High River: Trails, Museums and Western Heritage

High River offers several ways to experience the area during a stay: paved trails through town, self-guided walking tours, murals and history collections. Western and agricultural heritage also shape events and exhibitions. If you’re looking for a hotel in High River, these different themes can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Explore High River on Foot

The Happy Trails include more than 19 km of paved trails for pedestrians and cyclists, extending throughout the town. They run along the river and through parks and green spaces. Where possible, the trails are also designed for strollers, runners, people with disabilities, inline skaters and skateboarders. If you rely on a particular type of access, plan your route based on local trails.

High River offers two self-guided walking tours. The “Step into the Scene” tour links each stop to a recognizable filming location and its story. This lets you get to know the town not only through its trails, but also through the stories connected to individual stops.

Murals and History

Sixteen murals on building walls throughout the town capture High River’s history. The “Fort Spitzee Mural” depicts the region’s largest fur trading post and is located at 118 4 Ave SW.

The Museum of the Highwood collection spans thousands of years of history and includes more than 45,000 objects, including archives, photographs and artifacts. The museum is housed in a former CPR train station built in 1912 in downtown; the High River Visitor Information Centre is also located there.

Sheppard Family Park preserves historic buildings and facilities that reflect early prairie life. You can walk and picnic among the preserved grounds and historic buildings.

Western and Agricultural Heritage

High River celebrates its diverse Western and agricultural heritage throughout the year with events, exhibitions and displays. Guy Weadick Days takes place annually with a local rodeo; details may change from year to year. The Little Britches Parade takes place every spring and celebrates young cowboys aged two to 16. If you’d like to plan your trip around one of these events, check the current dates.

More Places to Explore

High River Spray Park offers interactive water experiences for visitors of all ages. The facility is seasonal, and operating conditions may change, so check the latest information before visiting. At High River Skatepark, visitors can practise tricks. The skatepark is unsupervised and weather-dependent.

George Lane Park has a playground and communal picnic areas. Park amenities may change over time. If these facilities are important to your plans, it’s a good idea to check the latest information. Along with its trails, walking tours and historic sites, High River offers a variety of themes to consider when planning your stay.

Explore more destinations: Millarville, Calgary, Olds, Black Diamond, Beiseker, Okotoks, Priddis, Didsbury.

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 6.