Our cabin rental is located in Southern Alberta which is as beautiful as it is diverse, offering much to see and do. Here are some of our favorite day trip ideas.
Waterton Lakes National Park
Just over an hour away, the prairies of Alberta meet the peaks of the mountains in one of the most beautiful destinations in the Canadian Rockies, Waterton Lakes National Park.
Waterton Lakes National park is delightful in every season. The park is full of amazing trails and breathtaking scenery. The town itself boasts many fun touristy stores on a picturesque main street. You can rent a bike, hike a mountain, gaze at the waterfalls, take a scenic lake cruise, watch for wildlife, or go on a guided horseback trail ride. As beautiful as Banff without the crowds.
The park is open year round and the winter season begins in November and usually stretches into April. During this time most of the facilities in the park are closed (heated washrooms and running water are available at the Firehall and Cameron Falls in the community). Please remember that fees are charged to enter all of our National Parks.
Website: mywaterton.ca
Crowsnest Pass
The Crowsnest Pass or “The Pass” as the locals call it, includes the five historic mining towns of Bellevue, Blairmore, Frank, Hillcrest and Coleman. It is about an hour drive from Fort Macleod.
This area is full of history, outdoor adventures, and nice restaurants. Explore the Bellevue Underground Mine (open May to September) where you are equipped with a miner’s helmet and lamp and taken right into an underground coal mine. The Frank Slide Interpretive center gives a good overview of the mining history of the area and the Turtle Mountain slide that buried most of the town of Frank in 1903.
There are over 20 hikes to enjoy – varying degrees of difficulty from easy to difficult, an excellent path system, and biking. A great place to get outside and enjoy nature!
Website: crowsnestpass.com
Allison Creek Falls
The Allison Creek Falls hike is located within the Crowsnest Pass and in the Chinook Provincial Recreational Area. This delightful trail takes you across the creek at four different times on pretty, little, newly constructed bridges. Sometimes you are walking in the trees and sometimes along the creek. Good for all skill levels, this walk is fairly easy and short. The view of the gorgeous tiered waterfalls at the end is absolutely worth the effort. Chinook Lake is just a short walk further.
Lundbreck Falls
About 45 minutes west of Fort Macleod on Highway 3, you will find the gorgeous hidden gem, Lundbreck Falls. Here the rushing Crowsnest River plunges 12 m (39 ft) into a deep pool in the canyon below. It is located just a few kilometers off the main road and very easy to access.
Watch the powerful falls from the observation platform and then walk down into the limestone gorge for a closer look. In winter months you can view the falls when ice crystals form and make a magical frozen display.
North Drywood Falls
North Drywood Falls is an easy hike within Castle Wildland Provincial Park, just south of Pincher Creek. Most of the trail is a road walk up until the falls. It is lightly trafficked and with a slight upward elevation gain of about 200 m and therefore good for all skill levels.. It is about 8.5 km in total length to the falls and back.
The hike is scenic with gorgeous mountain views all the way. The falls at the end are stunning, a destination totally worth the effort! The falls also makes a great swimming spot on a hot summer day. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a beautiful day in the mountains.
Writing on Stone Provincial Park
About an hour and 45 minutes away from Fort Macleod, you can visit the unique and historic Writing on Stone Provincial Park (also a UNESCO World Heritage Site). The park contains the greatest concentration of rock art in North America. There are over 50 petroglyph sites and thousands of works. It is a wonderful place for hiking and climbing. The river has an amazing sandy beach. Free entrance for day use and a great place to paddle board or tube down the shallow river.
Glacier National Park (Montana)
If you’ve brought your passport, a great day trip option is visiting Glacier National Park in Montana. Explore glacial-carved mountain peaks and valleys, cascading waterfalls and the iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is the road which runs through the heart of the park and crests the Continental Divide at Logan Pass. The park is open year-round. It offers sightseeing, wildlife watching, fall foliage, boating, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, bicycling, and fine dining. The Going-to-the-Sun road does close due to weather usually from mid-October through end of June.
