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Bighorn River Valley and Crescent Falls

Bighorn River Valley Crescent Falls

About an hour drive west of Rocky Mountain House lies the Bighorn River, that originates in the Alberta foothills of the Canadian Rockies. The river flows under Mount McGuire, travels past several creeks, drops at the Crescent Falls, and then passes through a canyon.

 

Cline River near Abraham Lake

Cline River and Abraham Lake

A little further west (1.5 hours drive from Rocky Mountain House) the Cline River shapes the landscape around the 32 km long Abraham Lake, which was created in 1972 through building the Bighorn Dam. The Cline River originates from Pinto Lake and joins the North Saskatchewan River at Lake Abraham.

 

Crowfoot Glacier, Crowfoot Mountain and Bow Lake

Crowfoot Glacier and Bow Lake

Following the Icefields Parkway south (2.5 hours drive from Rocky Mountain House) and entering Banff National Park at an altitude of 1920 m lies the Bow Lake, which is the source for the Bow River flowing south. The glacial lake is nestled at the foot of Crowfoot Mountain which holds the Crowfoot Glacier in the northeast, feeding lake and river with water.

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Sightseeing

Banff National Park

The Banff National Park is Canada's first national park which offers a breath-taking scenery made of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers. Access nature and wildlife, and enjoy a multitude of outdoor recreation activities.

• Banff National Park at Parks Canada

• Town of Banff at banff.ca

• banffnationalpark.com

• www.banfflakelouise.com

• Banff National Park at Wikipedia

Brazeau Collieries Mine Site

The Brazeau Collieries Mine Site is a National Historic Site of Canada and a Province of Alberta Historic Site. The mine site was abandoned in 1955, and has been restored by the Nordegg Historic Society.

• Nordegg Heritage Centre at Clearwater County

Confluence Heritage Society

The Confluence Heritage Society promotes the Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site and operates the Trading Post gift shop. The organization is host to a number of special events like e.g. the David Thompson Puppet Show.

· https://www.confluencehs.ca

Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area

The Crescent Falls Provincial Recreation Area is located about 90 km west (1 hour drive) from Rocky Mountain House and offers hiking trails that run along the top of the Big Horn Valley. Visitors of the area have access to spectacular views of the double tiered Crescent Falls and the Big Horn Canyon.

· www.albertaparks.ca/parks/central/crescent-falls-pra

Jasper National Park

The Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies is a vast wilderness area defined by glaciers, lakes, and mountains. On 11,000 square kilometres the visitors of the park enjoy outdoor adventure and activities, abundant wildlife, and a network of trails.

• Jasper National Park at Parks Canada

• Jasper National Park at Wikipedia

Kootenay National Park

The Kootenay National Park is located in southeastern British Columbia and part of UNESCO's World Heritage Site. It's landscape covers an area of 1,406 square kilometres with features that include canyons, hot springs, mountains and the Continental Divide.

• Kootenay National Park at Parks Canada

• Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks at UNESCO

• Kootenay National Park at Wikipedia

Rocky Mountain House Museum

The Rocky Mountain House Museum showcases the history of the pioneers who settled in the area. The exhibits include the one hundred years old Meadows Forestry cabin, and the Glacier School house amoung others.

· www.rockymuseum.com

Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

The Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site is an archaeological site on the North Saskatchewan River holding the remains of four competing trading posts, which were used by nine different Aboriginal cultures to trade fur in the 18th century.

· Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site at Parks Canada

Sports and Recreation

Canyon Creek Golf Course

With 9 holes on 2877 yards the Canyon Creek Golf Course offers a challenge for the experienced golfer and a comfortable start for the novices in your group.

· www.canyoncreekgolf.ca

Pine Hills Golf Club

The Pine Hills Golf Club in Rocky Mountain House combines the challenge of a championship golf course with the serenity of a classic retreat. The course offers 18 holes spread over 397 acres.

· www.pinehillsgolf.ca

Area Brochures and Trail Maps

• Allstones

• Bighorn Dam

• Cline River Corridor

• Coliseum Trail

• Cutoff Creek

• Hummingbird

• Nordegg

Access the maps of the Bighorn Backcountry at the Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP) website.

Rocky Mountain House Chamber of Commerce

The Rocky Mountain House Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a website resource called "Where Adventure Begins", which offers maps with details of areas and trails including:

Areas and Trails

• Alexander Henry’s Trails

• All Stone Lake

• Allstones Creek

• Baldy Fire Lookout

• Batus Canyon

• Beaverdam Loop Nordegg

• Bighorn Meadows

• Black Canyon Creek

• Brazeau Lookout Trail

• Bridge Creek

• Cline & Coral Canyons Loop

• Cline River Falls

• Coliseum Mountain

• Coral Ridge

• Crescent Falls - Bighorn Canyon

• Dry Haven - Goldeye Connector

• Eagle Mountain

• East Bush Falls Loop

• Farley Lake

• Fish Lake Loop

• Goldeye Lake

• Heritage Trail

• Hoodoo Creek

• Hummingbird Pass

• Icefall Trail Loop

• Lake of the Falls

• Lake of the Falls Lookout

• Landslide Lake

• Little Indian Falls & Whitegoat Lakes

• Loudon Creek

• Mud Creek

• Nature Walk

• Nine Bear Meadows

• Nordegg Ranger Station

• Owen Creek Gorge

• Pinto Lake Lookout

• Pinto Lake Loop

• Pinto Lake Trail

• Sasquatch Track

• Sentinel Creek

• Shunda - Goldeye Connector

• Siffleur Falls

• Stelfox Loop

• Sundance Lodge Loop

• Sunset Pass

• Sureveyor’s Benchmark

• Survey Hill

• Terrace Walk

• Tershishner Falls

• The Figure Eight Walk

• The Hostel Hike

• The Meadows

• Thompson Creek

• Thompson Creek Falls

• Thompson Creek Recreation Area

• Tuff Puff

• Two O’Clock Ridge

• Upper Bighorn Falls

• Viewpoint Trail

• Vision Quest

• Waterfalls Creek

• Whirlpool Point Loop

• Whirlpool Ridge

• Whitegoat Falls

• Wildhorse Creek

• Windy Point Ridge

Maps of these trails and other recreational areas can be found at the Trails and Maps section of David Thompson Country, an initiative sponsored by Clearwater County.