Brown-Lowery along the Cowboy Trail is a gem of a Provincial Park

This sweet little park of Brown Lowery Provincial Park has stunning views of the Rocky Mountain front ranges to the west as well as vistas of downtown Calgary to the northeast.

The habitat here is moist and easily damaged, so walking lightly and sticking to the trails really matters in this sensitive environment. An old Spruce forest protects the forest floor from the sun and allows the amazing plant varieties to grow in this foothills oasis. This makes the park a mysterious deep-woods adventure and great fun for the whole family.

“Deer Chew Brown Lowrey” – Photo by Teresa Hawkins

The cool plant species include: Mares Tails, Western Canadian Violet, One-flowered Wintergreen and many Fungi species. Like many native species, the one-flowered wintergreen depends on a particular fungus growing in the moist, humus-rich forest floor of this park – where the Spruce provide the necessary shade. A fun way to zoom into the forest floor and discover the diverse species growing there is to take the kids on a wintergreen plant hunt to tally up how many you see. If you use binoculars backwards, looking through the wrong end of the lens, and zero in on fungus and other small plants it actually magnifies them and looks really cool!

“Armica” – Photo by Teresa Hawkins

“Bunchberry or Dwarf Dogwood Brown Lowrey” – Photo by Teresa Hawkins

There are 12 km of trails in the park. Families can choose from at least 8 different trail loops from a wee 1 km route to the full 12 km tour. If your little ones love exploring the forest floor, you can search for wildlife clues like forest animal homes, critter trails, chewed up logs, scat and tracks – all waiting for the kids to discover. Many species of wildlife live here including deer, moose, elk, lynx, bush bunnies, weasel, cougar, squirrels, owls and many species of birds.

“Red Belt Fungus – Brown Lowrey 2013” – Photo by Teresa Hawkins

Location

The Park is located approximately 50 km southwest of Calgary. Access is via Highways #22x west and #22 south until you get to Plummers Road then head west and southwest just over 11 km. The parking lot is easy to miss and although the road is paved it’s windy so drive with care.

The Brown-Lowery Park’s History

From 1896 to 1915 logging took place on parts of the property. Many of the hiking trails are old logging roads. The old building in the park is the remains of a small lumber camp and sawmill. If you make it to the meadow on Old Sawmill loop with your 8-year-old or older, it is a great site to explore and imagine how people did things in the old days of early settlement in Alberta. This type of history is part of the Grade 5 curriculum, so you can be part of your child’s schooling at this hands-on-learning spot.

Home Oil Company Ltd ran seismic surveys in the 1950’s looking for oil and gas. The old seismic lines, like the old logging roads, are now trails in the park. The park is named for the Home Oil founder Major James Lowery and subsequent partner, and company president, Robert A. Brown. The company donated the land to the government of Alberta in 1969 with the understanding it be kept in its natural state. In 1992 it was designated Brown-Lowery Provincial Park.

“Tiger Swallowtail – Brown Lowrey 2013” – Photo by Teresa Hawkins

Brown-Lowery is a great place to explore eco-system variety from grasslands (including native fescue and wildflowers at the lookout) and Aspen groves on the ridge, to mature Spruce and small creeks in the valley bottoms. Because of this variety of plant communities Brown-Lowery is a great spot for birders, wildflower enthusiasts and those who love the Fungi and mushrooms. Truly a fun family hideaway that is cool and shady on those hot summer days – everyone will find something to explore at this gem of a park.

“Talking trees hike 2013” – Photo by Teresa Hawkins

Due to the nature of the Montane eco-system it is a good mix of coniferous and deciduous trees and mosses along with boggy areas and gently rolling hills. It can be moist and muddy at any time of year and due to the shade the trails can be icy or snowy from October to March so pack along snowshoes or ice trekkers.

– by Julie Walker, outdoor educator and owner of Full Circle Adventures.

The Town of Mayerthorpe marks the north end of Hwy #22, and the townsfolk here affectionately refer to their community as The Trails End. Now there is also a special attraction marking the end of the Cowboy Trail. It features a marker which supports a sign and a story board. The custom metal sign, which was installed last year, was designed by local artist, Tom Johansson. On the story board you’ll find a brief description of The Cowboy Trail and the “Cowboy’s Prayer for the End of the Trail,” taken from “The Cowboy Trail, A Guide to Alberta’s Historic Cowboy Country” by D. Larraine  Andrews.

The Marker, Custom Sign, and Story Board are located at the intersection of 50th Avenue and 52nd Street (Cowboy Trail). You’ll find plenty of free parking at this location. Plus, Dundee Park is located just across the street. Whether you’re on a Cowboy Trail road trip or just driving through town, Dundee Park makes a great place for a picnic. Visitors will also enjoy exploring Main Street just one block away. When visiting Main Street, stop by Mayerthorpe Hardware and Liquidators to take a tour. You feel like you’ve been transported back in time to an early mercantile hardware store!

Make a memory by travelling to Mayerthorpe to take a picture next to the Trails End Point of Interest. Although your journey on the Cowboy Trail will stop there, your adventures in Maythorpe will just be starting. You’ll find numerous unique attractions and opportunities to experience cowboy heritage, ranching, horseback riding, agricultural fairs, and challenging marathons. Visit http://www.mayerthorpe.ca/play/tourism/ for more visitor information.

Just like us, movie and TV show directors have been awed by the rugged Western beauty of Alberta. In fact, many films, TV shows, and commercials have been filmed along the Cowboy Trail. The 2016 edition of “Experience the Cowboy Trail and Kananaskis Country” will include a special article about “Films of the Cowboy Trail.” We want to provide a teaser to whet your appetite and give you some extra content exclusive to this website!

re_select_1.00000874 Leonardo DiCaprio stars in THE REVENANT, an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. Copyright © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. THE REVENANT Motion Picture Copyright © 2015 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

In this blog post, we’ll focus on the new movie “The Revenant,” shot primarily in Kananaskis Country. (A battle scene was shot on the nearby Morley First Nations settlement.) “The Revenant” has been nominated for multiple awards and won a number of them too. At the Academy Awards USA, The Revenant won an Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Achievement in Directing (Alejandro González Iñárritu), and Best Achievement in Cinematography (Emmanuel Lubezki).

re_select_2.00001895 Inspired by true events, THE REVENANT is an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. It is directed and co-written by renowned filmmaker, Academy Award-winner Alejandro G. I–‡rritu (Birdman, Babel). Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. Copyright © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. THE REVENANT Motion Picture Copyright © 2015 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

re_select_3.00001914 Leonardo DiCaprio stars in THE REVENANT, an immersive and visceral cinematic experience capturing one man’s epic adventure of survival and the extraordinary power of the human spirit. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. Copyright © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. THE REVENANT Motion Picture Copyright © 2015 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

The experiences of frontiersman and fur trapper Hugh Glass in Montana and South Dakota were the backdrop to the movie “The Revenant.” While exploring the uncharted wilderness, Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) was severely injured from a brutal bear attack in 1823. After being left for dead by his close friend John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), Glass must survive at any cost while he finds his way back home to his beloved family. Filled with anger and focused on vengeance, Glass travels through harsh winter conditions, rough country and several life threatening challenges, to track down Fitzgerald.

re_select_4.00002444 Tom Hardy (foreground) and Will Poulter hunt for the person they had left for dead, in THE REVENANT. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. Copyright © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. THE REVENANT Motion Picture Copyright © 2015 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

re_select_5.00002709 Tom Hardy hunts for the person he had left for dead, in THE REVENANT. Photo Credit: Courtesy Twentieth Century Fox. Copyright © 2015 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All rights reserved. THE REVENANT Motion Picture Copyright © 2015 Regency Entertainment (USA), Inc. and Monarchy Enterprises S.a.r.l. All rights reserved. Not for sale or duplication.

Gianna Isabella, director’s assistant on the Revenent, appears in the middle of the picture above. Photo courtesy of Gianna Isabella.

Gianna Isabella, the director’s assistant for the Revenant, appears in the photo above. She said, “So many Alberta landscapes are just perfect for the big screen. I’m lucky to have worked on ‘The Revenent’ and ‘Lewis and Clark’ in Southern Alberta, and am happy to direct & produce my own films here.”

Rehearsing a scene in The Revenant. Courtesy of Gianna Isabella

As you can see in the photos, the rugged beauty of Kananaskis Country made a striking backdrop for “The Revenant.” Stay tuned for a couple more blog posts about films and movies made in Kananaskis Country!

It’s time for Kananaskis Outfitters to do some spring cleaning – and you get to benefit! Kananaskis Outfitters is holding their Annual Gear Sale to clear out old merchandise. If you are interested in ski and snowshoe gear, then you’ll want to take advantage of the great discounts. The sale is being held earlier this year than usual. Act fast because there is less gear for sale than previous years. And unlike previous years, you can pick your gear up right away after you order it. Buy in store or pre-buy by calling403-591-7000 10 am – 6 pm any day of the week. (Please have your sizing and credit card information ready when you call.)

X-Rental Skis

When you come in to pick up your gear give yourself some time to check out the great sales on Kananaskis Outfitters’ retail items. Brands including Patagonia, Icebreaker, Salomon, Sorel, Kuhl, Fig, Prana and many more are discounted!

X-Rental Snowshoes

X-Rental Bikes

Help make a difference in the world by attending a benefit on Saturday, March 5 for those in Nepal devastated by the massive 2015 earthquakes. The event takes place from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Redwood house in Redwood Meadows, Alberta. Join the Pioneer Foundation – Nepal, Renee Delorme and I.A. Foundation in building schools and facilities for communities in Gorkha and in supporting the Maya’s Children Home. The suggested entry donation is $25. 100% of the proceeds earned from the event will go directly to those endeavors. If you’d like updates and news on use of funds, you can call 403-200-9961 or email renee.n2n@gmail.com

The benefit will be filled with fun activities for the family including “pin the tail on the donkey” and “let’s build a school with Legos.” Ruth Chapiro (long time Director with the Canadian International Development Agency) will be the keynote speaker. You’ll also get to watch a special video address from Gautam Wagle, who is one of the founders of the Pioneer Foundation – Nepal. The evening also includes an auction of artwork from the children of Maya’s Home in Nepal as well as donations from local merchants and talented individuals. Local music celebrities will provide live entertainment throughout the afternoon and evening. Here is the schedule of musical performances:

• 3:30 Women Wine & Songs
• 5:00 Murray Rodgers
• 6:00 Scott Diehl
• 7:00 Leanne Copithorne and Tim Jeffrey
• 8:00 Val Hudson and Jamie Newsom

The journey of our neighbours in Nepal continues. Take advantage of this special opportunity to help! Follow the Canada to Nepal Facebook page for updates. And if you can’t attend the Neighbour to Neighbour event on March 5, then visit the Canada to Nepal GoFundMe page.

Our observations during the summer of 2015 was the visitation to the Mountain National Parks in Western Canada was up sharply in 2015 over visitation in 2014. Since the summer, as we have spoken with our clients within the parks, along the Cowboy Trail and in and around Kananaskis Country, most have confirmed that their 2015 sales were up between 6% and 30% over 2014.

Travel Alberta has recently confirmed our observations and the feedback from our clients, by reporting:

“Though the final numbers for 2015 visitation will not be complete until February, as of October 2015, Statistics Canada reports that Canada has experienced an overall increase in international visitors of 7.3%. This includes significant growth from the United States, and continued growth in China – two of our most important markets.

We have also seen great numbers from Brazil and Mexico (partly due to the draw of the Pan Am games in July), South Korea, as well as steady visitation from our European markets. Hopefully with the implementation of Connecting America funding, strong industry advocacy, and the value of the Canadian dollar, tourism will stay the course for continued growth in 2016!”

——————–

FORECAST FOR 2016

We would agree with Statistics Canada. Given the great value of the safe Canadian experience, the number of international tourists within Western Canada during 2016 will continue to grow.  That, combined with the growing Canadian trend of the Staycation, should cause the tourism industry to be a bright spot within the Canadian economy, and especially here in Alberta!

“Cooling in the Mist” – by Andrew Shaw

There are plenty of outdoor activities to enjoy in Kananaskis Country year round, but you need to know where you’re going, and what activities are permitted in each unique recreation area.

That’s why we’ve recently published, in cooperation with Alberta Parks, four updated official winter trail maps, to compliment the official summer trail maps we published last spring. All eight trail maps are now available in a digital format online. Download them, or print them off before you head into K-Country.

Our Snowshoe Trails Map features 16 designated snowshoe trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, the Kananaskis Valley, and the Chester/Sawmill areas. And our Cross Country Skiing Maps detail numerous trails in Mount Shark, Peter Lougheed and Ribbon Creek.

These maps are essential for snowshoers, cross-country skiers and winter hikers.  We’ve even included Winter Trail Etiquette tips to help you make the most of the experience for everyone.

We wish you safety and enjoyment out on the winter trails!

Yesterday our publisher Bob Harris wrote the following note below.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sheila Faryna, and her husband Allen, this morning at The Camera Store in Calgary.
Sheila was our Grand Prize Winner in the Judges Category of the Experience the Cowboy Trail Photo Contest.

Here is a photo of Sheila receiving her $500 Gift Certificate from Julian Ferreira (right), co-owner of The Camera Store,
and Bob Harris (left), publisher of Experience the Cowboy Trail.

Sheila was really pleased with her prize and immediately used it to purchase a brand new Nikon D7100 camera.

Bob was also in the market for a new camera, and given the great sale still on (last day today!) at The Camera
Store, couldn’t resist buying a new Canon D70 with 2 great lenses.

Looking for a new camera, head on down to The Camera Store for a great deal. Although with this snowy
weather in Calgary today, you might want to buy off of their web site at www.thecamerastore.com.

Thank you to everyone who entered the 2015 Experience the Cowboy Trail Photo Contest! We saw some great pictures taken near the Cowboy Trail capturing the Western lifestyle.

Congratulations to Sheila Faryna for winning first place in the Judges Category! Her winning picture “Quiet Time” depicts a beautiful serene Western landscape. Her prize is a $500 gift certificate to the Camera Store.

First place in Judges Category: “Quiet Time” – by Sheila Faryna

Joe Tschanz came “galloping” in at second place in the Judges Category with his picture “Galloping through the mud.” For his prize, he will receive a Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino and Rockies Heli Canada getaway. It includes 2 Night’s Accommodation, Voucher for Buffet dinner for 2 people, Continental breakfast each morning, and a $200 gift certificate for a heli tour. Congratulations, Joe!

Second place in Judges Category: “Galloping through the mud” – by Joe Tschanz

We’d also like to extend our congratulations again to the winner of the Voting Category. The picture “Where to girl” has won Marilyn Grubb a Boundary Ranch and Sundance Lodges getaway, which includes a “Ride and Lunch” package for two and a 1 Night Stay in a Large Tipi or Trapper’s Tent.

Voting Category winner: “Where To Girl” – by Marilyn Grubb

Stay tuned for details about our 2016 Experience the Cowboy Trail Photo Contest. Meanwhile, check out ourExperience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest (which ends March 1, 2016) and our Experience Fish Creek Photo Contest (which ends May 20, 2016). We are offering some terrific prizes for the winners of those contests, too! Even if you don’t enter either contest, we still welcome your vote for your favourite photo. It will help determine the winner of the Voting Category for each of those contests.

We wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy New Year!

We’re excited to announce the Voting Category winner in our 2015 Photo Contest. Marilyn Grubb’s photo “Where to Girl” received more votes from our reader than any other entry.

For the prize, Marilyn will receive a Boundary Ranch and Sundance Lodges getaway, which includes a “Ride and Lunch” package for two and a 1 Night Stay in a Large Tipi or Trapper’s Tent.

Thank you to everyone who entered the Experience the Cowboy Trail Photo Contest this year! We will be announcing the winners in the Judges Category soon.

Stay tuned for details about our 2016 Experience the Cowboy Trail Photo Contest. Meanwhile, check out our Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest (which ends March 1, 2016) and our Experience Fish Creek Photo Contest (which ends May 20, 2016). We are offering some terrific prizes for the winners of those contests, too! Even if you don’t enter either contest, we still welcome your vote for your favourite photo. It will help determine the winner of the Voting Category for each of those contests.