7 Fairy-Tale Small Towns In Alberta

Alberta is located in western Canada, and is the westernmost out of Canada’s three prairie provinces. It is bordered by the Northwest Territories to the north, Saskatchewan to the east, the state of Montana to the south, and British Columbia to the west. Alberta’s capital city is Edmonton, a transportation hub with railways, roads, pipelines, and an international airport. Other major cities include Calgary, home of the Calgary Stampede — a world-famous rodeo festival.

Alberta has a diverse landscape, sharing the Rocky Mountains with British Columbia on the western border, and prairie and Badlands towards the southern and eastern parts of the province. While Alberta’s larger cities are gateways to its national and provincial parks, many of the province’s small towns are nestled within its natural beauty. These are seven fairy-tale small towns in Alberta.

Banff

The town of Banff is synonymous with the province of Alberta — and for good reason. It is a gateway to Banff National Park which holds the status of Canada’s first National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Banff is surrounded by towering peaks that are part of the Rocky Mountains, giving the town an enchanting, snow globe-like feel. There’s no better way to take in the surrounding landscape than riding the Banff Gondola 700-meters up to the summit of Sulphur Mountain where you can explore 500-meters of boardwalk and take in panoramic views of the valley.

Nothing is more whimsical than Christmas, and in Banff, the Spirit of Christmas delights locals and visitors alike throughout all four seasons as the largest year-round Christmas store in Canada. Visit the Fairmont Banff Springs, Canada’s “Castle in the Rockies”. Book a pass at their award-winning spa or enjoy culinary delights at many onsite dining options.

Jasper

Jasper is a small community located in the Athabasca Valley within Jasper National Park, and yet another Albertan town surrounded by mountains forming an alpine skyline. Jasper is closely located to many trails, beaches and lakes. Maligne Canyon is popular because its experiences vary throughout the year, and you can visit it for as short as 15 minutes or as long as three hours. You can get view ancient fossils embedded in the rock, cross scenic bridges, and view more waterfalls than you can count.

Ride the Jasper SkyTram to its upper station at 2,263 meters, then hike to the summit of Whistlers Mountain for even higher panoramic views. On a clear day mountain ranges extending over 80-kilometers away are visible, including Mount Robson which is located in the next province over, British Columbia. Experience another world by boarding an all-terrain Ice Explorer to the Athabasca Glacier — a 10,000-year-old sheet of ice located about 90 minutes south of town.

Lake Louise

Lake Louise is a much quieter and less popular town than Banff, but is famous for the iconic turquoise-colored nearby lake of the same name. Nestled in the forests high above Lake Louise is the Lake Agnes Tea House. The 3.5-kilometer trail is connected to the shores of Lake Louise and rewards hikers with tea and handmade cakes that can be enjoyed on original rustic tables and chairs used by adventurers since the tea house’s early days in 1905.

Moraine Lake is a popular attraction and is only accessible by shuttle, commercial tours, or bikes between June and October. The exclusivity of it is part of its appeal, and visiting the lake that is circled by the Valley of the Ten Peaks is so enchanting it feels like stepping into a storybook. Typical of many Albertan towns in the Rockies, the Lake Louise Gondola is ideal for summer views of the mountains. However the Lake Louise Gondola is unique due to the wildlife viewing opportunities, including grizzly bears, moose, and lynx, althouth the lynx is rarely seen.

Kananaskis Village

Kananaskis Village is a resort community at the base of the Rocky Mountains, located between Canmore and Calgary, offering seasonal activities throughout the year. One constant year-round is the Kananaskis Nordic Spa which practices the rejuvenating wellness benefits of hydrotherapy as the only Nordic Spa in Alberta.

In the summer, horseback riding is possible through the Boundary Ranch which allows guest to experience the wild west through trail rides and horseback expeditions that will transport you back to a bygone way of life. Travelling through the Kananaskis Valley on horseback grants unmatched views of nature from a unique perspective. Kananaskis has over 150 hiking trails, many of which are popular in the winter such as Troll Falls, a mild incline through a forested trail that may be slippery and muddy, but rewards hikers with a frozen waterfall at the end.

Waterton Park

Waterton Park, or as it is commonly known, Waterton, is located within the 505-square-kilometer footprint of Waterton Lake National Park. The town offers a blend of natural beauty and cultural attractions. Bear’s Hump is a moderate hike with benches along the trail up until the flat top, or “hump” that gives the most iconic views of mountain peaks down the valley and to prairies in the north.

Alternatively, the Prince of Wales Hotel provides views of the village of Waterton. It sits atop a bluff overlooking town and is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon tea or rest in one of their historical, rustic-style rooms. Drive the Bison Paddock Loop, a scenic drive that passes through grasslands where bison are often seen grazing by natural springs or even close the road for optimal photo opportunities.

Drumheller

Drumheller is also known as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World” due to the 70-million-year-old fossil beds and the surrounding Badlands landscape. The Willow Creek Hoodoos are located on the outskirts of town. Ranging in height from one to three meters, the group of approximately 10 Hoodoos feature white sandstone marine shales. Walking amongst them feels like being in a prehistoric world.

Towering about the town is Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur standing at 86-feet tall — four times the size of a real tyrannosaurus rex. It is possible for visitors to climb a staircase to Tyra’s mouth which is big enough to fit 12 people inside and offers a unique view of the Drumheller Valley. To learn more about Alberta’s dinosaur history, the Royal Tyrell Museum allows a glimpse into Alberta over 69 million years ago including exhibits based on scientific evidence of a mass grave or bonebed where fossilized dinosaur skeletons were discovered.

Grande Cache

Grande Cache is located in western Alberta, at the northern base of the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by panoramic views of 21 mountain peaks and two river valleys. This small town is adjacent to Wilmore Wilderness Park — where the road ends and the adventure begins. It is the largest wilderness park in Alberta and a great place for lakeside camping, paddling, and fishing.

Visit the medieval-style Grande Cache Labyrinth Park and unwind while you walk the 11 circuits to get to the center. Labyrinths were used in the Middle Ages to calm the mind and with a mountain view as a backdrop, it is guaranteed to do the same to people in Grande Cache. Join Wild Blue Yonder Rafting and become immersed between narrow canyons. Your world narrows to only river and rock — so close you can reach out and touch the stone of the cliffs or the shrubbery growing out of crevices as you sail down an ancient, untouched river.

Step into Alberta's Fairy-Tale Towns

Alberta’s unique and diverse landscape attributes to its whimsical, fairy-tale towns. Whether they are nestled in the Rocky Mountains or in the Badlands, these small towns are full of whimsy. From historic buildings to untouched natural landscapes, these seven small towns in Alberta feel like you are stepping into a fairy-tale.