Road Trip #3: South Southwest

This tour passes western ranchlands, Waterton and the coal mining country of the Crowsnest. Start in Calgary, heading south on Highway 2 (Macleod Trail) through the farming and ranching regions of Nanton, Stavely and Claresholm, to the town of Fort Macleod. Continue south to Cardston, then west on Highway 5 and Highway 6 to Waterton Lakes National Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site. From Waterton, drive north on Highway 6 to Pincher Creek, site of fields of experimental power-generating windmills. Just past Pincher Creek, go west on Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) into the Crowsnest Pass region, where coal was mined from the mountain passes 100 years ago. Retrace this route on Highway 3 back to Highway 22 and head north, back to Calgary.

Distances: Calgary to Fort Macleod 165 km (102 mi). Fort Macleod to Cardston 60 km (37 mi). Cardston to Waterton Lakes 45 km (28 mi). Waterton to Pincher Creek 51 km (32 mi). Pincher Creek to Frank 35 km (22 mi). Junction Hwy 3 and Hwy 22 to Calgary 194 km (120 mi).