Discover Alberta’s Southwest: Mountains, Ranchlands & Hidden Passes

Lethbridge to Pincher Creek Circle Tour | Southern Alberta Road Trip

This Southern Alberta circle tour links the prairie city of Lethbridge with the windblown ranchlands and mountain-fringed towns of Pincher Creek. It’s a route full of foothills, history, and that untamed southern spirit — where every bend in the road leads to something unexpected.

What makes this tour special? You’re not just following the map — you’re riding the edges of the prairies and climbing toward the Rockies, one small town at a time.

⛰️ From Lethbridge to Pincher Creek: Foothills, Falls & Old Roads
Start in Lethbridge, then head west through Shaughnessy, Diamond City, and Nobleford, where the farms stretch wide and grain elevators still frame the skyline. Fort Macleod offers a history lesson with its iconic NWMP museum and main street straight out of a western.

Continue west through Granum, Claresholm, and Lundbreck, where waterfalls, wind, and winding highways define the landscape. Roll through Brocket, Burmis, and Beaver Mines, then into the Crowsnest Pass towns of Bellevue, Frank, and Blairmore — each packed with frontier history and mountain views.

Wrap the loop in Pincher Creek, a town that wears its ranching roots proudly, but still surprises with galleries, local eats, and high prairie charm.

🛣️ Return from Pincher Creek: Ranch Roads & River Valleys
Heading back east, swing through Twin Butte and Mountain View — quiet ranchland routes where cattle outnumber cars. Then into Cardston, known for its temple and pioneer museum, followed by Magrath, Raymond, and Stirling, each holding tight to community tradition and agricultural pride.

Continue past Beazer, Aetna, Welling, Del, Bonita, and finally back to Lethbridge, where city energy meets country roots.

☕ Hidden Gems Along the Way

• Frank Slide Interpretive Centre

• Lundbreck Falls scenic pull-off

• Twin Butte Country Store (tacos + gas + stories)

• Fort Macleod NWMP Museum

• Stirling Agricultural Village – National Historic Site

📸 Pro Tip:
Sunset over the Frank Slide or sunrise at Lundbreck Falls — unforgettable. Keep your camera handy every mile of this loop.

Maps: Southern AB R3 & R4
Towns: Lethbridge, Shaughnessy, Diamond City, Nobleford, Fort Macleod, Granum, Claresholm, Lundbreck, Brocket, Burmis, Beaver Mines, Bellevue, Frank, Blairmore, Cowley, Pincher Creek, Aetna, Beazer, Cardston, Del, Bonita, Hill Spring, Magrath, Raymond, Stirling, Twin Butte, Welling, Whiskey Gap, Mountain View, Baron