Rocky Mountain House

Rocky Mountain House is a town in Central Alberta.

Understand

Rocky Mountain House is located approximately 77 km (48 mi) west of Red Deer at the confluence of the Clearwater and North Saskatchewan Rivers, and at the crossroads of Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail) and Highway 11 (David Thompson Highway). The surrounding Clearwater County's administration office is located in Rocky Mountain House. Rocky Mountain House is the gateway to David Thompson County, a wilderness recreational area located west of the town in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

History

The town's history dates back to the 18th century with the presence of British and Canadian fur traders during the westward Canadian expansion. In 1799, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company each established the Rocky Mountain House, the westernmost post on the North Saskatchewan and was within sight of the Rocky Mountains, and Acton House fur trading posts. Trade with the local aboriginal peoples continued until 1821 when the companies merged, they continued to trade until 1875 and closed the Rocky Mountain House post. The name of the settlement however remained. The Rocky Mountain House settlement also served as a launching point for many explorers such as David Thompson, in search for a passage west to the Pacific Ocean. Many travellers used this location as a stop on their way further west or northwest.

Get in

Rocky Mountain House can be accessed from Edmonton or Calgary by taking the Queen Elizabeth II Highway (Highway 2) to Red Deer, then going west on Highway 11. Rocky Mountain House is also accessible from the west via Icefields Parkway (Highway 93).

Get around

See
  • 🌍 Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site (6 km west of Rocky Mountain House on Hwy 11A). An archaeological site that contains the remains of several early 19th-century fur trade forts known as Rocky Mountain House. It is located on the North Saskatchewan River, the designation refers to the remains of trading establishments built and occupied between 1799 and 1875 on the west bank of the North Saskatchewan River above its confluence with the Clearwater River together with an associated burying ground. (updated Feb 2019)

Nearby
  • Brazeau Collieries Historic Mine Site, 4002 Stuart Street, Nordegg, AB (91 km west of Rocky Mountain House along Hwy 11). The Brazeau Collieries Historic Mine Site is both a Provincial and National Historic Resource; guided tours of this industrial coal mine site during the summer months. Tours are two hour long guided walks. Journey through a 1950s coal briquette plant or tour the auxiliary buildings to discover how this remote facility operated and go into a mine entrance. Tours of the Brazeau Collieries Historic Mine Site start at the Nordegg Heritage Centre. (updated Feb 2019)

Do

David Thompson Country
  • ATV Trails. There are numerous ATV trails located west of Rocky Mountain House, accessible from Hwy 11 and the Forestry Trunk Road. (updated Feb 2019)
  • Biking. There are numerous mountain biking trails located west of Rocky Mountain House. (updated Feb 2019)
  • Hiking. There are many different locations in the Rocky Mountain House area that are open to hiking. (updated Feb 2019)

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Camping
  • Centennial Park, 5301 55 Avenue. 15 site, not suitable for large units (updated Feb 2019)
  • New Old Town Campground, 4302 62 Street, ☎ +1-403-844-4442. Bath house with flush toilets and showers. Fire pits, firewood and picnic tables. Nine cottages are also available for rent. (updated Feb 2019)

Nearby

David Thompson Country

There are numerous camping options along the 172-kilometre-long (107 mi) David Thompson Highway (Highway 11) corridor between Rocky Mountain House and Banff National Park.

Hotels & Motels

Nearby

Connect

Go next

Continue west to Banff National Park and the Icefields Parkway.

Routes through Rocky Mountain House

ENDS at N S ← Banff National Park ←  W  E  → Sylvan Lake → Red Deer
END ←  W  E  → Lacombe → Stettler
Jct W E ← Drayton Valley ←  N  S  → Sundre → Cochrane


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