In-depth guide · CampingSpirit
About 580 kilometres along Alberta’s foothills from Pincher Creek via Longview and Bragg Creek to Rocky Mountain House: cattle country with the Rocky Mountains as a backdrop.
The spirit of the route
Highway 22 keeps to the edge where the prairie turns into foothills. On one side lie pastures with Hereford cattle, fences and crooked barns, on the other stands the blue wall of the Rockies, which on clear days seems within touching distance. The Cowboy Trail is not a panorama for the hurried: it leads through ranch country, past the Porcupine Hills, through towns with western facades, and it demands a gentle foot on the accelerator, because cattle, farm machinery and horse trailers share the road. In the evening the camper smells of grass and wood fire, the sun sits low over the poplars, and from the campsite you can see coyotes crossing the field. Further north the hills become darker and more wooded, until at Rocky Mountain House the river tells the story of the fur traders. If you have a feeling for wide open spaces and quiet, you will find here the calmer counterpart to Banff.
Stage-by-stage plan
1Stage 1: Pincher Creek to Longview (approx. 135 km)
- The drive
- From Pincher Creek take Highway 3 briefly west to the junction at Lundbreck, there onto Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) north through the Porcupine Hills, past Chain Lakes and on to Longview at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Two lanes, speed limit mostly 100 km/h, occasional tight bends and climbs; cattle guards and cattle on the roadway are possible. Pure driving time is about 2 hours, half a day to a full day with stops. Petrol stations in Pincher Creek and Longview, few in between.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Porcupine Hills: gently rolling grazing land with a view of the Rockies, especially in late summer and autumn; stop at pull-outs, not on the roadway.
- Chain Lakes Provincial Park: a lake and campground in a hollow in the grassland, popular with anglers and birdwatchers; check access and facilities beforehand at albertaparks.ca.
- Bar U Ranch National Historic Site (Parks Canada) near Longview: one of Canada’s best-known historic ranches, from the 1880s; check opening hours and season beforehand, often open only in summer.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Chain Lakes Provincial Park (Alberta Parks), about 38 km southwest of Nanton on Highway 533 (Highway 22 borders the park): lakeside campground with over 90 sites, around 60 of them with electricity (15/30 A), all reservable according to Alberta Parks, season most recently about early May to the end of September; check length limits and current season beforehand. Alternatively there are municipal and private sites in Longview and Nanton (clarify names beforehand).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): On the ranches the land is private or leased; overnighting at the roadside or on farm tracks is not tolerated, and gates must be left closed. On public land camping is allowed in some areas, but not in the grazing areas; check the current map.
- Insider tip for campers
- On Highway 22 cattle and vehicles share the road: adjust your speed, and when livestock are on the roadway do not honk, just wait. The route is windy, so drive high-sided campers carefully in crosswinds.
2Stage 2: Longview to Bragg Creek (approx. 100 km)
- The drive
- Continue north on Highway 22, past Diamond Valley (Black Diamond and Turner Valley, detour via Highway 7), then through Millarville and Priddis to Bragg Creek on the edge of the Kananaskis foothills. Two lanes, speed limit 100 km/h, 50 km/h in towns; traffic from Calgary increases, especially at weekends. Pure driving time is about 1.5 hours. Fill up and shop in Black Diamond and Turner Valley.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Turner Valley Gas Plant National Historic Site: this is where the first major natural gas and oil discovery in western Canada took place in 1914; tours are seasonal, so check opening hours beforehand.
- Black Diamond and Turner Valley: town centres with western facades and bakeries, a good place for a break and shopping.
- Millarville: the Millarville Farmers’ Market in the area is open on Saturdays in summer; check times and dates beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Sheep River Provincial Park (Alberta Parks), about 23 km west of Diamond Valley on Highway 546: Sandy McNabb Campground in a forest setting, over 100 sites with electricity according to Alberta Parks, season most recently about the end of April to mid-October, reservations up to 90 days ahead; check length limits beforehand. In the Elbow Valley near Bragg Creek is Paddy’s Flat Campground (Elbow River Provincial Recreation Area): almost 100 sites without electricity, season most recently about the end of April to mid-October, partly reservable, partly first come, first served; check the status beforehand at albertaparks.ca.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Kananaskis and Bragg Creek region, special rules apply to camping on public land (Public Land Use Zones, Kananaskis Conservation Pass); rules and fees were changed recently and must be checked locally and online. Near settlements, overnighting in the vehicle is not permitted.
- Insider tip for campers
- A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for vehicles in Kananaskis Country (check current amounts at albertaparks.ca). Access roads to campgrounds in the Elbow Valley are narrow; compare the length and width of your vehicle with the site description beforehand.
3Stage 3: Bragg Creek to Cochrane (approx. 70 km)
- The drive
- A day in the Elbow Valley: Highway 66 west to Elbow Falls (about 20 km), then back to Bragg Creek and north on Highway 22 to Cochrane. Highway 66 is narrow and winding, and sections are closed in winter (roughly December to mid-May) (check dates); motorhomes and rigs with trailers can have problems on some sections. Pure driving time is about 1.5 hours, a full day with hikes.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Elbow Falls: a waterfall on the Elbow River, reached by a short walk; busy in high summer, quieter early in the morning. Access with a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
- Bragg Creek Provincial Park: trails along the Elbow River and in the forest, especially in autumn when the leaves turn gold; the car park is small, so take care with motorhomes.
- Cochrane Ranche Historic Site: a memorial to the first big ranch in the area (1881) with a viewpoint over the Bow Valley; free access.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: In the Elbow Valley (Kananaskis): Paddy’s Flat and other Alberta Parks sites; check facilities, length limits and season beforehand, reservations through Alberta Parks. In Cochrane there are private RV parks (clarify names beforehand).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping near settlements and in Kananaskis outside the campgrounds; Public Land Use Zones have their own rules, which must be checked locally.
- Insider tip for campers
- Moose, deer and bears cross the road in the Elbow Valley in the morning and evening; drive more slowly. Keep bear spray within reach and store food scraps securely.
4Stage 4: Cochrane to Rocky Mountain House (approx. 215 km)
- The drive
- From Cochrane take Highway 22 north through Cremona, Sundre and Caroline (where Highway 54 ends) to Rocky Mountain House, where Highway 22 meets Highway 11. Two lanes, speed limit 100 km/h, farmland, pastures and forest in alternation, in autumn harvesters on the road. Pure driving time is about 3 hours, a full day with stops. Fill up in Cochrane, Sundre and Caroline.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Cremona and Water Valley: small foothills communities with pasture fences and a view of the Rockies; short stops for photos.
- Sundre: a small town on the Red Deer River with cowboy character, a rodeo in summer and access to the forests of the Bighorn region; check dates beforehand.
- Caroline: a village with a view of the mountain range; a stopover for fuel and shopping.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: Crimson Lake Provincial Park (Alberta Parks) northwest of Rocky Mountain House: campground with a sandy beach on the lake; check facilities (electricity, showers, dump) and length limits beforehand at albertaparks.ca; reservations through the Alberta Parks system. In Sundre and Rocky Mountain House there are also private RV parks (clarify names beforehand).
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): In the Bighorn region west of Sundre, camping on public land is allowed in some areas, but with rules and fees that have changed; check the current map from Alberta Parks or Public Land. Access roads are often gravel; observe fire bans.
- Insider tip for campers
- On the roads of the foothills area wildlife crossings are frequent, especially in September and October at dusk; drive more slowly. Before heading into the Bighorn region, top up supplies, water and fuel completely.
5Stage 5: Rocky Mountain House to Rocky Mountain House (day programme) (approx. 60 km)
- The drive
- A day in and around Rocky Mountain House: a visit to the historic site on the North Saskatchewan River, Crimson Lake and optionally a detour on Highway 11 west towards Nordegg. The roads are paved; in autumn expect early frost. Pure driving time is under 2 hours.
- Highlights & must-sees
- Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site (Parks Canada): remains of four fur trade posts from 1799–1875 on the North Saskatchewan River and a bison paddock; check opening hours and admission beforehand.
- Crimson Lake Provincial Park: small hiking trails and a lake for swimming, quiet and golden yellow in autumn.
- Optional: Highway 11 towards Nordegg and Abraham Lake – a long detour, only with enough time and fuel; check road conditions beforehand.
- CampingSpirit overnight tip
-
Official campsite or RV park: As for stage 4: Crimson Lake Provincial Park or private sites in Rocky Mountain House.
Free camping or nature tip (where legal): No legal free camping in the park or in town.
- Insider tip for campers
- Before the end of the trip, clarify the dump station and water in Rocky Mountain House (check locations beforehand). If you continue south or east, take Highway 11 and Highways 2 or 22 back.
Camping practice & local rules
Wild camping & overnight parking
- Canada has no nationwide right to roam for free camping. In Alberta, camping on public land outside the parks is allowed in some areas (usually up to 14 days), but not on private and leased land. Along Highway 22 almost everything is ranch land and therefore not accessible.
- Additional rules apply to Kananaskis Country and parts of the Eastern Slopes (Public Land Use Zones, Kananaskis Conservation Pass); rules and fees for public land camping were changed recently – check current notices from Alberta Parks.
- In the provincial parks (Chain Lakes, Sheep River, Crimson Lake), overnighting is only allowed on designated sites; sleeping in the vehicle is not tolerated in the car parks of shops, museums and viewpoints.
- Wildlife: black bears and grizzlies in the foothills, moose, deer, coyotes and wapiti. Keep food in the vehicle at night, secure rubbish, carry bear spray within reach; keep your distance from animals.
- Fire bans are frequent in summer; check the current status with Alberta Wildfire and Alberta Parks.
- Apps and sources: iOverlander, Campendium, ParkAdvisor as well as albertaparks.ca; road conditions via 511 Alberta.
Waste disposal & supplies
- Dump stations: some Alberta Parks campgrounds and private RV parks in Sundre, Cochrane and Rocky Mountain House; overview at sanidumps.com.
- Drinking water: tap water in Canada is drinkable; at basic sites carry canisters and a filter.
- Never discharge grey water onto the ground or into watercourses; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations.
- Propane: petrol stations and dealers in Cochrane, Sundre and Rocky Mountain House; European cylinders need adapters, and rental motorhomes have fixed tanks.
- Fuel: petrol stations in Pincher Creek, Longview, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Bragg Creek, Cochrane, Sundre, Caroline and Rocky Mountain House; on minor roads sometimes 50 km without a station.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Pincher Creek, Black Diamond, Cochrane, Sundre and Rocky Mountain House; in smaller places only shops with a limited range.
- Electricity: sites with hook-ups usually offer 15/30 A (120 V); note adapters for European devices (type A/B).
Vehicle size & traffic rules
- Speed limits: highways mostly 100 km/h, in towns 50 km/h, on Kananaskis roads and in parks 60–90 km/h; observe signs.
- Dimensions: vehicle height in Alberta up to 4.15 m, width 2.6 m; roads in the Elbow Valley are narrow, and access roads to campgrounds are in places tight.
- Kananaskis Conservation Pass for vehicles in Kananaskis Country; check current amounts at albertaparks.ca. Highway 66 is closed in winter (check dates).
- Admission: Alberta Parks charge fees for camping and in part for day use; Parks Canada (Bar U Ranch, Rocky Mountain House NHS) has its own prices; check current amounts on the websites.
- Turning right on red is permitted after a full stop (except where prohibited); mobile phone at the wheel only hands-free; open alcohol containers in the vehicle are prohibited. A German driving licence is sufficient for tourists, and an international driving permit is often recommended.
- Weather and season: June to October is best; chinook winds and sudden weather changes in the foothills; in autumn early frost, and snow can fall from September.
- Emergency: 911; mobile coverage is patchy in valleys and in Kananaskis.
CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist
- Bear spray and bear-proof food containers – the foothills and Kananaskis are bear country.
- Wind-proof tie-down straps and awning clips – the wind in the foothills is strong, and crosswinds push high-sided campers around.
- Warm layers and a down jacket – in the evening in the foothills already close to zero in September.
- Binoculars for wapiti, moose, birds of prey and long views over the Rockies.
- Water canister (20 l) and filter for basic sites without drinking water.
- Offline maps and a paper map – there are dead spots in the foothills valleys.
As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go.
