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Photo gallery for Cowboy Trail & Waterton Lakes Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour

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By Tripvia Tours

Reviews

8.0 out of 10
Very Good
Free cancellation available
Price is CA $20 per traveller* *Get a lower price by selecting multiple travellers
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Features

  • Free cancellation available
  • 7h
  • Mobile voucher
  • Instant confirmation

Overview

  • Drive from the Calgary area along Alberta’s Cowboy Trail into Waterton Lakes National Park, where ranchland gives way to mountain lakes and waterfalls. Allow 6–7 hours for the roughly 350 km route, with more distance and time for optional parkway detours and stops. This self-guided smartphone tour has 56 mapped itinerary entries and 60+ GPS-triggered Tripvia stories, including the Okotoks Erratic, Bar U Ranch, Lundbreck Falls, Red Rock Canyon and Cameron Lake.

    Download the tour before departure for offline audio and a live GPS route map. Drive in your own vehicle, pause whenever you like and explore at your own pace; there is no in-person guide. Park admission and optional attraction entry are separate. Red Rock Parkway, the Bison Paddock Loop and vehicle access to Cameron Lake are seasonal, so check road conditions before travel.

Activity location

  • Alberta 2A
    • Alberta 2A
    • Alberta, Alberta, Canada

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • Alberta 2A
    • Alberta 2A
    • Alberta, Alberta, Canada

Check availability

Cowboy Trail & Waterton Park in English

  • Activity duration is 7 hours7h
    7h
  • Opening hours: Sat 12:00am-11:30pm
  • English
Language options: English
Price details
CA $9.99 x 2 TravellersCA $19.98
Total
Price is CA $19.99

What's included, what's not

  • Inclusions
    Flexible access to pause and resume at your own pace
  • Inclusions
    One booking per vehicle
  • Inclusions
    Self-guided GPS-triggered smartphone audio tour
  • Inclusions
    Tour available anytime after download, with no fixed schedule
  • Inclusions
    Live GPS route map and offline tour download
  • Exclusions
    Optional attraction admission and interior access
  • Exclusions
    Seasonal parkway vehicle access; check current Waterton road conditions before travel
  • Exclusions
    Smartphone or tablet (bring your own; headphones optional, audio plays from the device speaker)
  • Exclusions
    Vehicle, fuel and transport (drive your own vehicle)
  • Exclusions
    Waterton Lakes National Park admission
  • Exclusions
    Bar U Ranch admission and seasonal interior tours
  • Exclusions
    Parking and optional detour costs
  • Exclusions
    In-person guide

Know before you book

    • Service animals allowed
    • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
    • Self-guided drive in your own vehicle, with mostly outdoor and pass-by stories. Optional walks, viewpoints and historic interiors have variable terrain and access; the route is not practical by public transport. The audio tour still works when buildings are closed. Waterton parkways and the Bison Paddock Loop have seasonal vehicle closures, and weather or construction can affect access. Check current Parks Canada road and attraction information before travel.

Activity itinerary

Cowboy Trail (Pass by)

Follow Alberta’s Cowboy Trail through ranchland and foothill scenery towards Waterton Lakes National Park.

Okotoks (Pass by)

Pass through Okotoks, a foothill town with riverside paths and a lively arts scene.

Okotoks Erratic - The Big Rock (Pass by)

See the enormous Okotoks Erratic, carried here by ice and woven into local legend.

Diamond Valley (Pass by)

Explore Diamond Valley, where the former towns of Black Diamond and Turner Valley now share one foothill community.

Black Diamond Hotel (Pass by)

Pass the historic Black Diamond Hotel, a 1929 landmark that still anchors local life.

Turner Valley (Pass by)

Travel through Turner Valley, part of Diamond Valley and a landmark in Alberta’s early oil history.

Eau Claire Distillery (Pass by)

Spot Eau Claire Distillery in Turner Valley, where a separate visit may offer local spirits and food.

Turner Valley Gas Plant (Pass by)

View the historic Turner Valley Gas Plant from outside; seasonal guided tours and admission are separate.

Bluerock Wildland Provincial Park (Pass by)

Hear about Bluerock Wildland’s protected foothill forest and rugged scenery on an optional detour.

Little Chicago - Royalties Monument (Pass by)

See the Little Chicago Royalties Monument, a roadside reminder of the area’s oil-boom years.

Longview (Pass by)

Pass Longview, a ranching town known for wide foothill views and local beef jerky.

High River (Pass by)

Hear about High River’s heritage streets and river setting beyond the main route.

Mount Head (Pass by)

Watch for Mount Head on the horizon, a rugged peak named for an early explorer.

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (Pass by)

Discover Bar U Ranch’s cowboy heritage; optional site entry and seasonal access are separate.

Mount Burke (Pass by)

See Mount Burke’s distinctive summit in the foothills, once the site of a fire lookout.

Chain Lakes Provincial Park (Pass by)

Enjoy views near Chain Lakes Provincial Park and its reservoir; a park visit is optional.

Plateau Mountain (Pass by)

Spot flat-topped Plateau Mountain above the foothills and its windswept alpine terrain.

Mount Livingstone (Pass by)

Look towards Mount Livingstone, a striking summit above the ranchlands.

Mount Speke (Pass by)

See remote Mount Speke rising along the southern foothill skyline.

Livingstone Falls Recreation Area (Pass by)

Hear about Livingstone Falls, a waterfall reached by an optional detour from the driving route.

Bob Creek Wildland (Pass by)

Discover Bob Creek Wildland’s protected native grasslands and foothill habitat from the road.

Black Creek Heritage Rangeland (Pass by)

Pass near Black Creek Heritage Rangeland, where native prairie grasses and wildflowers survive.

Old Man River (Pass by)

Follow the Oldman River’s storey through southern Alberta’s ranchlands and communities.

Livingstone Range (Pass by)

Take in the Livingstone Range where the prairie rises abruptly into mountains.

Centre Peak (Pass by)

See Centre Peak, a prominent summit at the heart of the Livingstone Range.

Crowsnest Pass (Pass by)

Hear about Crowsnest Pass and its mountain communities on a route-side storey or optional detour.

Lundbreck Falls (Pass by)

Enjoy Lundbreck Falls’ twin cascades from the nearby viewing area if you choose to stop.

Lundbreck (Pass by)

Pass the small hamlet of Lundbreck near its well-known waterfall.

Cowley (Pass by)

Pass Cowley, a windy prairie community with deep ranching roots.

Oldman River Dam (Pass by)

See the Oldman River Reservoir and learn how the dam supports the region’s water supply.

Pincher Station (Pass by)

Pass Pincher Station, a reminder of the railway that once connected southern Alberta towns.

Pincher Creek (Pass by)

Travel through windswept Pincher Creek, named for a lost tool found in the nearby water.

Waterton Lakes National Park Bison Paddock (Pass by)

Look for plains bison from your vehicle on the seasonal Bison Paddock Loop; wildlife sightings are not guaranteed.

Maskinonge Overlook (Pass by)

Enjoy wetland and mountain views from Maskinonge Overlook when access permits.

Red Rock Parkway (Pass by)

Drive Red Rock Parkway for colourful geology and mountain views when the seasonal road is open.

Blakiston Creek (Pass by)

Follow Blakiston Creek’s storey as it winds through Waterton’s mountain landscape.

Red Rock Canyon (Pass by)

Explore Red Rock Canyon’s colourful rock and stream on an optional stop when the parkway is open.

Blakiston Falls (Pass by)

Hear about Blakiston Falls, reached by an optional walk from Red Rock Canyon.

Driftwood Beach (Pass by)

See driftwood and mountain reflections along Waterton’s rocky lakeshore.

Linnet Lake (Pass by)

Enjoy Linnet Lake’s quiet waters and bird habitat near the Waterton townsite.

Bear's Hump Trailhead (Pass by)

Consider the steep Bear’s Hump hike for panoramic views; trail conditions and access vary.

Prince Of Wales Hotel (Pass by)

See the Prince of Wales Hotel above Upper Waterton Lake; enjoy its hilltop exterior whether or not the hotel is open.

Waterton Village (Pass by)

Pass through Waterton Park townsite, the lakeside base for the park’s trails and viewpoints.

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (Pass by)

Hear how Waterton and Glacier became the world’s first International Peace Park.

Waterton Lakes National Park Visitor Centre (Pass by)

See the Waterton Lakes Visitor Centre; an optional visit depends on opening hours.

Cameron Falls (Pass by)

Enjoy Cameron Falls near the townsite, where water cascades over ancient rock.

Bertha Lake Trail (Pass by)

Hear about Bertha Trail’s forest and waterfall views; hiking is optional and conditions vary.

Middle Waterton Lake (Pass by)

See Middle Waterton Lake framed by peaks and the park’s broad valley.

Upper Waterton Lake (Pass by)

Admire Upper Waterton Lake, a long mountain lake crossing the Canada–US border.

Akamina Parkway (Pass by)

Drive Akamina Parkway towards Cameron Lake when the seasonal road is open to vehicles.

Mount Crandell (Pass by)

Watch for Mount Crandell’s rugged slopes, reshaped by the 2017 Kenow wildfire.

Mount Lineham (Pass by)

See Mount Lineham rising above Waterton’s layered mountain scenery.

First Oil Well In Western Canada National Historic Site (Pass by)

Hear about Western Canada’s first producing oil well at this historic site near Akamina Parkway.

Carthew - Alderson Trail (Pass by)

Discover the high ridges and alpine lakes of the Carthew–Alderson Trail; hiking is optional.

Cameron Lake (Pass by)

See Cameron Lake beneath steep cliffs when vehicle access on Akamina Parkway permits.

Waterton Lakes National Park (Pass by)

Experience Waterton Lakes National Park where prairie, mountains and lakes meet in one remarkable landscape.

Location

Activity location

  • LOB_ACTIVITIESLOB_ACTIVITIES
    Alberta 2A
    • Alberta 2A
    • Alberta, Alberta, Canada

Meeting/Redemption Point

  • PEOPLEPEOPLE
    Alberta 2A
    • Alberta 2A
    • Alberta, Alberta, Canada

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