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The David Thompson Explorer’s Trail: Drive a Famous Expedition
Family road trips can offer the perfect opportunity for an invigorating and educational vacation v and what better place to do that than in Alberta's own backyard? Steeped in history and beautiful scenery, with hiking, museums, scenic drives and plentiful wildlife all at your fingertips, you can put an Alberta road trip at the top of your list of affordable family vacations. David Thompson, considered one of Canada's most significant explorers, is famous for his 1806-1808 expedition during which he traveled up the North Saskatchewan River and discovered the Athabasca Pass through the Continental Divide. Retracing his steps is a great family car trip that makes the most of Alberta's scenic beauty. You'll find a handy map at the bottom of this story. One of the most spectacular gateways to the Rocky Mountains is the lesser-known David Thompson Highway (Hwy 11 on maps), a tranquil alternative to the popular Trans-Canada. Here you can step back in time and retrace the enormous tracks left by David Thompson, one of Canada's greatest explorers, as you blaze your own trails on your family road trips. Named after one of the world's greatest geographers, this trail officially begins in Stettler and heads west along Hwy 11 to the junction of Hwy 93, skimming through prairie farmland, breathtaking scenery, the foothills, remote wilderness areas with untouched wildlife, and several historic sites. With plenty of opportunities for side-trips and stopovers, The David Thompson Explorer's Trail finally deposits you on the glacier-studded Icefields Parkway, which links two of Canada's most scenic national parks v Jasper and Banff. Retrace Canadian Explorer's Steps Equally accessible from Calgary and Edmonton, Stettler is located 72 km east of Hwy 2 in the heart of a farming and ranching area. It's also the home of Alberta Prairie Railway Excursions, a steam train operation that runs during the summer to numerous small prairie towns. On-board entertainment runs the gamut from murder mysteries to Wild West shoot-outs, to fine dining trips v the perfect sidebar for family vacations. Head west to Red Deer and you'll encounter a thriving metropolis that loops and dips around the scenic canyons and banks of the Red Deer River. Sites to visit on this road trip include Waskasoo Park, Fort Normandeau, Heritage Ranch, Kerry Wood Nature Centre, Red Deer & District Museum and the Riverbend Golf Club. Just 19 km west of Red Deer lies Sylvan Lake v western Canada's largest outdoor water park v where you'll also find sandy beaches, a large marina, boating, fishing, golfing and camping facilities. Discover Fur Trading Posts Continuing west, at Rocky Mountain House you'll discover a modern town anchored with a history that dates back to the late 1700s, where the first of four fur-trading posts were built at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan rivers. The forts were used not only for trading, but as bases for exploring, especially by David Thompson. Be sure to spend time at the National Historic Park where there's an excellent visitors' centre, the ruins of four forts, a buffalo paddock and a stretch of riverbank where massive voyageur canoes would have come ashore to be loaded with furs bound for Europe. In fact, one of the best ways to appreciate the history of this area is to join a local outfitter on a canoe, or raft, trip down the North Saskatchewan River where you can see all the beautiful scenery and local wildlife up close and personal. If your schedule allows, you might want to plan your family road trips around David Thompson Days, celebrated August 18-20, 2006 in Rocky Mountain House. In addition to honoring David Thompson's accomplishments, the festival features numerous exhibits, a river race and more. Westbound, Hwy 11 climbs slowly from the aspen parkland around Rocky Mountain House into the dense forests that hug the beautiful scenery of the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. The only community between "Rocky" and Banff National Park is Nordegg, 85 km west of Rocky. Nordegg was once a booming coal-mining town, but was abandoned when the mines closed in 1955. Today you'll find an excellent museum housed in the old schoolhouse and daily tours (summertime only) of the old town site and mine provide a nice diversion during a road trip. Find Canyons and Falls From here, your family car trip continues as Hwy 11 dips southwest heading toward Crescent Falls and Bighorn Canyon. Further west awaits the brilliant turquoise shimmer of Abraham Lake, one of Alberta's largest reservoirs. After leaving the lake, the highway enters the Kootenay Plains Natural Area v precisely the spot where David Thompson met and traded goods with the Kootenay Indians in 1800. Nearby are superb hiking trails into spectacular locations such as Siffleur Falls and Canyon, as well as numerous backcountry lakes and mountain passes well suited to hiking. Another must-see is Whirlpool Point Lookout where you'll discover scenic views of the North Saskatchewan River and surrounding mountains. Keep heading west to Saskatchewan River Crossing where this trail ends at the junction of Hwy 93, just inside Banff National Park. It was from here, in 1807, that David Thompson continued his trek by following the Howse River over the Rocky Mountains into present-day British Columbia. Today, all that visitors must decide at this point is to either head north via the Columbia Icefields to Jasper and then east to Edmonton on the Yellowhead Highway or, veer south and travel via Peyto Lake to Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary. But no matter which route you choose, your family road trips are sure to be remembered for years to come. Total Distance: 349 km/218 mi Day 1 - Stettler to Red Deer - 101 km/63 mi Day 2 - Red Deer to Rocky Mountain House - 81 km/50 mi Day 3 - Rocky Mountain House to Banff/Jasper - 259 km/161 mi -------------------- E-mail this article to your friend! HotelDirectory.ws presents direct links to hotels, apartments, hostels, motels, guesthouses,
self-catering accommodation and more. |
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