The Trail of Great Bear - Alberta

	The Trail of Great Bear - Alberta

The Trail of Great Bear is your path to the Wild Rockies.

The Trail of Great Bear is an international tour traversing 3350 km of the wild Rockies in Canada and the United States. Traveling existing roadways, the Trail links the world’s first national park – Yellowstone – to Canada’s first national parks – Banff and Jasper – through to Waterton-Glacier, the world’s first International peace park.

The Trail takes you through the West’s most breath-taking national forests, wilderness areas, and colourful communities.

Much of the majestic landscape along the Trail of the Great Bear remains in its natural state. Extinct in most of its original range, the grizzly still roams free in the wildlands found within the Great Bear corridor. The grizzly is the symbol of the Trail.

Special Places:

Columbia Icefield:

Discover the Adventure of a Lifetime. This ‘must-see, must-do’ unique 90-minute journey on the Athabasca Glacier is a fully escorted interpretive excursion aboard a Brewster Ice Explorer. Just 2 hrs from Banff or 1 hr from Jasper via the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Tours every 15 minutes, mid-April to mid-Oct.

Canadian Rockies Hot Springs:

The Canadian Rockies Hot Springs invite you to relax in a spectacular mountain setting and soak in hot mineral waters that have rejuvenated travelers for more than a century. Located in the UNESCO Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage Site, the all natural, outdoor hot springs pools promise a truly unforgettable experience.

Moraine Lake Lodge:

Many visit – but only a few can stay! A post-and-beam log structure providing breathtaking vistas of the snow-capped mountains and glacier-fed lake. Moraine Lake Lodge is just 15 minutes from Lake Louise, Alberta.

Wildflower Festival:

Join the wildflower lovers for 10 days of special events in spectacular Waterton Lakes National Park for the annual Wildflower Festival.

Heritage Park Historic Village:

Journey back in time… To an era of ice cream, wagon rides, carousels, steam trains and sternwheelers. Discover the treasures of the past at Heritage Park – Canada’s largest living historical village set on 66 acres of lush parkland in the heart of Calgary. Free pancake breakfast before 10am with paid admissions.

Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo Jump UNESCO World Heritage Site:

For over 6000 years, aboriginal people celebrated the buffalo and used jump sites across the Western Plains for survival. Head-Smashed-In is among the largest and best preserved of these sites. This UNESCO World Heritage Site documents the buffalo hunting culture of the Plains people from ancient times. Open daily, year-round.

Fort Steele Heritage Town:

Fort Steele is a restored 1890’s pioneer boomtown, with over 60 heritage shops and display buildings. Popular summertime features include the Wild Horse Theatre and living history street dramas, a steam railway, horse-drawn wagon rides, blacksmith, harness maker, and domestic interpretation.

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre:

On the Edge of Destruction – on April 29, 1903, 90 million tons of rock crashed from the summit of Turtle Mountain and buried part of the sleeping town of Frank. High-definition AV, trails, special programs and events, gift shop. Open daily, year-round.

Pincher Creek:

Centre of Adventure on the Cowboy Trail. Where the rolling prairies meet the Rocky Mountains. Come explore the history that is still alive in our authentic western culture at the Kootenai Brown Pioneer Village, Heritage Acres and Lebel Mansion. Poetry, Kite Festival Fair and ProRodeo, and the Huckleberry Festival.

Remington Carriage Museum:

Remington Carriage Museum, located in Cardston, Alberta, houses the largest collection of horse-drawn vehicles in North America. The museum features a restoration shop, restaurant, gift shop, an active horse program with summer carriage rides, education programs and guided tours. Open year-round, 7 days per week.

Whitewater Rafting:

Ride wild and free rivers – enjoy rafting adventures near Waterton, Glacier and Jasper National Parks.

The Alberta Birds of Prey Centre:

This centre is Canada’s largest birds of prey facility. Situated on a 70-acre wetland area, the centre is a celebration of nature featuring the hawks, falcons, eagles, and owls of Alberta. Located in Coaldale, Alberta, 10 minutes drive east of Lethbridge on Highway #3. Open daily 9:30am-5:00pm May 10 – Sep 10.

Wildlife along the Trail:

Wildlife is abundant and easily accessible along the Trail of the Great Bear. The wide and diverse landscapes are rich habitat for wild animals. Intact ecosystems preserved by parks and protected areas maintain one of the few places in the world where all native carnivores, including grizzly bears and wolves, still survive.

Grizzly bears are a perfect barometer for healthy ecosystems. At one time, most of the continent was their home. Their wide-ranging behavior requires large areas of appropriate habitat for their survival. Today, grizzlies are extinct in most of their original range. They still roam free in the landscapes along the Trail of the Great Bear.

Bird Watching:

The sight of eagles in migration is awe inspiring and just one of the many natural spectacles that attract birders to this region. Major migratory routes follow along the slopes of the Rockies and criss-cross through mountain passes. Elevation and habitat variations attract a wide and varied number of species for nesting or just resting as they pass through. The Crowsnest Birding Festival, held annually in the first week of June, offers expert field courses, official bird counts and special presentations. Located on the lowest pass through the Rocky Mountains from New Mexico to Jasper, this is a major migratory corridor for trumpeter swans and eagles.

The Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, located just east of Lethbridge, is Canada’s largest such facility. You can see many species up close and learn about the important recovery and conservation work being done by this dedicated organization.

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