The Cowboy Trail
Alberta’s Pioneer West is Alive and Well by Melissa MacDougall
The infamous Cowboy Trail carves a pathway through Alberta history and is the culmination of everything that is extraordinary about the province. Framed by the eastern slopes of the Rockies, sprawling forests and vast rolling grasslands, The Cowboy Trail is synonymous with the birth of Alberta’s economy. It was along this emblazoned path that fur trade routes, classic storybook ranches, oilfields and wind turbines were developed - each representing their own era of economic progress. The landscape stretches 700 kilometres, from Cardston in the south to Mayerthorpe in the north, and, today, is essentially the backbone of the region.
Not your average escape from the rat- race, The Cowboy Trail takes you back to the Old West, melding unrivaled majesty with countless activities and attractions suited for all ages. Horseback trail rides, farm and ranch vacations, guest ranches, western- themed attractions, historic sites and western-themed shopping are all part of this historic route. South of Calgary, visitors can expect to find the revered ranches of Porcupine Hills where the deep stillness is palpable and the population is sparse.
A string of events takes place throughout the summer season. Waterton Lakes National Park and the Great Canadian Barn Dance - complete with country dinners and the time-honoured tradition of barn dancing - are just two of the must-see events you should consider. Conversely, you can stop in for a day or two at a dude ranch and experience the cowboy life up front and personal, while the Icefield Helicopter Tours will take you on an intimate tour of the iconic glaciers that the region is so widely recognized for.
For a back-to-the-country experience, guests of the Homeplace Ranch, near Priddis, are met out front by the MaKenny family upon arrival and
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57 Trail Ride - Travel Alberta Photo
treated to home-style cooking and ultra comfortable just-like-grandma-made-it beds. Wake up to a hearty breakfast and take off by horseback to explore miles of wilderness and grassland trails.
Further down the route, you’ll find Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site, where you can take in detailed perspective and the infinite wisdom of noted Canadian pioneer explorer, David Thompson.
Once deemed one of the province’s most popular and influential ranches, the Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, located south of Longview, was home to the true-to-life cowboys that opened the west, wrangled cattle, roped wild mustangs and stomped the jig to violin and jug serenade on the clapboard
floors of the proverbial local tavern. Now this rich and important historical site calls attention to Alberta’s admirable legacy with a handsome tribute that includes horse-drawn wagon rides and campfires.
Illustrating the raw and impressive power of mother-earth, The Frank Slide Interpretative Centre, on the Crowsnest Pass Highway, pays homage to the April 29, 1903 slide where 90 million tons of rock cracked off the summit of Turtle Mountain and plummeted down into the valley below, burying the thriving town of Frank, Alberta.
For more information visit: http://www.
thecowboytrail.com/index.html
rvsnowbirds.com
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