Bragg Creek

Tim Hall/ Cochrane Tourism Association

In fact, it was one of the few places where it was actually legal for men and women to sit together in the same room and enjoy an alcoholic beverage. Not surprisingly, the “sinful” activity would lead to singing, dancing, and, well, who knows what else. The wild west had to be populated somehow, I guess.

Nearby Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park should also be on your radar if Alberta’s colourful ranching history is something that interests you. The park, which opened in 2011, is home to jaw-dropping mountain vistas, an extensive trail network, old ranch buildings and ruins, and much more. While there are great photo opportunities at nearly every turn, a couple of standout spots for shutterbugs are the views from the Park Center and the Yodel Loop.

For people looking to wheel through the classic “western” scenes, a rewarding way to enjoy the incredible countryside is a biking tour on the many secondary roads that meander in the Cochrane area. This region is renowned for its rolling road biking routes that capture the essence of what wild west landscapes are all about. Located just west of town, the loop that follows Horse Creek Road to Grand Valley Road is always a popular choice. This gorgeous 50 km trip will take cyclists through pastoral ranch land dotted with farms and acreages on winding roads with gentle grades.

For more information on biking in the area, visit the Bike Bros bike shop in Cochrane. The friendly staff there will tell you everything you need to know about this cycling hot spot.

Sticking to the “wheel” theme, the Cochrane Youth Park features one of the best skate parks in Western Canada. The 1,300 square metre concrete park, beautifully positioned on a hillside overlooking the valley, was professionally designed with plenty of awesome features such as bowls, pools, ramps, walls, rails, and informal seating areas. If skating isn’t your thing, just watching the action is a sport unto itself!

No matter if you’re hiking, biking, skating, golfing (The Links of Gleneagles is laced with postcard-pretty holes!), or if you’re just sauntering along the streets of the historic downtown, Cochrane should be part of your western travel plans. It’s filled with interesting shops, galleries, cafes, saloons, and restaurants. By Andrew Penner

Cochrane Tourism Association

STUDIO WEST

Art Gallery & Bronze Foundry

Large Selection of Sculptures & Western Art A SCULPTURE EXPERIENCE See the lost-wax bronze casting process 205 - 2nd Ave E, Bow Street & 2nd Ave E, Cochrane 403-932-2611 www.DonBeggStudioWest.ca

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 min north of CrossIron Mills mall in Balzac.

This community’s roots run deep. Mrs. Hannington opened a stopping house, 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 siding became identified as Crossfield, named in honour of Mr. Crossfield, an engineer with the CPR survey crew.

With a population of 2,983 residents, facilities now include a splash park, library, parks, rodeo grounds, curling rink, fish ponds, golf course and wetlands. The Pete Knight Memorial Centre is named after a famous rodeo star. It is a venue for winter sports like minor hockey and hosts a Farmers’ Market.

Pete Knight Days run in early June. It features a Demolition Derby and the Pete Knight Rodeo. The Wild, Wild West! starts at 6pm Friday (1pm on Sat). There’s a dance on both nights at 9pm, a parade on Saturday and fireworks at 11pm.

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 100,000 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! (See pg 52)

Where are you heading 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. To learn more be sure to pick up a copy of Experience Southern Alberta. Heading to The Cowboy Trail? Follow Hwy 574 west to Hwy 22 (it’s just a 30 min drive) and then drive north towards Cremona, or south to Cochrane.