Experience Crossfield

Crossfield is located 45 min northeast of Cochrane at the junction of Hwys 2A and 574. Access into Crossfield is easy as it is also adjacent to Hwy 2, the main north-south corridor between Calgary and Edmonton. You’ll find the town about 20 minutes north of Crossiron Mills mall at Balzac.

This community’s roots run deep. Mrs. Hannington opened a stopping house here, on the Calgary-Edmonton Trail in 1890. Two years later, the C & E Railway linked these two large centres by rail and a siding, 29 miles north of Calgary that became identified as Crossfield, named in honour of Mr. Crossfield, an engineer with CPR surveyor crew.

In 1980, when the Village of Crossfield’s population reached 1,000 people, it was incorporated into a town, and by 2016 this had risen to 3,000 residents. Facilities now include a splash park, library, parks, rodeo grounds, curling rink, fish ponds, golf course, wetlands and arena.

Named after a famous rodeo star, the Pete Knight Memorial Centre provides an opportunity for youth to participate in winter sports like figure skating, minor hockey and lacrosse. The Center also hosts the Farmers’ Market and other events.

Numerous services are available in the Town of Crossfield for travellers, including several restaurants, hotel, groceries, pharmacy, gas bars and lots more. However, one of the major retailers in the area became so big that they had to get out of town. You will find Irvine’s Saddles & Western Wear about 6 km NE of Crossfield, and it is worth the drive.

Irvine’s prides itself as being Canada’s Largest Western Store. They were established as a family run business in 2004. With over 75,000 sq ft of retail space, they carry more inventory than most other western stores. You will find everything from western apparel to saddles and from giftware to all your rodeo gear – if it fits the western life-style they have it!

Where are you off to next? If you’re off to explore Alberta’s Special Areas, head north to Township Rd 292 and follow it and Hwy 575 east, past Acme and Carbon to Drumheller. This leg of the drive normally takes a good hour.

Heading to The Cowboy Trail? Follow Hwy 574 west until Hwy 22 (just a 30 min drive) and then drive north towards Cremona, or south to Cochrane.