Small Town Trek: High River

This urban walking adventure makes a tour of High River Alberta, a community that’s grown a lot over the last few years, but still displays much small town charm. The older neighbourhoods are home to many historic buildings – a plus for people into that kind of weird stuff – and the route shown an easy mix of pathway and sidewalk. It’s all pretty easy going and you know on certain days that’s just what’s needed.

Start off at a park at the intersection of Riverside Drive and Road, in the northwest quadrant of town. Take to the pathway, pass the memorial tree garden, cross a road, circle around Highwood Lake, then it’s another road crossing; then finally duck behind some townhomes before reaching High Country Drive. Run on sentence much? Now turn right.

At High View Gate, dip south behind a row of houses and intercept the pathway. Pass a little pond and on coming to 7th Avenue, head back up to High County Drive and continue eastbound-ish to Centre Street. The pathway is on the far side and will take you all the way into downtown. Cross the old Canadian Pacific Railway line that once ran through the community and while the tracks are long gone, one can find little hints of what was here and there. Old rotted ties can be seen, for example.

In a few minutes you’ll pass some empty lots on your left. The Highwood River is just out of view in that direction and the whole neighbourhood that once stood here flooded out in 2013 and soon after, everything was removed. You can still see where the houses were and there’s hedges, sidewalks, the odd fence. Interestingly, all the lawns are still mowed. How Twilight Zone like.

There used to be a good-ole’-boy’s roadhouse along this stretch that we always wanted to patronize, but I guess we waited too long. Picture the one in that Patrick Swayze movie and you get the idea – steaks the size of plates, belt buckles that double as satellite dishes, nothing but pickup trucks out front and a rowdy clientele. I hear they played both kinds of music – country and western.

Cross the Highwood and head right into downtown. Just wander about and take in all the fine old structures. The former Post Office is nice and of course, we’re drawn to the train station, now a museum. The latter has appeared in a couple movies – Silver Streak in the 1970s and briefly in 1983’s Superman III. A lot has been filmed in the community.

Look for Maggie’s from the series Heartland. It’s funny how these movie/TV sets are unconvincing in person, and look so hastily slapped together, yet in photos no one would question them. We’ve been to many sets, purpose built and otherwise and that’s how each and everyone was. We’ll show you the plywood and Styrofoam locomotives from Hell on Wheels some time.

There’s plenty of murals to take in and the near century old Wales Theatre is super cool. Grab a coffee while in town or a bite to eat, find a bench and soak up the ambience. It’s very old west feeling – but then again this is ranching and horse country. When done exploring, head west to MacLeod Trail (long ago the main north/south route in the Southern Alberta) and keep on it for a while. Pass St Benedict Church and the old Spitzee School both seen in Superman III (know more + the train station gets mention too: As Seen In: Superman III / Silver Streak.

Look for the Queen Anne style Noble House on the opposite side of the street and stop in for tea if you get the chance.

Continuing west on MacLeod, go left when you come to Eighth Street. On a southbound heading, and after a few blocks, go left on the pathway next to Twelfth Avenue, there at the very edge of town. Pass that yummy drive-in burger place (closed on our visit, or we’d have grabbed a shake) and on coming to Little Bow Park, go north. Where the pathway bends left, take a side trail heading right across a bridge and come to Crescent Avenue and turn left. Then soon after it’s right on Eighth Avenue Southeast, at a park, then after a couple blocks it’s left on Fifth Street.

Along this stretch look for a distinctive turreted house on the right. This was Lana Lang’s place in Superman III and a few years back we were fortunate to get a tour (thanks Vera!). Here: Robertson House/Lana Lang House Superman III and also this: Superman 3 Then & Now – Lana Lang’s. It has loads of character.

Go left on Third Avenue and look for an old garage or service station. The signage seen, we believe, was done up for a movie or TV show, although truth is, we’re not sure which. Anyone? Along here, there’s some nice old homes, including one visible down Third Street (looking north) that reminds us of a certain Eaton’s catalogue home. It looks very much like one of their popular Earlsfield model, although differing in window treatment.

Wait, we just found some info and it’s not what we thought but it sure is similar. And get this, we just found out there’s another house near identical in design, right next door, but unseen from our angle. We just might have to come back to check them out.

Back in the core, turn right on Centre Street pass the creepy horse head, then cross the river again and if you like, dip into that ghost-neighbourhood we spoke about earlier. The one that got wiped out by floods – remember? The road is still there and it’s a weird feeling walking about all that emptiness. You can see how it looked just before it was bulldozed, here: Happy Trails High River.

Cross Centre Street at the marked crosswalk and take the pathway heading across a field, then behind the golf course. Then turn right on Seventh Street, and a few blocks later, it’s left at the pathway. From here, just retrace your steps back to your car. At Notre Dame Collegiate: the clouds suddenly part and for a moment bathed the building in an soft ethereal light. First an image of Mary (or maybe one some Saint) on my morning toast and then this! Angels…we don’t hear any angels singing…

And you’re done and till the next hiking adventure, happy trails…

Know more (new tab): High River Alberta Pathways.

They’re saying…

A great community to get ideas of places to explore in Alberta. For us older people allows us to reminisce and also learn more about Alberta. Very nice/cool pictures too!!” Candace Larsen.

More fun and adventure in High River…
High River Loop.

More urban hikes…
Drumheller Pathways – Ice Cream!
Urban Trek: 17th Ave SE.
Roaming Nanton.

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: November, 2020.
Location: High River, AB.
Distance: 14km of meandering fun if you follow our route to the letter.
Height gain maximum: Really?
Height gain cumulative: See above.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own).

Starting out in the NW corner of town.

Behind a row of townhouses.

Happy Trails!

Crossing an old rail line.

Downtown bound.

Connie’s silly hat makes people smile.

Before 2013 this was a residential neighbourhood.

The world needs a lot of it…and bad.

The former Post Office building from 1930.

As seen in Heartland.

A depiction of Fort Spitzee.

Lunch stop!

The train station is now a museum.

The chuck’s are celebrated.

The Wales Theatre dates back to 1927.

A super scene.

The Noble House.

That time of the year.

Along 12th Avenue at the south edge of town.

In Little Bow Park.

Lana’s place.

Painted up for a movie – we think.

If not an Eaton’s Catalogue Home, it looks like one.

This is horse country.

Crossing the Highwood.

Rows of houses once stood here.

The clouds parted…

Circling around Highwood Lake and almost done.

From one end of High River to the other.