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Offered languages
- English
- English
Drive from the Calgary area along Alberta’s Cowboy Trail into Waterton Lakes National Park, where ranchland gives way to mountain lakes and waterfalls. Allow 6–7 hours for the roughly 350 km route, with more distance and time for optional parkway detours and stops. This self-guided smartphone tour has 56 mapped itinerary entries and 60+ GPS-triggered Tripvia stories, including the Okotoks Erratic, Bar U Ranch, Lundbreck Falls, Red Rock Canyon and Cameron Lake.
Download the tour before departure for offline audio and a live GPS route map. Drive in your own vehicle, pause whenever you like and explore at your own pace; there is no in-person guide. Park admission and optional attraction entry are separate. Red Rock Parkway, the Bison Paddock Loop and vehicle access to Cameron Lake are seasonal, so check road conditions before travel.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
Start the self-guided drive on Highway 2A south of Calgary and follow the Cowboy Trail toward Waterton. There is no in-person meeting or guide.
Finish at Cameron Lake at the end of Akamina Parkway when vehicle access is open; in winter, enjoy the audio tour as far as road access permits.
Itinerary
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(Pass by)
Follow Alberta’s Cowboy Trail through ranchland and foothill scenery toward Waterton Lakes National Park.
Admission ticket free -
Okotoks (Pass by)
Pass through Okotoks, a foothill town with riverside paths and a lively arts scene.
Admission ticket free -
Okotoks Erratic - The Big Rock (Pass by)
See the enormous Okotoks Erratic, carried here by ice and woven into local legend.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Explore Diamond Valley, where the former towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley now share one foothill community.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass the historic Black Diamond Hotel, a 1929 landmark that still anchors local life.
Admission ticket free -
Turner Valley (Pass by)
Travel through Turner Valley, part of Diamond Valley and a landmark in Alberta’s early oil history.
Admission ticket free -
Eau Claire Distillery (Pass by)
Spot Eau Claire Distillery in Turner Valley, where a separate visit may offer local spirits and food.
Admission ticket free -
Turner Valley Gas Plant (Pass by)
View the historic Turner Valley Gas Plant from outside; seasonal guided tours and admission are separate.
Admission ticket free -
Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park (Pass by)
Hear about Bluerock Wildland’s protected foothill forest and rugged scenery on an optional detour.
Admission ticket free -
Little Chicago - Royalties Monument (Pass by)
See the Little Chicago Royalties Monument, a roadside reminder of the area’s oil-boom years.
Admission ticket free -
Longview (Pass by)
Pass Longview, a ranching town known for wide foothill views and local beef jerky.
Admission ticket free -
High River (Pass by)
Hear about High River’s heritage streets and river setting beyond the main route.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Watch for Mount Head on the horizon, a rugged peak named for an early explorer.
Admission ticket free -
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (Pass by)
Discover Bar U Ranch’s cowboy heritage; optional site entry and seasonal access are separate.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See Mount Burke’s distinctive summit in the foothills, once the site of a fire lookout.
Admission ticket free -
Chain Lakes Provincial Park (Pass by)
Enjoy views near Chain Lakes Provincial Park and its reservoir; a park visit is optional.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Spot flat-topped Plateau Mountain above the foothills and its windswept alpine terrain.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Look toward Mount Livingstone, a striking summit above the ranchlands.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See remote Mount Speke rising along the southern foothill skyline.
Admission ticket free -
Livingstone Falls Recreation Area (Pass by)
Hear about Livingstone Falls, a waterfall reached by an optional detour from the driving route.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Discover Bob Creek Wildland’s protected native grasslands and foothill habitat from the road.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass near Black Creek Heritage Rangeland, where native prairie grasses and wildflowers survive.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Follow the Oldman River’s story through southern Alberta’s ranchlands and communities.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Take in the Livingstone Range where the prairie rises abruptly into mountains.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See Centre Peak, a prominent summit at the heart of the Livingstone Range.
Admission ticket free -
Crowsnest Pass (Pass by)
Hear about Crowsnest Pass and its mountain communities on a route-side story or optional detour.
Admission ticket free -
Lundbreck Falls (Pass by)
Enjoy Lundbreck Falls’ twin cascades from the nearby viewing area if you choose to stop.
Admission ticket free -
Lundbreck (Pass by)
Pass the small hamlet of Lundbreck near its well-known waterfall.
Admission ticket free -
Cowley (Pass by)
Pass Cowley, a windy prairie community with deep ranching roots.
Admission ticket free -
Oldman River Dam (Pass by)
See the Oldman River Reservoir and learn how the dam supports the region’s water supply.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass Pincher Station, a reminder of the railway that once connected southern Alberta towns.
Admission ticket free -
Pincher Creek (Pass by)
Travel through windswept Pincher Creek, named for a lost tool found in the nearby water.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Look for plains bison from your vehicle on the seasonal Bison Paddock Loop; wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Enjoy wetland and mountain views from Maskinonge Overlook when access permits.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Drive Red Rock Parkway for colourful geology and mountain views when the seasonal road is open.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Follow Blakiston Creek’s story as it winds through Waterton’s mountain landscape.
Admission ticket free -
Red Rock Canyon (Pass by)
Explore Red Rock Canyon’s colourful rock and stream on an optional stop when the parkway is open.
Admission ticket free -
Blakiston Falls (Pass by)
Hear about Blakiston Falls, reached by an optional walk from Red Rock Canyon.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See driftwood and mountain reflections along Waterton’s rocky lakeshore.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Enjoy Linnet Lake’s quiet waters and bird habitat near the Waterton townsite.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Consider the steep Bear’s Hump hike for panoramic views; trail conditions and access vary.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See the Prince of Wales Hotel above Upper Waterton Lake; enjoy its hilltop exterior whether or not the hotel is open.
Admission ticket free -
Waterton Village (Pass by)
Pass through Waterton Park townsite, the lakeside base for the park’s trails and viewpoints.
Admission ticket free -
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (Pass by)
Hear how Waterton and Glacier became the world’s first International Peace Park.
Admission ticket free -
Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre (Pass by)
See the Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre; an optional visit depends on opening hours.
Admission ticket free -
Cameron Falls (Pass by)
Enjoy Cameron Falls near the townsite, where water cascades over ancient rock.
Admission ticket free -
Bertha Lake Trail (Pass by)
Hear about Bertha Trail’s forest and waterfall views; hiking is optional and conditions vary.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See Middle Waterton Lake framed by peaks and the park’s broad valley.
Admission ticket free -
Upper Waterton Lake (Pass by)
Admire Upper Waterton Lake, a long mountain lake crossing the Canada–U.S. border.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Drive Akamina Parkway toward Cameron Lake when the seasonal road is open to vehicles.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Watch for Mount Crandell’s rugged slopes, reshaped by the 2017 Kenow wildfire.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
See Mount Lineham rising above Waterton’s layered mountain scenery.
Admission ticket free -
First Oil Well In Western Canada National Historic Site (Pass by)
Hear about Western Canada’s first producing oil well at this historic site near Akamina Parkway.
Admission ticket free -
Carthew - Alderson Trail (Pass by)
Discover the high ridges and alpine lakes of the Carthew–Alderson Trail; hiking is optional.
Admission ticket free -
Cameron Lake (Pass by)
See Cameron Lake beneath steep cliffs when vehicle access on Akamina Parkway permits.
Admission ticket free -
Waterton Lakes National Park (Pass by)
Experience Waterton Lakes National Park where prairie, mountains and lakes meet in one remarkable landscape.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Self-guided drive in your own vehicle, with mostly outdoor and pass-by stories. Optional walks, viewpoints and historic interiors have variable terrain and access; the route is not practical by public transportation. The audio tour still works when buildings are closed. Waterton parkways and the Bison Paddock Loop have seasonal vehicle closures, and weather or construction can affect access. Check current Parks Canada road and attraction information before travel.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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