Cowboy Trail Day 1 : Mayerthorpe to Drayton Valley
- Mayerthorpe – Drayton Valley
- Distance one way: 91.4 km
- Round trip drive time: 2 hrs
- Road trip time frame: ½ day to a full day
The 91.4 km drive on the northern part of the historic Cowboy Trail from Mayerthorpe to Drayton Valley is a small section of the 584 km Hwy 22 route that begins in Mayerthorpe and ends in Lundbreck.
This at the junction of Hwy 22 and Hwy 43. For a little side excursion, you can head East of Hwy 43 to Rochfort, where you can see one of North America’s longest wooden train trestle-bridge, the Rochfort Bridge and stop in the community of Mayerthorpe to visit the Fallen Four Memorial Park.
Heading south on Hwy 22 from Mayerthorpe will see rolling farmlands, mixed with forest, and big Alberta sky. As you cross over the Lobstick River you will see a sign to turn East at Hwy 16A/Evansburg.
This is a scenic route into Evansburg. The community of Evansburg is nestled at the junction of the Lobstick River and the Pembina River. In Evansburg you can learn about the community’s railway past at the Tipple Park Museum.
Continue through the community on Hwy 16A you will drive down a hairpin turn into a picturesque ravine crossing the Pembina River. Across the bridge, on your left is the Pembina River Provincial Park. This park is a popular hop off place for people floating the river from Enwistle.
Honestly, you could spend a whole day at the park’s riverside day use area. The shallow Pembina River is an ideal place for kids and adults looking to cool off during a hot summer day.
Continuing on Hwy 16A you will climb out of the river valley and find yourself alongside the community of Entwistle. The large scale murals draw you down the historic mainstreet and if river banks is not your thing then cool off at the newly renovated outdoor pool.
Make a splash on the large outdoor water slide or show off your skills on the diving board. In the spirit of the Cowboy Trail the annual Entwistle Rodeo is a show stopper and is a popular event.
Leaving Entwistle you continue to make your way south on Hwy 16A/Hwy22 heading towards Drayton Valley. Along your drive you will continue along rolling hills mixed with farmlands and forests.
Nearing Drayton Valley you can take a little side trip East on Twp 494 to the Pembina Nordic Ski trails in the Eagle Point Provincial Park. Here you will get your first views of the North Saskatchewan River and high up on the river bank you can play some disc golf, hike, or mountain bike the trail system.
The Pembina Nordic Trails are managed by volunteer club members. There are side of road trail access point for non-club members. Be forewarned in a wet summer the first entrance to the trails via Ridge Trail can be very wet. Here is a link to give you more information on the trails and how you can support by donation. Pembina Nordic.ca
Using Drayton Valley as your staging area for your West Central Alberta adventure you have a number of choices for accommodation, and dining out experiences, as well as parks, playgrounds and leisure adventures.
Click for “Cowboy Trail Day 2:Drayton Valley to Alder Flats”
The joys of winter camping
Last winter some gals and I embarked on a trial cross country skiing/winter camping adventure on the Pembina River. The experience was amazing and left me wishing that winter was not coming to such an abrupt end.
The back 40
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Ten winter experiences close to home
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Spaaah Experience
This prompted me to wonder what other hidden gems we had in Drayton Valley that could be used to make an at home spa day.
Rural Watering Hole Tour
Before there were clubs, and ultra lounges there was the rural bar. The rural bar was a place people would go to have a drink, eat some food, get a bit of news and maybe even get a haircut. The rural bar was usually built alongside or attached to the lone hotel in the community.
Rural rodeos you don’t want to miss
Rodeos have been a big part of the Brazeau and Beyond region since the Buck Lake Stampede first ran in 1929. The rural rodeo experience is not the circus you see in the larger locales. You’re closer to the action and it’s much more intimate.
