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Region known for:
  • Stunning canyons
  • River fun
  • Wild horses

West Country is a place to push boundaries, face challenges and rendezvous with fellow free spirits. Your connection to the land will only deepen as you traverse the peaks and canyons of the Canadian Rockies.

Useful links:

  • Key City: Rocky Mountain House
  • Transportation Hub: Edmonton International Airport
  • Don't miss: Alpine meadows
  • Claim to fame: Abraham Lake’s frozen bubbles

Trending in the West Country

West Country highlights

Riding bicycles on a trail at Twin Lakes Rocky Mountain House.

Adrenaline-spiking adventures

Awaken your Wild Side among rugged cliffs and white-water rapids, on ATVs and vast backcountry trails. Experience the thrill of reaching new heights as you conquer soaring peaks.

A couple with a guide enjoying ice bubbles at Abraham Lake.

Uncommon natural beauty

Picture bubbles trapped in the ice of winter lakes, frozen and flowing waterfalls and boundless wilderness paths. Paired with the wild horses, sheep, grizzly bears and other animals, you might feel like you’ve stepped into a nature documentary.

A group ride horseback in Sundre at Painted Warriors.

Traditional experiences

Learn to live off the land with the help of Indigenous guides. Medicine walks, animal tracking and navigation are all skills you can pick up—with the right teachers, of course.

Ice fishing guide with couple catching fish
Two ice climbers being supported by two people at the base while ice climbing in Nordegg.
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Guide with couple in canyon.
Couple enjoying a beverage at the outdoor fireplace at the Prairie Creek Inn
Woman enjoying helicopter tour
A happy group follow an Indigenous Knowledge Keeper as she guides them on a snowhshoe walk on a sunny day.
A group snowshoeing on a snowy trail.

Things to do in the West Country

Key towns

Dare to try different stays, foods and excursions in the towns of West Country. When you leave, keep its adventurous spirit as a souvenir.

Couple arm in arm walking down Historic Downtown Cochrane in summer.

Cochrane

Located just west of the big city lights in Calgary, Cochrane is a playground for adventurers. See stunning views of Alberta's Foothills and Rocky Mountains, with all the amenities you need right in town.

Explore Cochrane
Exterior of the elevation in the evening at the Prairie Creek Inn

Rocky Mountain House

Rocky Mountain House balances values of outdoor exploration and historic preservation. The passion for discovery is evident throughout the town's history and is still alive today.

Visit Rocky Mountain House
Couple taking in the view of the Alberta mountains with a blanket wrapped around them.

Nordegg

Formerly a coal mining town, currently a hub for outdoor exploration and the site of the Brazeau Collieries Mine National Heritage Site.

Discover Nordegg
Indigenous Knowledge Keeper and Mahikan Trails owner Brenda Holder shares knowledge by the fire with young participants in the gudied walk

Sundre

Venture through the gateway to Western Alberta. Bordering the Canadian Rockies, vast forests and glittering rivers, Sundre is filled with friendly local trailblazers.

Sundre Tourism

Stories

The owner of Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary posted with a pack of young wolfdogs while one licks her face.
7 min read How to Visit Canada's Only Wolfdog Sanctuary

Meet wolfdogs up close near Calgary and Banff at Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary. Animal encounters are guaranteed and unlike any other wildlife experience.

The two-tiered Crescent Falls cascades into a rocky canyon, framed by evergreen trees and a purple-orange sunset.
6 min read The Top Things to Do in Alberta's David Thompson Country

Discover things to do in Alberta’s David Thompson Country. See Abraham Lake’s ice bubbles, hike to waterfalls and explore more winter and summer adventures.

A woman smiles while sitting on a rock near Lundbreck Falls.
6 min read Why Alberta is Canada’s Best Base for Life-Changing Vacations

Explore transformative travel in Alberta, from Rocky Mountain adventures to Indigenous tourism to luxury trips. Plan your 2026 Canada vacation.

A 60-foot charcoal portrait of a relaxed woman stretches across Abraham Lake at sunset with the Canadian Rockies at the shoreline.
10 min read How David Popa Painted Massive Portraits on Alberta’s Wildest Winter Landscapes

Learn how artist David Popa created extremely realistic portraits among Abraham Lake’s ice bubbles and how you can visit this wild part of Alberta, Canada.

Read all stories

Suggested itineraries

The sun rises on the Rocky Mountains and the turquoise water of Moraine Lake.
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Alberta Adventure: Summer Road Trip Inspiration

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Cast of CBC's Heartland standing in the Foothills of Alberta.
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Heartland Road Trip in Southern Alberta

See sweeping views of Alberta's Foothills near Calgary and filming locations of one of Netflix's most-watched shows, Heartland.

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Nearby cities to explore

A winter sunrise lights up the sky over Peace Bridge in Calgary.

Calgary

Calgary
Person ski jumping with downtown Edmonton in background

Edmonton

Edmonton
Snowboarding in Jasper

Jasper

Jasper