The Calgary area is celebrated for its mountains, prairies, and low rolling ranchlands. All are thinly treed, allowing the distant vistas for which southern Alberta is famous. For a change of pace, how about a tirp that features the heavier forests of its foothills and lower mountain slopes? This route rises over the rugged foothills of southern Alberta and then follows the Oldman River out of the dense forests and lack onto the edge of the plains. Along the way there’s a refreshing stop at the love Livingstone Falls.

The drive south from Calgary roughly follows the eastern edge of southern Alberta’s foothills, a thin belt that parallels the Rocky Mountains on a northwest-southeast alignment. Highway 22 south of Longview actually marks the geological boundary between the foothill formations to the west and the plains to the east.

While sedimentary layers of primarily sandstones and shales underlie both, the plains strata have remained fairly horizontal. The foothills structures, by contrast, were shaped some 50 million years ago by the same forces that earlier created the mountains to the west. Their layers have thus been intricately folded, causing older rocks to be stacked on top of younger ones.

Drilling for natural gas and oil in the Turner Valley field has revealed highly complex rock structures beneath the surface. Clues to these underground structures can be found along riverbanks where the bedrock has been exposed. The north bank of the Highwood River near Longview is a good place to look for these features.

The reason these complex structures are not revealed at the surface is that the bedrock of sandstones and shale is fairly soft and has eroded over the years into the gentler slopes of the foothills. Sandstone, however, is more resistant than shale and forms the parallel ridges one finds in the foothills. Where exposed as outcrops, these sandstone ridges are called hogbacks. Softer shales usually underlie the dips or valleys between the ridges. 

Just north of Chain lakes reservoir, the route swings west to climb through the foothills and into the Front Ranges of the Rockies. The road initially follows the headwaters of willow creek and then starts a roller-coaster ride through aspen forest that soon gives way to pine and spruce.

Higher up, the valley walls become more steep-sided and several drainages descend from a rockier ridge, the first evidence of a transition to a mountain environment. The road climbs steeply to a divide that provides superb views back down the valley and over the contorted hills to flatter lands beyond.

From a small parking lot on the left, adventurous hikers can follow a rough trail south along an open, broad ridge-the aptly named Windy Peak Hills. In mid-to late fall, this is often a superb place to watch, up close, the southern migration of golden eagles.

Back in the vehicle, you quickly descend into heavier coniferous forest, a steady companion the length of the Forestry Trunk Road. Ten kilometres south on this road, it is well worth stopping for a picnic or stroll at the livingstone falls campground, set amid well-spaced trees. The river here and the mountain range to the east are named for the famous African explorer and missionary David Livingstone.

Although small, Livingstone Falls is unique. A rock ledge has been thrust up into the current, allowing the water to slide elegantly down its surface, rather than falling off it. The tiny river divides into two channels here, forming closely spaced waterfalls over the same ledge. 

Beyond the campground, the road soon follows the Oldman River, which tumbles out of mountains to the west and heads south along this valley. The river’s name comes from a Blackfoot word that means ”the river the Ole man played upon.” According to legend, the Blackfoot god Old Man Napi created a playing field near where the river is joined by the tributary Livingstone River.

The oldman river suddenly swings east through the livingstone range at a spectacular canyon known as the Gap. The route follows the canyon east along secondary 517. It is believed this slash in the mountain flank was initially carved by an ancient oldman river and subsequently enlarged by glaciation. In much more recent times, the Gap has also been an important transportation corridor for moving cattle to and from summer ranges in the high country.

Beyond the gap, the road suddenly emerges into rolling hills that are largely naked. There are, however, patches of aspen in sheltered sports an thick stands of Douglas fir on slopes to the south. The lower foothills south of the Bow River are actually a southern extension of aspen parkland, ore commonly found in central Alberta. A mixture of aspen forest and prairie grassland dominates this ecosystem.

From Macleod Trail/Highway 2, at the south end of Calgary, drive 17 kilometres west on Highway 22X and then 77 kilometres south on Highway 22. Just north of Chain Lakes Reservoir, turn west on Secondary 532 and follow it for 26 kilometres to its junction with Secondary 40, the Forstry Trunk Road. Drive 39 kilometres south on secondary 40 and then 22 kilometres east on secondary 517 to rejoin Highway 22, following it north towards Calgary.

about 330 kilometres return

Secondary 532 west from chain lakes is a rough gravel road that adds a rugged dimension to this trip. It’s certainly passable by passenger vehicles when reasonably dry. This section can be avoided by taking paved secondary 40/forestry trunk road, a much smoother gravel road.

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All the informations from <Day Trips from Calgary> revised & updated.

Bill Corbett

All the pic is from webset 

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