy 2 south to Hwy 785. Drive west 18km to the Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. Learn about buffalo culture from Blackfoot guides. Stay for lunch and enjoy their delectable bison in a burger or stew.

• Return east to Hwy 2 and carry on to Fort Macleod. Visit the Fort Museum of the North West Mounted Police and stop by the Empress Theatre and other historic buildings. Do you recognize them from the movies shot here?

• Take Hwy 3 east to Lethbridge and plan to stay at least 3 to 4 days, to discover the many local and surrounding attractions as further detailed on pgs 32-34.

Next loop west or east, your choice!

Circling West

• Take Hwy 4 south to Stirling and then follow the Mormon Trail to Cardston stopping to explore the many attractions

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta/ Neil Zeller @neil_zee

Experience Southern Alberta Circle Tours

such as the Galt Historic Railway Park, Fay Wray Fountain and the Remington Carriage Museum, which holds the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America.

• Continue west along Hwy 5 to Waterton Lakes National Park. Enjoy an evening stroll through this quaint mountain town amid some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, followed by a gourmet dinner and a restful overnight stay. Be sure totake a lake cruise across the international border, play a round of golf and pick up some fudge.

• On your trip back to Calgary, follow the legendary Cowboy Trail. Head north along Hwy 6 to Pincher Creek with stops here at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village as well as the magnificent Lebel Mansion.

• Travel west on Hwy 3 to the Crowsnest Pass. Marvel at the mighty rockslide at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. Take an underground tour into the Bellevue Mine. Then Visit the commemoration of the 189 miners lost in the Hillcrest Mine explosion.

• Double back east on Hwy 3 to Hwy 22 and travel north on one of Canada’s most scenic drives, through the mountain

www.museumofthehighwood.com

Drop by, call, email or visit our social media or website for the latest museum and tourist information. We are always happy to meet and greet old and new friends!

Open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sundays, noon to 4 p.m.

High River Visitor Information Centre &

Located in the former CPR station in downtown High River, Alberta 406 1st Street S.W.

info@museumofthehighwood.com 403-652-7156

bordered rolling foothills of Alberta’s ranching country. Stop at the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site to explore one of most successful historic ranching operations.

• Numerous art galleries and dining delights await you in Longview, Black Diamond and Turner Valley – from jerky to steaks and poutine to hamburgers.

• Carry on north along Hwy 22 through Bragg Creek to Cochrane on your way back to Calgary.

Circling East

• Follow Hwy 3, from Lethbridge through Taber (be sure to buy some fresh Taber Corn in season!) to Seven Persons. If time permits, head south to explore the Red Rock Coulee Natural Area, then double back and head to Medicine Hat.

• Plan to stay in “The Hat” for 2 to 3 days, seeing the many surrounding attractions as further detailed on pgs 26-27.

• Then follow Hwy 1, northwest to Brooks and to Dinosaur Provincial Park. Then it’s on to Drumheller and the world famous Royal Tyrrell Museum. See pg 14-17 for more and plan to stay 1 or 2 nights, cause there’s so much to see & do!

Experience Camping

Planning a memorable camping trip starts with choosing that perfect basecamp where you can set up in a scenic location for an adventure and activity filled getaway. Check out these featured private campgrounds around Southern Alberta where you’ll find easy access to trailheads, rivers and lakes, beaches, and wilderness waiting to be explored.

Mountain-Aire Resort, Clearwater County

Enjoy camping beside the Red Deer River just outside the Banff National Park boundary, wake up to wild horses walking through your campsite, and hike to a natural swimming hole where you can cool off on hot days.

Bring the whole family with lodging choices which includes double queen rooms, cabins, or campsites (available for annual or short term reservations.) The resort has both serviced and unserviced sites along with group and horse friendly sites. Activities accessible near camp include rafting, hiking, fishing, and horseback riding. You can also access ATV Trails directly from the resort.

Dinosaur Trail RV Resort & Cabins, Drumheller

Discover this fabulous destination where groups plan annual reunions with friends and extended family. Guests love the

heated swimming pool, views of the hoodoos, and floating down the Red Deer River. Canoe rentals and shuttles are available on site. The campground holds movie nights, ice cream sundae parties, bingo, and pancake breakfasts. Visit in August during “Halloween in the park” where children can go trick or treating around the decorated campground and watch a fun movie afterwards.

The campground is only 5 km away from the Royal Tyrrell Museum and there are many great trails around Drumheller to hike or bike. Bring the whole family with lodging choices including cabins, single rooms, and campsites (with options for tents, RVs and big rigs.)

Aspen Crossing, Mossleigh Camp at this prairie oasis located an hour SE of Calgary and discover scenic train excursions with a variety of fun themes. Families like the large, treed sites, the onsite tavern (which does pizza delivery to your campsite) the playground, animals to interact with, and the escape rooms, which makes for a unique camp activity. Campers can choose to splurge on a meal in the Diefenbaker Dining Car, and new for 2021, there will also be a swimming lagoon with beach along with 100 new campsites. (Continued on pg 12)

Dinosaur Trail RV Resort, Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Doiron

Mountain-Aire, Photo Courtesy of Christie Survoy

Photo Courtesy of Aspen Crossing

(Continued on pg 10) Campers will find both serviced and un serviced sites with plenty of room for big rigs.

The campground is a short drive from the Bow River where you can go floating, fishing, or just play in the water and have a picnic. Trail riding is offered nearby as well.

Mount Kidd RV Park, Kananaskis

Mount Kidd is a family owned year-round facility located in the heart of Kananaskis Country an hour west of Calgary. Camp here and spend your days hiking, mountain biking, fishing, or even downhill skiing at the Nakiska Ski Area. In the summer, guests can also visit the nearby Kananaskis Golf Course or Boundary Ranch for horseback riding.

During the summer, amenities include tennis courts, a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a wading pool, arcade, snack bar, playgrounds, and amphitheater shows. There is also a kids’ program like scavenger hunts, face painting, outdoor activities, and crafts. The campground accommodates all types of units from tents to large RVs with full service and non-serviced sites.

Photo Courtesy of Mount Kidd RV Park

Experience Camping

The campground has a swimming pool, a clubhouse with pool table and shuffleboard, and weekly activities in the summer including pancake breakfasts, scavenger hunts, and crafts.

The Oldman River is nearby for river rafting and fishing, and Lethbridge is just up the hill where you’ll find trails to hike or bike, parks, leisure centres, shopping, and dining. Lethbridge also has a vibrant cultural scene along with sporting events and a weekly farmers market.

Waterton National Park is a short drive for a day trip from camp, and history buffs will also want to visit Fort Whoop Up, the Remington Carriage Centre, or Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump site.

By: Tanya Koob

Photo Courtesy of Bridgeview RV Resort

If you need it out here, we have it in here.

Westhills 403.246.1961 Country Hills NE 403.226.9550 Beacon Hill 403.456.6428 LOCALLY OWNED • LOCALLY OPERATED • LOCALLY FOCUSED

CanadianTire.ca

Bridgeview is another great option for year-round camping with full hook up winter sites, conveniently located on the outskirts of the City of Lethbridge if you’re visiting family or traveling in the area.

Experience Alberta Badlands

Bleriot Ferry

The cable-operated Bleriot Ferry links the South and North sections of the Dinosaur Trail (Hwy 838). This free ferry ride across the Red Deer River is a great addition to a scenic road trip through Drumheller Valley in the Canadian Badlands. travelalberta.com/ca/listings/bleriot-ferry-1470

Horsethief Canyon

At the secluded Horsethief Canyon, 16 km northwest of Drumheller on North Dinosaur Trail (Hwy 838), adventure some souls can hike deep into the coulees where the canyon’s namesake horse thieves hid to rebrand their stolen steeds. traveldrumheller.com/attractions/horsethief-canyon

Horseshoe Canyon

Offering stunning vistas and scenic hiking trails, Horseshoe Canyon’s glacier-carved “U” is located 17 km southwest of Drumheller along Hwy 9. A pathway east of the parking lot leads to a lookout point. From there, descend to the canyon floor, where numerous unmarked trails allow hikers to explore the valley and maybe even discover a dinosaur or two! traveldrumheller.com/attractions/horseshoe-canyon

Hoodoos Trail

The Drumheller hoodoos are internationally recognized icons in Alberta badlands. The tour allows you to see the results of wind and water erosion on sedimentary rocks throughout the millennia. Looking like petrified mushrooms; the hoodoos have a protective rock cap, which shelters their shaft from

disintegrating at the same pace as the surrounding sandstone. travelalberta.com/ca/listings/hoodoos-and-hoodoo-trail-4517

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

The bridge spans 117 m across the Red Deer River in Rosedale, just outside of Drumheller. It was built in 1931 for the coal miners of the Star Mine. The bridge is now a favourite among locals for fishing and for accessing stunning Badlands terrain. Enjoy hiking, hill climbing, and a day use area in the vicinity. travelalberta.com/ca/listings/rosedale-suspension-bridge-4513/

Historic Wayne

Along this stretch of highway from the Star Mine Suspension Bridge to The Last Chance Saloon and The Rosedeer Hotel, you cross 11 bridges once used to transport coal through local mining communities. This gauntlet of bridges actually holds the Guinness Book of World Records title as the most bridges found within the shortest distance! The Rosedeer Hotel opened in 1913 in the dusty boomtown of Wayne. Back then, the population topped out at over 2,500, but has dipped to just over 2 dozen since the mines closed down in the 1950’s. The Last Chance Saloon is family friendly, serving snacks and beverages. Jojo’s Haberdashery Ice Cream & Gift Shop is just nextdoor. visitlastchancesaloon.com

Atlas Coal Mine

Enthusiastic guides at the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site show off artifacts and share colourful stories about miners who lived and work there. A walk up the gantry takes you to

Horsethief Canyon, Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta/ Katie Goldie Hoodoos Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta/ Nate @natesvscrocodile

Experience Alberta Badlands

the top of the last wooden tipple in Canada. What’s a tipple?

A processing plant where coal is sorted, stored, and loaded into trains. Don a hardhat and a headlamp to follow in the historic footsteps of miners in the Tunnel Tour. A challenging hike up through the inclined conveyor tunnel takes you to the mine entry set high in the Badlands. If you don’t want to travel under your own steam, take a ride on Linda, the 90-year-old electric locomotive on a surface tour around the mine site. atlascoalmine.ab.ca

East Coulee School Museum

The East Coulee School Museum is an 11 room schoolhouse built to educate children from the local coal mining families. After operating as a school from 1930-1971, it was transformed into a museum focusing on school days and home life during the coal mining era of the Drumheller Valley. ecsmuseum.ca

Sixth Annual Badlands Boogie

The East Coulee Truss Bridge is the last one of its kind in Western Canada. This railroad and pedestrian bridge has been featured in movies and music videos. It is now threatened to be destroyed. In order to raise money to stave off this demolition, the 6th Annual Badlands Boogie featuring over 30 volunteer bands will be held on the September long weekend in 2020. facebook.com/Badlands-Boogie-888570684580048

Red Deer River Adventures

They rent kayaks and canoes for self-guided trips on the Red Deer River and surrounding area. They also offer guided tours ranging from 2 hours to a full day, taking you through an area of the river to learn about the region’s history. You’ll also see the site where the first Albertosaurus dinosaur was discovered. reddeerriveradventures.com

The Little Church

Its claim to fame is it has seated 10,000 worshippers - 6 at a time. First erected in 1968 by local contractor Trygve Seland, in cooperation with the Ministerial Association, it was then rebuilt in 1991 by inmates of the Drumheller Institution. It is located at the intersection of North Dinosaur Tr and Murray Hill Rd just west of the famous Royal Tyrrell Museum. It offers an intimate setting for worship and meditation in the midst of vast natural beauty. travelalberta.com/ca/listings/drumhellers-little-church-4518

By Dr. Shannon L. Tracey

The World’s Largest Dinosaur

Step right up and see “The World’s Largest Dinosaur” in the heart of Drumheller. Literally step right up, 106 steps to be exact. This fibreglass and steel model T. rex stands 26.3 m high and 46 m in length, approx 4.5 times bigger than a life-sized T. rex. At the top, a viewing area in the mouth of the dinosaur can hold between 8 and 12 people at a time. worldslargestdinosaur.com

Valley Doll Museum and Gift Shop & Jungling Works

At the Valley Doll Museum and Gift Shop, over 1000 enchanting antique and vintage dolls are displayed. See valleydollmuseum.com. At Jungling Works, Debra cites a friend’s challenge to share, rather than hoard, her photographs of the natural beauties in and around Drumheller as the inspiration for the amaing fashion accessories and home décor items digitally printed with these images featured in her store. junglingworks.com

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play

Performed over 3 weekends in July, is one of Canada’s largest outdoor theatrical events. Attendees are carried back 2000 years to witness the dramatic portrayal of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. All with in an acoustically superb natural amphitheatre. The numerous volunteer actors and musicians performing this play race over hills in a set that would challenge a mountain goat, all while delivering their lines with aplomb. canadianpassionplay.com

Fossil World Dinosaur Discovery Centre

It is a hands-on museum for kids offering three main activities: 1) Fossil Dig - Dig up a dinosaur and take home a real fossil; 2) Mineral Mine - Take home a vial of real minerals while learning to identify the minerals; and, 3) Wall Climb - a 25 ft wall climb using an auto belay guided by an instructor. The museum features ten new animatronic dinosaurs, including a 7 m tall full motion animatronic T. rex. Check the website for dates when it is open. fossilworld.com

Experience Downtown Drumheller

Experience Fire Lookouts in Southern Alberta

Fire lookouts provide an incredible vantage point from their location perched on top of a mountain or ridge top. Many of them are easy to reach as well, often with a wide service road that can be hiked all the way to the lookout house. Here’s a few:

Carbondale Lookout

Add this one to your list if you’re camping in or near Castle Provincial Park this summer. The trailhead is located near the Beaver Mines Lake Campground and the hike is family-friendly with a return distance of 8 km. You’ll hike up a closed road gaining just over 450 m of height to reach the lookout house.

This is the most southerly active fire lookout in Alberta and the site dates to 1928 when a previous structure stood on this very same property.

Hailstone Butte Lookout

This is a very easy hike, and the lookout is worth visiting for the drive alone to the top of the “Hump” on Hw 532 (a gravel road that isn’t commonly traveled unless you are out for an adventure.) The road is fine with a regular vehicle and the hike is only 3 km round trip. You’ll gain just over 300 m of height on the steep hike, but most families should be able to make it to the top in an hour.

While you can follow a rough trail most of the way to the top, there are also options for some fun “scrambling” depending on the route you choose to take. Pick a nice day for your visit because the views are also incredible from the lookout.

Raspberry Ridge Lookout

This lookout is in the Highwood area of South Kananaskis across the road from the Cataract Creek Campground off Highway 940. It is a longer hike for families with older youth with a round trip distance of 9.5 km. You’ll gain 650 m of height, giving the true feeling that one is climbing a mountain.

To reach the lookout, you’ll follow an old road with gradual switchbacks (with an alternate option of climbing a steeper path that makes a direct line for the ridge.) I prefer the switch backs on the way up and the direct route on the way down.

Moose Mountain Lookout

This lookout is in the Elbow Valley off Hw 66 west of Calgary. This is another longer hike at 14 km round trip distance with 500 m of height gain. What I like best about this hike though is that you reach the top of an actual summit when you arrive on top of Moose Mountain. You can also see this prominent mountain from Calgary where it’s very visible on a clear day.

Experience Fire Lookouts in Southern Alberta

The hike starts out on an old road for the first 4 km before start ing a steeply switchbacked climb to the false summit where you reach an open plateau. From this point gaining the true summit looks daunting but the lookout is only 75 metres above you so don’t despair. The views from the top are worth the final steep push.

Kananaskis Lookout

You’ll want to visit this lookout if you’re camping in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park this summer or looking for a short day trip from Calgary. The hike is 8 km return with less than 300 metres of height gain, and the lookout is so easy to reach that people cross-country ski to the top in winter. You’ll begin by parking at a small pullout off Hw 40 just beyond the winter gate. You will then follow a wide ski trail for the first 3 km, relatively flat and doable on a bike, before starting the climb to the lookout. (Bring a lock if you’re using a bike for the first part and continue up the steeper lookout trail on foot.)

From the top you’ll be able to look out over the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes so choose a sunny day to appreciate the views.

Barrier Lake Lookout

This is another great day trip from Calgary, and you’ll start the hike from the Barrier Dam parking lot at the north end of the lake off Highway 40 in Kananaskis. Of all the lookouts mentioned in this story, this is the most popular to visit, so I recommend going mid-week or early/late season if you want to find a parking spot (and enjoy some solitude at the summit.)

The lookout is perched on the summit of Yates Mountain and is reached in a 12 km return hike with 600 metres of elevation gain. Don’t be scared by the numbers though because you’ll follow a wide switchbacked trail for the first 5 km to the top of a beautiful ridge where the climbing is gradual enough to make for a popular mountain bike trail. Rest here and enjoy the views down over the lake before continuing to a second viewpoint and the final summit in another kilometre where the trail climbs much more steeply.

Photos and Story By: Tanya Koob

Experience Indigenous Culture

As I neared the top of the hill where the ancient medicine wheel was located, (south of Bassano) my eyes scanned the panoramic prairie view and the power of this place gave me another jolt. To the east, the Bow River rambled through a deep, water-carved scar slicing through the browning plains. To the south, the 20 km gravel road that got me here zigged and zagged and, eventually, melted into an ocean of native grassland. There were few signs of man. Anywhere. And every where, grass-smothered hills, unplowed since the beginning, relented to the wind.

Unquestionably, a trip to the Majorville Medicine Wheel - it’s been dubbed “Canada’s Stonehenge” - is a sweet little southern Alberta adventure. It’s a powerful and deeply-spiritual place featuring an ancient circular wheel (it’s actually older than Stonehenge!), constructed with lichen-coated stones and rocks. The stones, some broken and swallowed by the earth, mark the spokes and lead to the rocky cairn at the center of the wheel. It’s one of a few medicine wheels left intact.

But it does take some work to get there. You need a four-wheel drive vehicle. You need to do some research. You need to have a little perseverance. And an off-roading adventure like this is certainly not for everyone. (Interestingly, some people are underwhelmed by the visit as the wheel, from the ground, can be difficult to distinguish.)

Not surprisingly, Alberta boasts many Indigenous sites and attractions that don’t require bouncing along the back roads. Many of these places are situated right off the highway in

beautiful, easy-to-find locations. One of these amazing places is Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, near Fort Macleod and it’s actually a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Indeed, for many of thousands of tourists venturing to Alberta, visiting Indigenous attractions - including historic buffalo jumps, museums, casinos, art galleries, tipi camps, lodges, and so on - is on their to-do list. When it comes to Indigenous history, including spectacular sites enveloped by idyllic scenery, it’s tough to beat Alberta.

Situated at the base of a beautiful escarpment just two hours south of Calgary, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is certainly one of the most popular Indigenous sites to explore in Alberta. The award-winning, world-renowned museum consists of a state-of-the-art, five-level building that’s seamlessly blended into the cliff wall. It contains many incredible exhibits and interactive displays highlighting the fascinating tactics of the buffalo hunt, the demise of the buffalo, the nomadic lifestyles of Plains People, archaeological digs, and much more. When considering the outdoor trails and interpretive walks, taking you right along the top and the base of the cliff where the ancient buffalo jump and nearby processing camps where located, you can easily see why many people make a visit to ‘Head-Smashed-In’ a full-day adventure.

While people have been flocking to Head-Smashed-In for decades (it was designated a National Historic Site in 1968), the newer Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park is an equally impressive place to visit. Boasting an “authentic Blackfoot

Majorville Medicine Wheel

Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park

Experience Indigenous Culture

experience” - which includes interactive exhibits, drumming, dancing, guided tours, stunning architecture incorporating Blackfoot shapes and symbols, traditional Blackfoot food, and much much more – Blackfoot Crossing is a fascinating place to explore. Here, too, a variety of outdoor trails meander along the peaceful banks of the Bow River and take explorers to the ancient riverside camps, earthlodge villages, historic grave yards, and the monument where Treaty No. 7 was signed.

Of course, there are many other notable Indigenous sites and attractions to explore and visit. River Ranch Lodge, Painted Warriors, and Buffalo Rock Tipi Camp are three to check out. One of the best resources to learn about these attractions, and others, is the Indigenous Tourism Alberta (ITA) website, indigenoustourismalberta.ca. The mandate of the ITA is to promote and encourage Indigenous-owned tourism in our province. There are many cultural experiences and enterprises, all owned and operated by Indigenous entrepreneurs, that highlight this growing tourism sector.

From galleries to tipi camps and badlands tours, there are many possibilities. Unquestionably, there are numerous historical sites, retail outlets, and Indigenous experiences that continue to fly under the radar in Alberta. And, just like anything, when you do your homework, opportunities will arise and doors will open. An adventurous spirit, even if it means bumping along the back roads, will go a long way. And, of course, respecting and honouring Indigenous people and places should always be top of mind.

and Story By: Andrew Penner

Martian Landscape or Dino Poo?

The Red Rock Coulee Natural Area offers a unique hiking experience over the bottom of an ancient seabed. Large red spherical sandstone rock formations dot the land scape. They measure up to 2.5 m in diameter and may be the largest in the world.

Conveniently, there is a picnic table near the entrance with incredible 360 degree vistas of this fascinating area. A walking tour gets you up close to inspect these colour ful spheres created so long ago over.

Marvel at the mystery of their formation. Over centuries, minerals were deposited on seashells. Through erosion and oxidation these rocks turned red. Climb with care and study the unique quartz crystals.

Steep-sided coulees, hoodoos and unusual vegetation, such as a gumbo primrose, prickly pear cactus, and prairie crocus all contribute to this special place of spiritual bliss.

Wildlife includes mule deer, pronghorn, bull snakes, shorthorned lizards, scorpions and rattlesnakes. In case of an encounter, move quietly and deliberately away.

Location: 30 min south of Medicine Hat. Take Hwy 3 to Seven Persons, turn south onto Hwy 887 and watch for Alberta Parks’ signage. This day-use Park has no facilities or services. Bring plenty of water.

Photo

Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump

Photo Courtesy of Jeff Bartlett @photojbartlett

Experience Newell County’s Beaches and Badlands

In Newell, the experiences you can have are as diverse as the landscapes. Enjoy beach time, boating, and birding at Alberta’s largest manmade lake; then head to Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and hike in the badlands. Learn about the area’s rich history at the Brooks Museum, and try some homemade ice cream. Just 2 hrs from Calgary we recommend staying a while to catch all the sights! Here’s how to spend a fun weekend in Newell County.

Day 1: Soak up some sunshine at Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

It is an oasis on the prairie, on the shores of Lake Newell. With a sandy beach and warm water, and well-serviced camp ground, we look forward to camping here each summer. As we cross the causeway, we leave farmland behind, and are greeted by wetlands and towering cottonwoods. We spot cyclists on the marsh trail and dozens of birds in the water.

From our lakeside campsite, the beach beckons. The kids set up the tent, put on their swimsuits, and pump up their floaties in record time. “Can we go now, Mom? Puh-leaaaaaase?” I chase after them with sunscreen and towels, past the swingset, and claim a piece of sand.

We’ve discovered the sweet spot - when daytrippers have gone home and campers have left for dinner - so the beach is quiet. Between burying each other in sand, floating, and paddling out to the buoys, time flies. The only distractions are American white pelicans flying overhead (you don’t see those every day!).

After a late dinner, we walk the 4.5 km Marsh Trail. The flat interpretive trail circumnavigates wetlands which are home to tons of birds and wildlife.

Sunset finds us back at the beach with sand in our toes and wind in our hair. While the kids (attempt to) do cartwheels, fishermen cast from shore and a family plays volleyball. It’s the perfect place to be on a warm summer evening.

For reservations visit albertaparks.ca

Day Two: Explore Dinosaur Provincial Park

This Park boasts “the greatest number and diversity of late Cretaceous fossils in the world” and is only 40 minutes from Kinbrook Island Provincial Park. After picking up snacks in Brooks we make our way to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for fossils.

Kinbrook Island Provincial Park

Brooks Aqueduct

Dinosaur Provincial Park

Experience Newell County’s Beaches and Badlands

While an interpretive tour is highly recommended, if you haven’t made reservations, you can also do a self-guided tour. Five trails are open to the public, the most scenic are Coulee Viewpoint Trail and Badlands Trail. There are fossil display houses along the ring road, and some great exhibits in the Visitor Information Centre (admission fee in effect). Get an ice cream or homemade pie at the concession to fuel your adventures and enjoy exploring the beautiful badlands.

One of the best programs for families is the Dino Stomp Tour. On a guided 2 km hike, we hunted for fossils, jacketed a fossil (wrapped it in gauze for transport), saw a huge hadrosaur bone, and learned a lot about the dinosaurs that roamed these parts in the late Cretaceous. Big kids or grown-up dino lovers will enjoy the Centrosaurus Bonebed Hike (4 km) that goes to a former dig site where hundreds of Centrosauruses were found. For more information visit albertaparks.ca

Day Three: Step back in time at the Brooks Museum

Discover what life was like in Brooks 100 years ago. The main building, and ten lovingly maintained heritage buildings house original artifacts from Newell County. Don’t miss the old caboose and heritage rose garden while you’re there! The

Brooks Museum also houses a Visitor Information Centre and fantastic gift shop with locally-made art, so you can bring home a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

After the museum, enjoy homemade ice cream or go across the street and cool off at Duke of Sutherland Park’s splash park!

More fun things to do in Newell

Get lost at Brooks Corn Maze, pick raspberries, play games, and feed the goats. Play a round of golf at Brooks Golf Club. Stand-up paddleboard at Rolling Hills Reservoir.

On a rainy day, play at EID Aquatic Centre. It boasts a lane pool with diving board, wave pool, 200 ft long waterslide, lazy river, tot area, hot tub, dry sauna, and steam room.

We hope you love Newell County’s beaches and badlands as much as we do!

Getting there Brooks, the heart of Newell County, is located 2 hrs southeast of Calgary, just off the TransCanada Highway (Hwy 1).

Photos and Story By: Karen Ung

Experience Pioneer Living

Pack up because it’s time for a ‘rural roots’ tour featuring a common thread throughout; our food supply. And this tour is more than just eating.

Sunnybrook is sure to leave you satisfied, and maybe a little impressed with the true grit of our pioneer ancestors.

Experience rural living like Grandma and Grandpa did; and don’t forget to bring your appetite because you are definitely going to need it.

On the menu is Sunnybrook Farm Museum, where rural Alberta farming comes to life. Red Deer’s oldest farm dates back to the early 1900’s where pioneer families worked hard carving the land and a living.

And of course, what’s a farm without a water source? Your diet isn’t complete without a trip to the Brooks Aqueduct. Well over 90 years ago, an extensive concrete centipede spanning a shallow 3.2 km wide valley took shape 20m above the ground.

At the time it was the largest structure of its kind in the world, and an engineering feat in design and technology. A vital link in an expansive irrigation network, the aqueduct fed precious water to thirsty crops. Today, it holds precious memories.

Here you’ll get a healthy helping of farming communities as you watch the seeds of life grow. Milk a cow, bake some bread or work in the blacksmith shop. At Sunnybrook Farm you’ll travel back in time where you and the family can meet the farm animals, feed the chickens, take a wagon ride and watch some old-fashioned farming equipment at work.

As you digest the prairie lifestyle, here’s some food for thought; how does farming connect pioneers with rural communities?

If you guessed grain elevators you’re right. A must-visit is the Canadian Grain Elevator Discovery Centre in Nanton, where you’ll experience the majesty of grain elevators.

Sunnybrook Farm Museum

Experience Pioneer Living

Nanton is home to one of the first grain elevators built in 1929. Grain elevators were the hub of the community. Elevator staff were trusted community members who hosted discussions from politics to grain prices – some could be over a game of cards. Elevator staff were instrumental to grain well-being, and some even sold hail insurance!

Towns grew up around grain elevators and the general stores, post office, blacksmiths and hotels came to life. These mono liths have evolved over the years but remain a staple in rural Alberta. Book your tour in Nanton and discover a rich history fueled by grain elevators.

Speaking of fuel, another essential in Alberta’s rural diet was the railway. Serving up a main course in history is the Galt Historic Railway Park in Warner County, Alberta.

The railway was instrumental in nourishing our economy, and Sir Alexander Galt and his son Elliott originally built the sta tion at the Galt Historic Railway Park in 1890. The station straddled the Canada / United States international border run ning through its waiting and dining room. The telegrapher and station agent worked in the center section arranging round trip shipments between Coutts, Alberta and Sweetgrass, Montana.

One of only two “lunch stations” along the railway line from Lethbridge to Great Falls, the northern part of the station was moved across the border to Coutts in 1916. It closed in 1989. This station is the last structure of its kind in Western Canada, and in 2000 was moved near the Village of Stirling where it was restored to its original glory.

This summer, fuel your appetite for history and travel back in time with the family through rural Southern Alberta.

By: Kerri Robins

Brooks Aqueduct

Galt Historic Railway Park

Galt Historic Railway Park

Experience Medicine Hat

As we descend into the South Saskatchewan River Valley, I’m struck by the cliffs and countless coulees that define the land scape. Just as nature shaped the land, it also shaped history. While waterways and a sheltered valley brought people and migrating buffalo here, in later years, the vast discoveries of abundant natural gas and clay brought growth and prosperity to Medicine Hat and its communities.

Different forces are at work these days. The ‘Hat’ is outgrowing “The Gas City” moniker and becoming a cultural hub. At first

glance, the historic downtown looks much like it did in the early 1900’s with its brick buildings and old fashioned street lamps. Take a closer look and you discover the art galleries and studios, independent coffee shops, eclectic eateries, and a microbrewery. Colourful murals adorn brick walls; the Royal Liquor Store mural quotes author Rudyard Kipling: “This part of the country seems to have All Hell for a basement, and the only trap door appears to be in Medicine Hat.” Can you guess where Hell’s Basement, Alberta’s first craft brewery, got the inspiration for its name?

At Inspire Studio, Gallery and Café, I sip a fragrant cup of tea surrounded by local artwork. Meanwhile, artist and co-owner, Maureen Newton, paints peacefully in the adjacent studio. Inspire is not only for artisans and those who appreciate art; it’s also for lovers of comfort food and good coffee and tea.

Holding a piece of our history will totally transport you to the early days of Alberta’s Industrial history.

Whether you are on a self-guided Medicine Hat Art Walk (mid May to late September), or Medicine Hat Progressive Café Tour, you will end up at Inspire, inspired to pick up a paintbrush perhaps, or stay a little longer in this friendly city.

Sunny Medicine Hat will surprise you with its coffee culture, microbreweries, burgeoning art scene, and recreational opportunities.

Experience Medicine Hat

If you stay, explore the city by bike or Sunshine Trolley. With 115 km of bike paths and free loaner bikes at the Visitor Centre, it’s easy to get around safely by bicycle. The Sunshine Trolley, new in 2019, is a seasonal hop on, hop off shuttle from major hotels to historic downtown and MedAlta Potteries.

My kids giggle as they punch their timecards at MedAlta Potteries, the historic factoryturned-museum, including huge beehive kilns. Even if you have never worked with clay before, it is fascinating to learn how everyday items are made. Maybe take a crash course in wheel throwing (making something on a pottery wheel), sign up for the Saturday Samplers class.

Our next stop is The Esplanade, an architectural wonder that houses an art gallery, museum, archives, and state of the art 700-seat theater. Check their events calendar for art shows, dance and theater performances, and concerts.

Evening finds us at the Medicine Hat Family Leisure Centre’s free public skate. We plan on bringing swimsuits next time for the amazing aquatic park! More fun things to do with kids include: glow bowling at Panorama Lanes, solving an escape room, or watching a movie at Monarch Theatre, Canada’s longest running movie theatre.

Enjoy live music at Industry on Friday nights; beer tastings at the Medicine Hat Brewing Company, Hell’s Basement Brewery, or Travois Aleworks; or music festivals. Don’t miss the Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival: a week of Café Concerts followed by Concerts in a Kiln and festivities at renowned MedAlta Potteries. The summer festival season kicks off with Medicine Hat Jazz Fest intimate concerts in local breweries, pubs, cafés, and eateries.

Over lunch at trendy Local Public Eatery, Med Hat resident Abby Czibere tells me how she, “moved here for school, fell in love with the place, and never left.”

When I ask what she loves about Medicine Hat, besides the good eats and brews (beer and coffee), Czibere shares how easy it is to get close to nature:

• Police Point Park has a nature centre and “tons of walking trails.”

• Echo Dale Regional Park is “great for families” with its paddling pond, and picnic areas.

• “We have over 100 km of bike paths... and free loaner bikes” Information Centre.

• Kin Coulee Park has an awesome toboggan hill.

• Cypress Hills Provincial Park is Medicine Hat’s playground, away. Hike, mountain bike, camp, or stay in a cozy hut!

There’s much to love in this vibrant little city with its sunny personality. Once you visit The Hat, you’ll want to go back!

and Story By: Karen Ung

Photos

Family Bike Rides in Southern Alberta

Exploring by bike is one of the best ways to experience a park or city in Southern Alberta, especially with kids. It’s fast, fun, and quieter than driving, so you have a better chance of spot ting wildlife! When biking with kids, the secret to success is choosing easy routes with places to eat and play along the way. These family bike rides featuring playgrounds, attractions, and snack stops are perfect for a half-day outing. Enjoy! Note that all distances are one way.

Fish Creek Provincial Park, Calgary (4.6-10.7 km, minimal elevation gain)

It’s Canada’s largest urban park, has an extensive network of paved and dirt trails. From Bow Valley Ranch Day Use, head NW to Glennfield Area C (4.6 km), Bebo Grove (9.3 km), or Shannon Terrace (10.7 km). Glennfield Area C has a picnic shelter (first come, first served), while Shannon Terrace and Bebo Grove have shaded picnic areas with fire pits.

Birdwatching (get a checklist at the Visitor Centre) and geo caching are popular activities in the park. On the way back, get an ice cream, coffee, or sweet treat at Annie’s Café; then explore the Artisan Gardens, home to 175 sculptures.

Bill Milne Trail, Kananaskis (9.1 km, 102 m elevation gain)

A wonderful and less busy alternative to the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail, the Bill Milne Trail offers stunning scenery with very little effort. Start at Kovach Day Use (or Ribbon Creek Day Use) and ride through Kananaskis Valley past the golf course and Mount Kidd RV Park, then cross the highway and climb a few hills to reach Wedge Pond.

Kids will love throwing rocks in the pond, getting a snack at Mount Kidd’s camp store, and coasting to the car. It’s a gentle downhill grade the whole way back!

World’s Biggest Dinosaur to Royal Tyrrell Museum

Drumheller (7 km, 100 metres elevation gain)

Dino lovers will dig this Drumheller bike ride. The adventure begins at the 26-m tall T-Rex beside the Visitor Information Centre. For a fee, you can take the stairs inside the dinosaur and look out its mouth! Bike past Rotary Spray Park (open May long weekend until Labour Day), cross the bridge and take

the underpass to North Drumheller Community Playground. Follow the hiking trail signs to the paved bike path along North Dinosaur Trail, then turn left after Fossil World Dinosaur Museum, which boasts 1,000 fossils and animatronic dinosaurs. At the end of the road, take a right on North River Drive’s bike lane.

Continue west along the Red Deer River, under the bridge and towering cottonwoods, to McMullen Island Day Use Area. Cross North Dinosaur Trail, then cycle through the badlands of Midland Provincial Park. Most of the elevation gain is here, so take your time and be prepared to walk your bike down 24 stairs at the end (it’s worth it, I promise).

The Royal Tyrrell Museum has Canada’s largest collection of fossils; world-class exhibits; awesome interpretive programs; and a large, covered playground with a giant sandbox. Allow at least two hours to explore the museum.

In the area: The Little Church, just west of the museum, seats six and is a cute photo spot.

Kootenai-Brown Trail, Waterton (7 km, 350 metres elevation gain) The gorgeous Kootenai-Brown Trail goes from Linnet Lake to the park gates. Whether you bike the entire distance or not (there are some big hills), you can enjoy sweeping views of Waterton’s lakes and peaks. Look for the red chairs, wildflowers in the alluvial fan between Middle and Lower Waterton Lakes, and the resident beaver in the pond by the park entrance.

Nearby: Get huckleberry ice cream at Big Scoop Ice Cream Parlour, then play at Waterton Playground and Spray Park. If you still have legs for a walk, count deer and bighorn sheep on the Townsite Loop (3.2 km) from Emerald Bay to Cameron Falls. Before leaving Waterton, get a family photo from Prince of Wales Hill.

Going Further: From November until May you can bike the Red Rock Parkway without cars. We recommend renting e-bikes from Pat’s Waterton or Blakiston & Company for the rolling road (15 km, 250 metres elevation gain).

Photos and Story By: Karen Ung

Family Bike Rides in Southern Alberta

Southern Alberta is a Pretty Spooky Place

Many cultures believe that our ancestors remain after their lives have ended. But what makes southern Alberta different is just how many stories there are of sightings, hearings, and feelings of those ghosts and spirits.

Perhaps the most famous tales concern the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod - and the ‘Ghost Train’ of Medicine Hat.

Spooky occurrences at the 1912-era Empress Theatre are a constant. Staff talk about hearing footsteps approaching only to look up and find no one there. Which, when you’re alone in a big, old 400 seat theatre, could be an experience to have you heading for the doors pretty sharpish!

Big changes, events or even parties can ‘wake the spirits.’ After renovations in the 1980’s, things happened more often, like footsteps, lights turning on and off, and even ladders suddenly falling. Many people have eerily similar descriptions of the ‘ghost’ who sometimes shows up for performances, sitting in the balcony in his cowboy hat. The same gent has also been seen in bathroom mirrors, or even selling tickets to latecomers!

The ghost is widely believed to be a man named Ed, who was a caretaker at the theatre in the 1930’s.

Margaret Ann Bianco, the theatre director: “We had a cleaning lady who actually knew Ed when she was a girl, and she saw his ghost regularly. When people didn’t have good energy, Ed would cause a lot of havoc! But now, the energy is very warm and welcoming.” Ed is still a prankster. “We put on children’s summer theatre camps, and it’s become a game to find your lunch wherever Ed has moved it to!”

‘Ed The Ghost’ has a clearly refined artistic taste, too, as he’s known to shut off the lights off if an actor is messing up their lines, or the microphone if a singer is doing poorly.

Whoop-Up - Spook Up

Fort Whoop-Up in Lethbridge is another renowned site of paranormal activity. Apparitions here are often Blackfoot. Ticket takers have seen an old Blackfoot couple dressed in buckskins walk in chatting and go straight into the fort. When sought out, they are nowhere to be found.

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Roth & Ramberg

Southern Alberta is a Pretty Spooky Place

Shortly after paying their admission, two Japanese husbands returned and sat in the gift shop, waiting. Asked why they weren’t exploring the fort, the men said that ‘some native men had refused them entry, but allowed their wives to continue.’

There were no First Nations staff or visitors that day. Doran Degenstein once ran the facility, and holds great respect for Blackfoot tradition about keeping spirit stories to oneself. But his staff members tell of the danger of ‘waking up’ the spirits with after a big Halloween party at the fort, where participants wore shaman costumes and called on spirits.

The next morning, Doran received a phone call informing him that the fort’s doors were open, money was scattered about the floor, and no one was around! When the woman who was on duty that morning was tracked down, she described putting the cash drawer in place and feeling a tug on her skirt. Looking down, she saw a little white girl, who enthusiastically said “Last night was so much fun! When are we going to do it again?”

And then disappeared. The cash box went flying, a scream rang out, and a terrified exit followed!

The Fort is far from the only ‘haunted’ site in Lethbridge. Well known local psychic Elaine Jagielski says most folks get un pleasant vibes from the jail cells in the basement of the old fire hall downtown. Helping any ghosts get what they need, she says – whether a good performance, or a way to find the light at the end of the tunnel – can make everybody’s life, and afterlife, more pleasant!

Maybe our many ghost stories explain the last “Ghost Busters” movie shooting in a home on our prairies. Who ya’ gonna call?

The Ghost Train

The story concerns two conductors on trains heading east of Medicine Hat back in 1908. They saw a train coming right at them, threatening a head-on collision! But the train was not real. The experience so spooked one conductor he quit the railway. It happened twice before the ‘ghost train’ became a real train, with a crash resulting in 7 deaths!

A TV report on the Ghost Train from CHAT-TV can be found on YouTube.

By: Allen Gibson

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Chris Amat

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Chris Amat

Experience Lethbridge

Exploring corners of your province is likely to be a big thing this year, so here’s some tips to use the city of Lethbridge as a base for adventure in Alberta’s southwest.

Just 2.5 hours south of Calgary, Lethbridge is home to over a 100,000 people. The region’s best selection of accommodations are here with the Coast and Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge – two of the higher end offerings. Both also have really good restaurants in-house. Other accommodations choices are at visitlethbridge.com.

In the city itself, Fort Whoop Up and the Nikka Yuko Japanese gardens are worth a visit. The first if you have kids, the gardens if you need a bit of Zen. Their sake-sipping experience will open your taste-buds to the variety of this rice wine.

There are 3 directions to travel from Lethbridge for adventure: West to the Crowsnest, southwest to Waterton National Park, and southeast to Writing On Stone Provincial Park – one of the newest UNESCO World Heritage sites. Each offers their own captivating experiences.

Off to the West

Heading 30 min west after a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a walk around historic downtown Fort Macleod – site of the first fort built by the North West Mounted Police. This is literally where the famous “Musical Ride” began – as a training exercise for bored troopers. A re-creation is run every summer at the fort in town. Main Street still features a bunch of historic buildings and has been featured in many movies.

Continuing west, you will start climbing after Pincher Creek up to the Crowsnest Pass. The pass has held much significance in Canadian history, from its early days as a coal-mining centre for the railway, to the use of the ‘Crow Rate’ which, guaranteed prairie farmers a return on their grain exports for many decades, to the site of the biggest coalmine disaster and land slide in Western Canada. Visitors can explore those massive events at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre and the Bellevue Underground Mine tour. Here, you can learn about the brutal work of coal mining, the potential for death and disaster, and even get to go far enough in to the mine to discover just how cold it is underground, even on a hot summer day! (Con’t pg??)

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Katie Goldie

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Chris Amat

Experience Lethbridge

The guides at both sites are full of great stories and information. And a stop at any of the pubs or historic hotels along the high way will make clear the region’s blue-collar past. This is also a great area for many amazing hikes.

Now to the southeast

Returning to Lethbridge, your next adventure involves a very different drive. Heading southeast on Hwy. 4, you’ll experience the real prairies. Miles of flat fields! In fact, you’ll know you’re approaching Milk River, the turnoff for Writing On Stone, when you see what you’ll swear is a pyramid in the distance! The unique hill is part of what we call the Sweetgrass Hills, a sacred place for generations of Blackfoot.

Everyone who visits Writing on Stone is always affected by the experience. The hoodoos in the valley are eerie and wonderful. A tour to the archeological preserve is recommended. They will take you to the ancient sacred rock art proliferating here.

Last but not least, off to the southwest

Our last adventure involves exploring Waterton Lakes National Park. From Lethbridge, the 1.25 hr drive to Waterton via Cardston is relaxing and scenic, with the multi-coloured fields dotted with cows and horses eventually giving way to a lovely stretch of curvy highway from the hamlet of Mountain View to the park gates. Keep your eyes open for wildlife in this section, especially around dusk.

For full details on the many options for hiking, or eating, in Waterton, see our full guide to the park. But the two prime options to consider booking ahead are a boat trip down the lake with Shoreline Cruises, or a hike on one of the many trails. Hike options can be a half hour walk from town, to a grueling 8-hour adventure tackling the Akamina Ridge. The folks at Tamarack outfitters offer a shuttle service that lets you leave your car in town and then hike back to it.

By: Allen Gibson

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta/ Katie Goldie

A Coffee Table Book

Containing Dinosaur Illustrations

We’d like to know how we did and learn how we can better serve your needs. Please complete and return the following short questionnaire for a chance to Win.

Where did you pick up this travel guide?

What were your expectations?

Did we deliver? 1 2 3 4 5 What did you like best?

Are you travelling in the region now? Yes No

If yes, what were the highlights of your visit: If not, do you plan to within the next 12 months?

What would you like to see us add to the 2023 edition?

How many adults are travelling in your party? Age Range

How many children are travelling with you? How are you travelling? Car / Truck RV Motorcycle Bus Tour Where are staying? Family/friends Camping Hotel/Motel Other

Will you and your friends re-use this guide in the future? Yes No

Have you accessed the guide online? Yes No

Full Name: Phone # Email or Address: City

Thank you for participating in this survey. In appreciation for completing and mailing this survey, you will be entered into the prize draw described above. The winner will be randomly selected by Experience Publishing on December 31, 2022.

Experience South Central Alberta

If you visit Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, 18 km northwest of Fort Macleod, your journey through the picturesque and historic southern Alberta is really just beginning.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump has an excellent interpretative centre west of Hwy 2 and is one of the world’s oldest buffalo jumps. Known for its remarkable preservation of prehistoric life, the site bears witness to the technique of harvesting buffalo practiced by indigenous people of the North American plains for nearly 6,000 years. With its elaborate drive lane complex and deep archaeological deposits still intact it was designated a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1981.

A visit to nearby Fort Macleod - located on the east/west Hwy 3 at the junction of the north/south Hwy 2 is a good next choice.

The town of Fort Macleod and historic fort site are at the roots of settlement in Western Canada. Founded in 1874 with the arrival of the North West Mounted Police, led by Colonel James F. Macleod, Fort Macleod became the headquarters of the first law and order in what then was known as the North West Territories of Canada.

The area was being threatened by the disruptive and unlawful practices of the American whiskey traders who were trading deadly “firewater” for buffalo robes, wolf skins, and other items of value. The arrival of the NWMP put an end to the illicit trade within the Blackfoot, Blood, and Piegan Indian territory. While on a broader scale, the presence of the federal mounted police in the region, discouraged any thoughts by the United States of possibly annexing the Canadian territory.

To learn more, be sure to visit The Fort Museum of the NWMP and First Nations Interpretive Centre. Throughout the summer they showcase the world-renowned NWMP Musical Ride four times each day! The Fort Museum has also received numerous awards including the prestigious Canadian Signature Experience.

Travelling east from Fort Macleod, visitors brush the northern edge of the Kainai Nation which is commonly known as the Blood Reserve. It’s the largest first nations reserve in Canada which covers about 1,414 km² (approx 350,000 acres). With a population of about 12,000, the Kainai speak a language of the Algonquian linguistic group; their dialect is closely related to

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta/ Katie Goldie

Photo Courtesy of Neil Zeller @neil_zee

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Jeremy Fokkens

Experience South Central Alberta

those of the Siksika and Piegan. They are one of three nations comprising the Blackfoot Confederacy.

While Lethbridge is ahead on the horizon, travellers can also swing north for a stop in Picture Butte about 27 km north of Lethbridge. Known as the “Livestock Feeding Capital of Canada”, this small town is also home to the Coyote Flats Pioneer Village. The collection of history here does not simply include pictures and the items used during those times. It’s an assembly of the stories, buildings, and artifacts actually used by the region’s early settlers who shaped our history. Walk the streets and experience the history written about in books.

Agriculture is a mainstay industry of Alberta and travelling north and around the city of Lethbridge brings the visitor through the heart of what’s known as Feedlot Alley - a nick name given to a 500 km² area known for its intensive livestock operations. It’s home to over 2.3 million beef cattle as well as hog, dairy and poultry operations. Feedlot Alley produces 60 per cent of all Canadian beef.

You’ll notice in your travels around Lethbridge that you are in irrigation country. The very first irrigation systems were

established with the skill of Mormon farmers who immigrated to Canada from Utah in the late 1800s. The Alberta irrigation zone covers 625,000 hectares. Although irrigation represents only six per cent of the cultivated acres, they account for 19 per cent of the agricultural production.

Continuing east from Picture Butte takes travellers through the diversified and more intensively farmed communities of Coaldale and Taber. And swinging south and west from Taber, will bring you to the town of Cardston, settled by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) in the late 1800s. The Cardston LDS Temple, completed in 1923 and located on about five acres just off Main Street, is the oldest temple outside of the United States. From Cardston it is about a 50-minute drive north to Lethbridge on Hwy 5.

The city of Lethbridge offers visitors a wide range of historic, cultural and entertainment attractions. It is described as a gateway to both the Canadian Badlands to the east and the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains to the west, Lethbridge is considered a cultural centre, celebrating arts and history through festivals, exhibits and centres.

By: Lee Hart

A Fully-Charged Roadtrip

If you’re one of the adventurous early-adapters who happens to owns a hybrid or electric vehicle, or one of the 63% who are contemplating going electric, we’ve got some good news. It is now completely possible to take that romantic weekend escape from the city to Waterton park, or pretty much anywhere in southern Alberta, without worrying about where your next plugin is going to be.

That’s thanks to the efforts of the “Peaks to Prairies” initiative, which now has a solid network of charging stations all the way from Calgary to Waterton, and throughout southern Alberta. Their expanded network now makes over 1,400 kms of highway accessible. So your next road trip can offer lasting memories because the group has made sure to site its “FLO” charging stations within walking distance of fun things to see and do.

Heading south from Calgary, you’ll find chargers on all the major highways. But for sheer scenic beauty and wonderfully sweeping driving, hit Hwy 22, the ‘Cowboy Trail.’ You can charge up in Longview, and enjoy a burger at the hotel – keep an eye out for cowboys with spurs on. Or, if you’re really lucky,

maybe you can book dinner at the Longview steak house, which is considered one of Alberta’s best.

Other chargers are located at Chain Lakes Reservoir, Pincher Creek, and of course Waterton townsite. Easy peasey.

After a night or two in Waterton, where you will be thrilled to discover the quality of food on offer has risen markedly in the past few years, you can take yet another gorgeous highway to get home. Head east to Cardston – a charge plus a stop at the Remington Carriage Museum will have you really appreciating your modern transportation! Then head north to Fort Macleod for lunch on main street. From Chinese to the bakery to the new brew pub, this picturesque little town will also please the taste buds! While there, check out the Empress Theatre, one of Southern Alberta’s most-haunted sites!

If a little antiquing is your perfect end to a weekend getaway, then keep heading north to Nanton. Maybe a stop to see the Bomber Command museum and it’s amazing WWII Lancaster bomber – one of the few left in the world that still flies!

Photo Courtesy of Robin Laurenson

A Fully-Charged Roadtrip

If you’d rather check out some First Nation’s history, then drive on over to Hwy 23, and head for the tipi rings alongside the highway in the river valley just past Carmangay. This sleepy hamlet also has a charger. And a side trip down Township Road 140 to the east will bring you to herds of buffalo, wind farms, and fantastic views of the mountains and fields.

Another Option: Writing On Stone

If you have an extra day to travel, Writing on Stone Unesco World Heritage Site is now in range. You can get there the back way from Waterton via Cardston and hwy 501 for a charge in Milk River, before heading further east to the park. Be sure to take one of the guided tours in to the archeological preserve as to really appreciate the rock art history, and how the NWMP fort was sited specifically to disrupt the religious significance of this area to the Blackfoot.

Hwy 4 will take you back to Lethbridge miles of lovely prairie. Overnight in Lethbridge, and enjoy a walk around Henderson Lake and maybe a sake tasting at the lovely Japanese garden.

Experience Waterton Lakes National Park

Established in 1895, Waterton Lakes National Park is an ideal destination for hikers, campers or anyone who just wants to relax and enjoy the scenery.

It is a unique park capturing the edge of the Alberta prairie grasslands and then within a kilometre rises to icy mountain peaks nearly 3000 m high. The three Waterton Lakes, nestling between two mountain ranges, are more than 150 m deep, the deepest in the Rockies. The northern, lower end of the main lake is in Canada, while southern, upper end of the lake is in Montana's Glacier National Park.

Oil exploration and mining were part of its early history with the first drilling rig in western Canada operating on Cameron Creek. The Western Coal and Oil Company of Vancouver were responsible for the first settlement, now the Waterton townsite. Oil and mining activities were shut down within a few years, as the park began to develop its tourism industry.

In 1932, this park was united with Montana's Glacier National Park to create the world's first international peace park. In 1995 the two areas were declared a World Heritage Site based on the exceptionally rich plant and mammal diversity, and on the outstanding glacial and alpine scenery.

A visit to Waterton Lakes National Parks today offers a variety of serviced & wilderness camping opportunities, and extensive hiking opportunities among breathtaking landscapes.

The hamlet of Waterton nestled against the lakeshore, offers year-round hotel, dining, and shopping opportunities. Across the bay from the hamlet on a hill overlooking the lake is the iconic, 86 room, Prince of Wales Hotel, built in 1927 by Great Northern Railway of United States. There are a number of websites providing details on all the parks attractions, facilities and events. Visit: mywaterton.ca.

By: Lee Hart

Tucked away in the southwest corner of Alberta, is one of the gems of Canada’s national park system - Waterton Lakes National Park.

Photo Courtesy of Holly Heuver

Experience Waterton Lakes National Park

Take a Hike

You can’t come to the park without going on at least one hike! Favourite trails include the easy and rewarding Bertha Falls, the inspiring Crypt Lake Trail for thrill-seekers, the close to town Cameron Falls, and the favourite day hike Red Rock Canyon. These hikes are just the tip of the iceberg in the park, with so many more to keep even the most experienced hiker busy.

Rent a Kayak

If you’re not into fishing, boating, or lounging on the beach, try a different water activity! Kayaks, paddleboards and canoe rentals are available right in town at Blakiston & Co. Being right in the water allows you to be fully immersed in the rugged and breathtaking landscapes of Waterton.

Visit the Red Chairs

Parks Canada installed red Adirondack chairs across the whole country and they have quickly become a Canadian staple. Waterton has five of their very own chairs at Marina Point, Birder’s pull-out, Middle Lake boat launch, and 2 along the Lakeshore Trail. If you find a chair, snap a picture and use #sharethechair on your social media feeds.

Watch Some Wildlife

From the trails to the sidewalks in town, wildlife is abundant in Waterton. Bighorn sheep, deer, and other small animals can be seen wandering close to town and among the trails, while elk and mule deer are more commonly seen in the grasslands. Rarer sights include black bears, cougars, bobcats, moose, or lynx! Please remember to maintain a respectful distance when viewing all wildlife.

Try a Parks Canada Activity

Parks Canada offers free seasonal activities for all ages! These Activities include guided bird walks, campfire programs, after dark trail walks, photography lessons, discovery activities for children, and much more. Check out their website to see what they are offering when you’re in town! Visit pc.gc.ca

Remember to keep in mind that some areas of Waterton Lakes National Park remain closed due to the 2017 Kenow Wildfire, though the town remains unaffected. Always check to see what is open and available. Visit mywaterton.ca

Story and Photos By Holly Heuver

Experience Pincher Creek

You won’t find too many more towns in southern Alberta with a deeper connection to the beginning of white man settlement of The West and early ranching days than Pincher Creek.

Located about a 2.5 hr south of Calgary, the community sits on the open prairie just at the edge of foothills leading to the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountain range.

It was an area well used by clans of the Blackfoot, Peigan and Kootenai tribes long before white men “discovered” it in the late 1860s. It was named after an early member of the North West Mounted Police found a pair of rusty pinchers, a tool used for trimming horse’s feet, in the creek around 1874. It was believed that, prospectors years earlier, probably lost the tool.

The North West Mounted Police established a post and horse farm near a creek crossing in 1876. And when several of those constables completed their five years of service they essentially retired and remained in the area to try their hand at ranching. Thus, a settlement was started.

Pincher Creek has somewhat of a bitter/sweet connection to the ranching industry. It was only because the vast herds of buffalo had virtually disappeared from the prairie landscape, that some of the early ranching interests - pushing north from the United States - ventured to bring cattle into Canada.

Finding good prairie grass and strong Chinook winds that kept the range open and free from snow, the area was regarded as good ranching country. By 1878 there were about 1,000 head of cattle in the Pincher Creek to the Fort Macleod area. The industry would continue to grow.

Today Pincher Creek is a vibrant community of about 3,600 people, with modern shopping facilities, hotels and restaurants. It’s a popular launch point for visitors heading further west for year-round recreation activities - including skiing at Castle Mountain ski resort in winter, along with camping, hiking and excellent fishing opportunities during the other three seasons.

By: Lee Hart

Photo Couresy of Travel Alberta/ Neil Zeller @neil_zee

Paved road all the way - 10 min north on Hwy. 785 near Pincher Creek. Open 9-5 from mid-May to Sept. 1st. HeritageAcres.org

Experience Some of the Best Hiking Trails

Discover the diverse landscape of Southern Alberta across mountain ranges, badlands, native grasslands, canyons, and coulees. Walk back in history at the site of the tragic Frank rockslide, hike amongst the hoodoos along the Milk River, or experience one of the world’s most exciting trails with a boat shuttle to the trailhead in Waterton. This, and more, awaits you on your hiking tour around Southern Alberta.

Crowsnest Pass

Step back in time to explore the area around the Frank Slide, Canada’s deadliest rockslide. There are options for all abilities here as you hike through and above the giant slide path.

Turtle Mountain and the area around the Frank Slide Known by the First Nations as the “mountain that moves,” Turtle Mountain is responsible for the rockslide of 1903 that buried the small mining town of Frank with over 100 million tonnes of rock. Learn more and take some short pathways at the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre.

Strong hikers can hike to the north peak of Turtle Mountain in a 7 km return hike with 900+ metres of height gain. It’s also

possible to follow the ridge on Turtle Mountain to reach the higher south summit where the slide began.

If you want to climb Turtle Mountain be prepared for loose scree, steep hiking, and some exposure. Hiking poles and good sturdy boots will be your best friends on this adventure along with solid route finding skills.

Castle Provincial Park Explore Castle Provincial Park, Alberta’s newest designated provincial park located near Pincher Creek.

Table Mountain rises above Beaver Mines Lake where there’s a nice campground with 5 rustic cabins and 90+ sites for RVs and tents. And some darn good fishing!

Table Mountain is a 10 km return hike with 800 m of height gain. It is a great for fit hikers who can handle a steep climb. The hike takes you to a wide flat-topped plateau where you can either go left towards the Western Plateau or right towards the true summit. Either direction provides jaw-dropping views down to the lake as you peer over the edge of sheer cliffs.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park

Table Mountain

Experience Some of the Best Hiking Trails

Expect some route finding and watch for trail markers through sections of loose scree. I recommend hiking poles for the steep descent along with a good pair of boots. This mountain is also very exposed along the plateau so avoid it on windy days.

Waterton Lakes National Park

Discover beautiful waterfalls and marvel in the abundance of wildflowers found in this park.

Crypt Lake is rated as one of the World’s 20 Most Thrilling Trails, the Crypt Lake trailhead is reached by a 15 min boat ride across Upper Waterton Lake. Tickets can be purchased at the marina from the Waterton Shoreline Cruise Co. and it’s recommended that you get your tickets at least an hour in advance (or even the day before.)

The Crypt Lake Trail is an 18 km return hike with 700 m of elevation gain. Highlights of this hike include 4 spectacular waterfalls, a ladder climb to a 18 m tunnel you’ll hike through, an exposed ledge with cable hand line, and finally the lake itself, hidden in a hanging valley. Going further, a rough track circles the lake where you cross the US border into Montana. Expect steep hiking past the third set of falls and be bear-aware

at all times. Bring bear spray, hike in a group, and make lots of noise throughout your hike.

Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park Hike through a landscape of hoodoos, coulees, sandstone cliffs, and prairie grasslands as you explore the Alberta Badlands.

The Hoodoo Trail takes you on a search for petroglyphs and pictographs etched and painted on the rock along the trail. The hike has a few with stairs and steep sections, but it’s a great trail for those camping at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.

The 4.5 km return hike is very family-friendly, and kids will have fun scrambling on the rocks beside the trail. Note that the trail can get exceptionally hot in summer, so I recommend waking up early for this one and then spending the afternoon at the campground beach. You can also cool off by floating down the river from the campground down to the beach.

For those wanting to camp, you’ll find a great campground here with 60+ sites, some with power, two group use areas, and three canvas wall tents for comfort camping.

Photos and Story By: Tanya Koob

Tested for the jobs and joys of life in Canada.

Experience Diamond Valley

An important gateway to Kananaskis Country, the towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley are located right on The Cowboy Trail and are steeped in western culture. This area is surrounded by recreational opportunities and people here are wonderful hosts to weary travellers of all ages.

At the turn of the 20th century, settlers moved here because high grade coal was discovered in the area. Even though coal is no longer mined here, “the world’s largest black diamond” is displayed on Centre Avenue. Rub it for luck!

Located just 35 min southwest of Calgary, at the junction of Hwys 7 & 22, Black Diamond is just 15 min north of Longview and 5 min east of Turner Valley. The Chamber of Commerce here represents both communities, so by combining the names of the two towns, it goes by the name of Diamond Valley.

That’s how we like to refer to them, because “Diamond” may refer to the many wonderful gems you’ll find here: artwork, jewellery, gifts, hand-crafted home decor, specialty clothing and a variety of great cafes & restaurants. And the pace here is much calmer than in the big city.

Rusty Davidson has been travelling the world for over 40 years. He and his brother started importing the indigenous art styles of the Middle East, Asia, and South America before adding Teak Root furniture, colourful kites from Indonesia, Java, and Bali. Their collection is displayed at the Black Diamond Gallery.

Time stands still at Marv’s Classic Soda Shop. It’s a 50s diner and authentic soda fountain. The ambience will stir the heart of any senior and all those who enjoy a handmade hamburger and home-cut fries. You may not find a better milkshake!

Don’t be surprised if you see a dozen motorcycles parked just outside of the historic Black Diamond Hotel. The owners have just finished a soul-filling ride through the amazing landscapes in the area. Now, they’ve stopped for a pint and a hearty meal.

You may notice a few changes since you were last here. The owners of The Westwood moved into the building south of the hotel. Check out their Sunday Brunch.

Karen sold the Bluerock Gallery to an employee, so we’re not seeing big changes. They specialize in high quality handmade crafts created by Alberta artists. (See page 44 for more)

Many local events in Diamond Valley are held at Millennium Park which is located in downtown Turner Valley. Come soak up the sun. For more info visit: visitblackdiamond.ca

Turner Valley is also home to several restaurants, including the Chuckwagon Cafe which has received Calgary’s Best Burger award, twice. The Chuckwagon’s Flat Iron Eggs Benedict was featured on “You Gotta Eat Here”. This cafe is a very popular spot for breakfast and lunch. American tourists love it because they’ll receive a fair exchange rate on their US dollars, too.

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Colin Way Couple drinking beers on the patio at Westwood.

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta A Family is having ice-cream at Marv’s Classic Soda Shoppe in Black Diamond.

Experience Diamond Valley

Chuckwagon Cafe

Here is one of those terrific hidden gems along the Cowboy Trail.

Winner of “Calgary’s Best Burger” awarded by Avenue Magazine for 2 years in a row.

Featured for their “Flat Iron Eggs Benedict” on the TV Show “You Gotta Eat Here” produced by the Food Network Canada.

Look for the little red barn at the 4-way stop in Turner Valley.

Open at 8 AM daily. Ph: 403-933-0003

Photo Courtesy of Travel Alberta / Roth and Ramberg Friends looking at a map on main street in Black Diamond

Southern Alberta Golf Swing

Many golfers would say that the setting, the beauty of the land scape as a whole, plays a pivotal role in the enjoyment of the game. Play a round on some cramped, condo-lined course in an urban setting and the experience is bound to be diminished. But if you’re out there in the rolling hills, if you’re smashing balls against snow-dipped mountains or golden river valleys, everything is elevated. You’ve got something to remember. And this is why golf in southern Alberta is so special.

Without a doubt, the rural ways - the agriculture, the smalltown charms, the down-to-earth way of life - is central to Southern Alberta. It’s noticeable everywhere you go. The golf course included.

Rest assured you won’t find many $200 green fees in southern Alberta. (In Banff or Canmore you might, but that’s a different ball game!) You won’t find stringent dress codes, valet parking, and caddy programs. What you will find are dozens of scenic, unpretentious courses that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to play. Courses that you will, most definitely, find memorable!

Of course, given there are dozens of excellent courses in the region, it’s certainly not always easy to decide where to play. Not a bad problem to have! So, unless you have a free month for an extended golf junket, you won’t be able to play them all. My advice? Start with these.

Speargrass Golf Course, Carseland

Parading beside the rolling wheat fields right before the riveting finishing run along the heaving banks of the Bow River, Spear grass is a prairie links of the finest order. But, more than that, it epitomizes what golf in southern Alberta is all about. Even though there are some set-back homes in the development, a wide-open aura prevails. There are mountains in the distance. The undulating fairways roll along like the wheat fields. And the dramatic landforms along the banks of the river punctuate

the experience. To top it off, the architect of the course, Gary Browning, fashioned a variety-filled layout bolstered by huge greens, wide fairways (expect some wind!), massive bunkers, and plenty of heroic shot options. Course conditions are always superb here. And, for the good player who drives it well, there are birdies and eagles to be had. Especially if you get the course on a calm day!

Crowsnest Pass Golf Club

Not surprisingly, as the newest mountain golf course in the country, the Crowsnest Pass Golf Club has received plenty of hype since it opened in 2019. And it’s certainly justified! The brand new back nine, which was designed by Gary Browning, is mountain golf at its finest. Combined with a beautiful new clubhouse (now located up the hill and off the highway) that has majestic mountain views, the golf experience at Crowsnest Pass has suddenly vaulted into the upper tier in the province. During your scenic round, expect beautiful downhill holes, gorgeous ponds that reflect the snow-capped peaks, a number of short, strategic par-4s, and the desire to do it all over again the moment you step off the 18th green.

McKenzie Meadows Golf Course, Calgary

Although McKenzie Meadows is situated in south Calgary, its setting in Fish Creek Provincial Park, on a pretty swath of riverside land, gives it a quiet and pastoral feel. The layout, which features plenty of ponds but ample room to play, is ideal for the average recreational player who may not possess professiona level power or laser-straight accuracy. In other words, there is forgiveness! I’ve always thought that the golf industry needs more courses like this one. Anyone can play it! Also, if you want to work on your game, there is no better practice area in the entire city. The double-sided range is 350-yards long and features a spacious grass tee deck, huge practice putting green, practice bunker, and a large chipping and pitching area. In other words, you can perfect every part of your game here!

Southern Alberta Golf Swing

Water Valley Golf & Country Club

Routed through thick pockets of pine and aspen glades, with no development framing the playing corridors, the Water Valley Golf & Country Club has a character and ambiance, which is truly special. It’s about as quiet and peaceful as golf gets. And the course, which was designed by the proprietor, Brian Setter, is sneaky good and always boasts excellent turf conditions. Although not overlong (it’s 6,610-yards from the tips), the rolling layout seems to have just the right amount of challenge so par players will have their hands full and the recreational players can still post a decent score. But you do want to have an accurate tee game! The large wrap-around deck overlooking the action is a great place for a beer and a burger after your round. Water Valley is located approximately 20 minutes north of Cochrane, so it’s an easy day from Calgary.

Pincher Creek Golf Club

Contrary to the opinions of some die-hard golfers, not every great golf experience requires an 18-hole course. Truth be told, there are many excellent 9-hole courses in southern Alberta.

For example, if you make the scenic drive to Pincher Creek, you’ll be rewarded with an excellent 9-hole course serving up beautiful mountain views and cruises along an aerie bluff above the creek. And, considering a 9-hole round takes half the time, you’ll have plenty of daylight left over to explore the area. A stop at the charming Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village or a short hike and some ice cream in nearby Waterton Lakes National Park are two options to consider.

Testing your game on a brand new course and visiting a place, a cool little prairie town, a beautiful river valley, a tucked-away coulee, is one of the great benefits of being an avid golfer. And Southern Alberta is full of such places! In fact, these five excellent courses hardly scratch the surface. Take a tour with your Titleists – to places such as Turner Valley, Magrath, Coaldale, Picture Butte, Drumheller, Stettler, and Cardston, just to name a few more – and you’ll find out for yourself that Southern Alberta yields dozens of scenic golf experiences that you’ll never forget.

and Story By: Andrew Penner

Photo

Campground Directory

NOTE: For 2022 open and close dates are subject to change as well as the number of available sites. Visit AlbertaParks.ca for up to date information

Bow River

Three Sisters

May 3 | Nov. 18 $28/$40 66 59 • 403-673-2163

Apr. 13 | Nov. 18 $26 36 • • 403-673-2163

Lac Des Arcs May 3 | Sept. 2 $26 28 • • • (28) 1-877-537-2757

Bow Valley May 3 | Oct. 7 $26/$40 173 131 • • • • • • (156) 1-877-537-2757

Willow Rock

Apr. 19 | Oct. 21 $26/$33 124 34 • • • • • 403-673-2163

Sundance Lodges May 17 | Sept. 22 $31.50 30 • • • • (30) 403-591-7122

Mt. Kidd R.V. Park

Eau Claire

Year round $32.50/41/43/48 229 74 35 88 • • • • • • (229) 403-591-7700

May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 51 • 403-591-7226

Sibbald Lake May 3 | Oct. 7 $26 134 • • 403-673-2163

Dawson Equestrian

Canyon

Year round $26 10 • 403-673-2163

June 14 | Sept. 2 $26 50 • 403-591-7226

Elkwood May 9 | Oct. 14 $26/$40 130 69 • • • • • • (130) 1-877-537-2757

Boulton Creek May 9 | Oct. 14 $26/$39 118 35 • • • • • (118) 1-877-537-2757

Lower Lake May 15 | Sept. 15 $26 95 • 403-591-7226

Mt. Sarrail

Interlakes

June 21 | Sept. 2 $26 44 tent • 403-591-7226

May 15 | Oct. 14 $26 48 • 403-591-7226

Spray Lakes West May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 50 • 403-591-7226

Beaver Flats

May 15 | Sept. 3 $26 55 • 403-949-3132

Gooseberry May 1 | Oct. 8 $26 85 • 403-949-3132

Little Elbow May 15 | Sep. 16 $26 94 • • (41) 1-877-537-2757

Little Elbow Equest. May 15 | Sep. 16 $32 46 • • (24) 1-877-537-2757

McLean Creek Year round $26/$33 170 96 • • • • • • (170) 1-877-537-2757

Paddy’s Flat May 15| Sept. 17 $26 98 • 403-949-3132

Mesa Butte Equest. May 15 | Sept. 10 $33 15 • 403-949-3132

North Fork

May 15 | Sept. 10 $26 34 • 403-949-3132

Fisher Creek Year round $26 30 • 403-949-3132

Bluerock

May 15 | Sept. 17 $26 66 • 403-949-3132

Bluerock Equest. May 15 | Sept. 17 $33 17 • 403-949-3132

Sandy McNabb

May 1 | Oct. 8 $33 112 112 • • • • 403-949-3132

Sandy McNabb Equest. May 1 | Oct. 8 $39/$40 41 21 • • • • 403-949-3132

Cataract Creek

May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 102 • 403-591-7226

Etherington Creek May 16 | Sept. 15 $26 61 • • (29) 1-877-537-2757

Etherington Creek Equest. May 16 | Sept. 15 $33 10 • 403-591-7226

Greenford May 15 | Sept. 2 $26 13 • • 403-591-7226

Indian Graves Regular May 16 | Sept. 2 $26 32 • • • (32) 403-995-5554

Indian Graves Equestrian May 16 | Sept. 2 $26 6 • • (6) 403-995-5554

Strawberry Regular & Equestrian Sept. 2 | Nov. 30 $26/$33 20 • 403-591-7226

Burnt Timber May 1 | Sept. 3 $308 30 • 403-637-2198

Fallen Timber South May 1 | Oct. 8 $308 55 • • (35) 403-637-2198

North Ghost May 1 | Oct. 8 $308 169 • • • (90) 403-637-2198

Waiparous Creek May 1 | Oct. 9 $308 53 • • • (25) 403-637-2198

Ghost Reservoir May 1 | Oct. 14 $26 80 • 403-851-0766

Red Deer River North May 1 | Sept. 16 $308 14 • • 403-637-2198

Red Deer River South May 1 | Sept. 16 $308 50 • • (20) 403-637-2198

James-Wilson May 1 | Sept. 16 $308 17 • • (17) 403-637-2198

Fallen Timber North May 1 | Oct. 8 $308 34 • • • 403-637-2198

Cartier Creek Apr. 28 | Sept. 18 $20 12 • 403-637-2198

Spring Hill RV Park, Cochrane springhillrvpark.com | 403-932-2010

Open Year Round | 121 Sites | Fees: $42

Ammenities: Flush Toilets, Showers, Sani Dump, Disabled Access, Firepits. Located 7km north of Cochrane.

Emerson Bridge Park, Brooks and Area countyofnewell.ab.ca | 403-362-1702

Open May 20 - Sept 20 | 65 Sites | Fees: $15 - $30

Potable water available. First come First Serve. 30 min from Dinosaur Provincal Park, 60 min fromRoyal Tyrrell Museum

Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site pc.gc.ca/rockymountainhouse | 1-877-737-3783

Open May 14 – September 30

45 Sites | Fees: $26.06 - $122.64

Ammenities: Flush Toilets, Showers, Disabled Access, Interpretive Program, Firepits

Discover a historic fur trade post along the North Saskatchewan River. Experience interactive exhibits, a play fort, wild bison viewing, hiking and biking trails, friendly heritage presenters, and more. Stay awhile.

NATURE DEFINES US

Our country is filled with some of the most amazing natural habitats in the world. It’s what makes Canada, Canada – and it’s why we’ve spent more than 50 years protecting our irreplaceable natural spaces and the wildlife that they sustain.

Get Involved

Get outdoors: Find out which NCC properties you can visit in your area. connect2nature.ca

Spend a day in the field: Become a Conservation Volunteer conservationvolunteers.ca

Help lead the way: Become a Leader in Conservation natureconservancy.ca/ab-lic

Photo

Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden

Red Rock Canyon - Waterton Lakes National Park