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Region known for:
  • Cowboy Trail road trips
  • Rugged landscape
  • Historic ranches

Acquaint yourself with Alberta’s vast rolling hills and admire the Canadian Rocky Mountains beyond. Soak in the ambiance of a peak-filled horizon as you seek adventure in wide-open plains.

Foothills highlights

Three riders walking up a golden hill on horseback in Diamond Valley, Alberta.

Breathtaking big skies

Finish a day of exploration by watching an array of colours erupt overhead as the sun disappears behind jagged peaks. Here, constellations fill the sky in the absence of city lights.

Two people mountain biking in the Foothills during autumn.

Rugged wilderness excursions

Smell the pine, hear the rustling of wildlife and free your spirit in the great forests of Alberta, by yourself or on an interpretive tour. Get closer to the land on horseback with a guided trail ride.

Mixologist smoking a cocktail at Eau Claire Distillery Speakeasy.

Rural culinary delights

Kick back in a classic soda shop, Prohibition-era cocktail bar, Western chuckwagon cafe or breezy Mexican-themed patio. Local ingredients and warm atmospheres await in the Foothills.

A hiker stops to admire the frozen waterfall at Elbow Falls in Bragg Creek
Couple hiking in Bragg Creek
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Skijoring, a winter activity that sees  a cross-country skier pulled along by a horse, in Longview.
A group of friends saluting their beverages and enjoying dinner at the Azuridge Hotel.
A couple shop at stalls at the Millarville Christmas Market.
A couple having a pint of beer at Hard Knox Brewery.
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Highlighted attractions

A covered wagon travels along the road at Bar U Ranch National Historic Site.

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site

The Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, founded in 1882 in the Alberta foothills, is one of Canada’s most important symbols of early ranching life.

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Family walking away from the Granary Road Park, Farmyard & Farmer's Market

Granary Road - Farmer's Market

Granary Road Farmer's Market is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, featuring the best of locally grown produce, honey, delicious eats, and treats.

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A group out for a guided horseback ride cross a rocky riverbed.

Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures

The Moose Mountain ranch sits in the foothills of the Rockies, with Kananaskis Country to the south and west. Shorter rides are conducted on the ranch where riders are treated to outstanding views of snow-capped mountains while riding through narrow woodland trails and open rolling meadows.

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Suggested itineraries

Couple walking out of the the Beef Jerky Store in Longview.
3 days
Cowboy Trail Road Trip

Discover must-visit destinations along Alberta’s Cowboy Trail (Hwy 22) by car, bicycle and horseback. Historic ranches, downhome cooking and craft beverages await.

Cast of CBC's Heartland standing in the Foothills of Alberta.
3 days
Heartland Adventures in Southern Alberta

Saddle up for unforgettable equine experiences as you journey across cowboy country. See sweeping views of Alberta's foothills, filming location of one of Netflix's most-watched shows, Heartland.

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Nearby cities to explore

Winter sunrise/sunset scene of Peace Bridge in Calgary.

Calgary

Calgary
A family walk behind guide on snowshoes over a frozen lake in Canmore

Canmore & Kananaskis

Canmore & Kananaskis
An idyllic winter moment on Banff Avenue at dusk, with shops lining either side of a street that seems to lead toward a mountain.

Banff & Lake Louise

Banff & Lake Louise