This tour features the Cowboy Trail and Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, and the Kootenay Rockies in British Columbia.  Calgary Alberta is the international gateway for this circle tour, however you may also begin west or south of Calgary.  The tour visits three national parks and various historical attractions.

Calgary offers many great attractions, including the Glenbow Museum; a journey into the heritage of the Canadian west, the Heritage Park; Canada's largest living historical village and the Calgary Zoo, Science Centre and Canada Olympic Park.

From Calgary, head south on Hwy #22, travelling through communites such as Turner Valley and Black Diamond.  Along this route is one of the province's National Historic Site, the Turner Valley Oilfield.  Continue south from Black Diamond, then east on Road #543 to Hwy #2 and the community of Nanton.  Nanton is known for its antiques.  En route to Fort Macleod is a fascinating native heritage site, Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo-Jump.  This World Heritage Site is one of the oldest, largest and best-preserved buffalo jumps across the Western Plains.  Prior to departing Fort Macleod, be sure to visit the Fort Museum.  Then continue south to Cardston where the Remington-Alberta Carriage Centre is located - North America's largest museum of horse-drawn transportation.  From Cardston, it's a short 45 minute drive to Waterton Lakes National Park.  This beautiful park is a nature enthusiast and photographer's paradise.  There's a variety of activities to be enjoyed such as the Waterton Shoreline Cruise, Red Rock Canyon and Cameron Falls.

Highway #6 north from Waterton Lakes will take you to Pincher Creek.  Then head west on Hwy #3.  Be sure to stop at the Frank Slide, a community buried by a limestone slide in 1903.

As you enter the province of British Columbia and Sparwood, it's impossible to miss the town's most famous visitor attraction.  Painted in industrial green is the world's largest single axle dump truck, the Terex Titan.  This, the ultimate in monster trucks, was formerly used in the large open pit mine above the town.  Tours of this active mine are available throughout the summer.

A quick side trip north on Hwy #43 will present you with the 'Wilderness Capital of British Columbia', Elkford.  This area has one of the largest bighorn sheep populations on the continent.  Close to town, you'd enjoy an easy 45 minute hike to a lookout above Josephine Falls or for the more adventurous, you may travel further north to the Elk Lakes Provincial Park.

Fernie will welcome you to a beautiful mountainous setting and Victorian architecture.  Pick up a Heritage Walking Tour brochure at the Info Centre and take a stroll around town.  Along route to Fort Steele, stop at the Kootenay Trout Hatchery.  Take a self-guided tour of the extensive interpretive area, view trophy sized trout in the moat and watch turtles, fish and water insects in the pond.

Fort Steele Heritage Town is a restored boomtown of the 1890s, where colourful characters from the past entertain visitors on the street and period tradesman present fascinating demonstrations in their shops.  Tour the town by horsedrawn wagon, catch a ride on the steam train and enjoy hilarious comedy shows in the Wild Horse Theatre.

For a detailed sample itinerary and links to accommodation, attractions and restaurants, please link to: KootenayRockies.com/itineraries.