Bar U Ranch & the Cowboy Trail

Highlights

• Bar U Ranch National Historic Site's original ranch buildings and equipment
• Seasonal horse and cattle-handling demonstrations
• The Cowboy Trail (Highway 22) — rolling foothills scenery the whole drive
• A stop in Longview, known for its local beef jerky shops

Itinerary

8:30 AM

Pickup & drive south

Meet your driver-guide at Calgary Airport (YYC) for the drive south along the Cowboy Trail, Highway 22's scenic corridor through Alberta's foothill ranch land. Rolling grasslands, grazing cattle, and distant mountain silhouettes line the route as you head toward the region's historic ranching heartland. It's a relaxed, atmospheric drive that sets the scene for a day exploring the working-cowboy heritage that helped shape this stretch of southern Alberta more than a century ago and still defines it today.

Calgary Airport (YYC), AB

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, AB

Longview, AB

10:30 AM

Bar U Ranch

Explore Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, once one of the largest and most famous ranches in Canada, operating continuously from 1882 into the twentieth century. On a guided walk through its restored barns, bunkhouses, and corrals, hear stories of the cowboys, ranch hands, and Percheron horses that built its legacy, with roping or riding demonstrations when seasonally available. It's a hands-on window into the working ranch life that defined this iconic stretch of Alberta foothills.

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, AB

Calgary Airport (YYC), AB

Longview, AB

1:00 PM

Longview

Enjoy lunch on your own in Longview, a small, unmistakably Western town along the Cowboy Trail known for its ranching character and local flavor. Browse a handful of shops selling everything from beef jerky to Western wear, or simply relax on a patio with foothill views stretching toward the mountains. With its low-key, authentic cowboy-town atmosphere, Longview offers a fitting midday pause between the historic ranch site and the drive back north toward Calgary.

Longview, AB

Calgary Airport (YYC), AB

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, AB

3:00 PM

Return

Head north back along the Cowboy Trail toward Calgary Airport (YYC), the foothills and grazing ranch land rolling past for one last stretch of scenery. It's a quiet, easy drive to close out a day steeped in Alberta's ranching history, from the historic corrals of Bar U Ranch to Longview's small-town charm. Your driver-guide will have you back at the terminal in the mid-afternoon, memories of the Cowboy Trail's wide-open landscapes and cowboy heritage still fresh.

Calgary Airport (YYC), AB

Longview, AB

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site, AB

Route & Distances

1. Calgary Airport (YYC)→Longview≈ 100 km
2. Longview→Bar U Ranch National Historic Site≈ 10 km
3. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site→Calgary Airport (YYC)≈ 110 km

Distances are approximate driving distances, for reference only — actual route and mileage on the day may vary.

Check Availability

What's Included

Own Expenses

Optional activities you can add on-site — not included in the tour price.

• Bar U Ranch National Historic Site admission≈ $8 CAD / person

Cancellation Policy

Good to Know

• Valid government-issued photo ID is required for every traveler on all departures.
• Pickup and drop-off times are approximate and may shift by 15–30 minutes depending on traffic and road conditions.
• Itinerary order and stops may change due to weather, road closures, or park conditions — safety comes first.
• Comfortable walking shoes are recommended; stops involve short, easy walks rather than technical hiking.
• Let us know about mobility needs, dietary restrictions, or large group sizes at the time of booking so we can plan accordingly.
• Multi-day tours are priced based on double-occupancy hotel rooms; single-traveler and triple-occupancy rates are available on request.

Frequently Asked Questions

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