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Heritage Attractions

Bellevue Underground Mine

Visitors are provided with a unique insight into mining heritage through guided tours in the underground coal mine as well as educational and interpretive programming.  Visitors don authentic mining gear and with an interpretive guide experience part of life a miner of the time would experience.

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  • 218414-18th Avenue Bellevue
  • (403) 564-4700
  • Open May to Labor Dy
  • Tours available by appointment outside of operating season

 

Burmis Tree

The "Burmis Tree" is a limber pine that was approximately 700 years old when it died in 1978-79. The tree feel to the ground and was put back up by a combination of public and private contributions to keep this significant landmark "alive".

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  • Along Highway #3 east of the Crowsnest Pass

 

Crowsnest Pass Historical Museum and Gift Shop

Located in downtown Coleman National Historic Site, the museum is home to over 50, 000 artifact 25,000 on display at any given time in six themed galleries and numerous exhibits telling the story of the Crowsnest Pass and its people.

  • 7701-18th Avenue Coleman
  • (403) 563-5434
  • Open Year Round

 

Frank Slide Interpretive Centre

Visitors to the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre will have the opportunity to experience hands-on displays and interpretive tools that feature more of the science of the slide and high light the past, present and future of the slide site.  The centerpiece display - "Frank - The Day of the Slide" features architecturally - exact replicas of the townsite's buildings on the morning of April 29th- when the mountain collapsed.

 

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  • 1.5 km north of Highway #3, Frank
  • (403) 562-7388
  • Open Year Round

 

Gushul Studio

Thomas Gushul, along with his wife Lena, photographed the Crowsnest Pass form 1914 through the 1920's.  In 1921, Gushul opened his studio in Blairmore.  In 1986 the studio was  designated a Registered Historic Resource, was renovated and now houses the "Artist in Residence" program, through the University of Lethbridge.

  •  13301-19th Avenue Bairmore
  • (403) 562-2853

 

Hillcrest Mine Disaster Memorial and Cemetery

Hillcrest is the site of Canada's worst mining disaster. 189 coal miners were killed in an underground explosion here on June 19, 1914. Many of the miners were buried in a mass grave site at the cemetery. In 2000, a National Monument was erected to commemorate the many mining disasters across Canada.  The Hillcrest Mines Memorial Cemetery has worked diligently to interpret the mass graves sites and the Hillcrest Mine Disaster, Canada's worst mining disaster.  Take the self-guided tour and learn about the effects of the Mine Disaster on the people of Hillcrest Mines.

  • South of Highway #3 in Hillcrest, Crowsnest Pass
  • Open Year Round as a self-guided tour

 

Leitch Collieries Provincial Historic Site

Leitch Collieries was one of the largest and most ambitious mines in the early history f the Crowsnest Pass. Established in 1907, it was the only completely Canadian-owned coal and coke company in the Pass.  The picturesque ruins of its coal processing facility provide insight into coal mining in the Pass. Visitors can explore the ruins through interpretive signs and guided tours.  A pathway leads visitors past the remains of the coke oven, tipple and mine manager house, powerhouse and washery.

  • Highway #3
  • Open Year Round as a self-guided tour
  • Sumer months guided Tours

 

   

Heritage Driving/Walking Tours

Heritage Diving Routes

These self guided driving tours travel through the five towns that make up the Crowsnest Pass.  Whether these tours are completed as a group or individually, the tours offers a clean view of the natural, human ans industrial history of the Crowsnest Pass.  Follow the Heritage Route markers in the communities, and be sure to have a Driving Tour map along with you which provides more details of the sites along the route.  At many locations along the Route are Heritage Kiosks which also are worthwhile stopping at to have a look.  The information at the Kiosks is in addition to what is in the Driving Tour brochure.

Heritage Trails

These self-guided trails are an opportunity for the hiking and biking enthusiast.

  • The Miner's Path
  • Frank Slide Trail
  • Lion's Blairmore-Frank Path
  • The Hillcrest Bellevue Path

Heritage Walks

These self guided tours are individual town tours converted from the driving tour map. They include:

  • Bellevue/Hillcrest
  • Blairmore
  • Coleman
  • Hillcrest Cemetery Interpretive Walk
  • Leitch Colliers Interpretive Walk

For a Crowsnest Heritage Route Map;

   

Birding/Wildlife

Birding

"The Crowsnest Pass and its environment offers a stunning array of ecological diversity.  If you are looking to discover an unusual variety of bird populations amid spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery, you have come to the right place.  The area offers diversity spanning the wetlands and riparian environment of the valley floors to that found in alpine meadows and the highest peaks forming the Continental Divide."

 

Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation

Become part of the discoverying the migrations of Golden eagles

  • PO Box 63154, Station RPO
  • 2604 Kensington Road, NM
  • Calgary Alberta
  • T2N 2V2

Crowsnest Conservation Society invites public participation in a range of birding activities through out the year, including a winter owl prowl, a week long May species count and a fall eagle feast. Their brochure " Ravens over Crowsnest" has a comprehensive list of bird species in the Crowsnest Pass.

Wildlife

Co-existing with wildlife is a daily occurrence in the Crowsnest Pass. Preserving the natural beauty of the area makes the Crowsnest Pass a haven for wildlife and any outdoor enthusiast.

  • Clean up garbage - use odour-proof containers and bear-proof bins where available.
  • Clean up fruit trees - pick fruit as early as possible and keep it off the ground.  Fruit is a bear attractor.
  • Respect the Habitat of others - in the backwoods, stick to the paths, remove your litter and practice no-trace camping or day-tripping
  • Use common sense and avoid  large predators -  travel in groups, make noise, control your dog, watch for signs of animals in the vicinity, be careful around natural sources of food.
  • Watch from a distance - carry binoculars, your presence may threaten animals and cause them to react aggressively

Enjoy your surroundings and for your own protection and the protection of wildlife do some additional research.

Crowsnest Conservation Society

  • 12707-20th Avenue Blairmore
  • 403-562-8923

Alberta Sustainable Rersource Development - Fish and Wildlife and BearSmart Committee

  • 12707-20th Avenue Blairmore
  • 403-562-3289

 

 

 

 

   

Photography

Photography is a year round opportunity in the Crowsnest Pass. 

Whether it is:

  • the snow capped Rocky Mountains
  • the spring thaw
  • the first sign of an alpine flower
  • the frequent siting of new born wildlife
  • the memories of the ATV and camping trip
  • the celebrations of Rum Runners Days
  • the fall colors
  • the V shaped migrations south
  • the first snow falling
  • the abundance of skiing and snowmobile snow

the Crowsnest Pass offers endless memories and scenery to be captured by the camera lens.

Many photographic showing are regularly offered at the