Calgary 
The southern Alberta town of Cardston sits in the rolling foothills just on the edge of the Rocky Mountains.
This scenic town is situated between the St. Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area and Waterton Lakes National Park, where there is a seemingly endless number of chances for outdoor fun and leisure. This is a great place to visit for anyone who enjoys fishing, watersports, hiking, or camping.
Within the town, you can enjoy incredible views, as well as historical sites and local shopping and dining options. There are many accommodation options as well, with camping and B&Bs available right in town or a short drive outside of town.
Go on a carriage ride at Remington Carriage Museum
Horse-drawn transportation was a huge part of Alberta’s development in the early 1900s, and the Remington Carriage Museum celebrates this history through displays, on-site horses, a restoration shop, and an array of family-friendly activities.
While you learn about North America’s transportation history, you can also learn about local Cardston history, and take part in one of their guided/workshop programs and enjoy a 15-minute ride through the Lee Creek Valley in a Park Touring Carriage.
Remington Carriage Museum
Explore a genuine ‘Little House on the Prairie’
The Card Pioneer Home could be part of a historical walking tour through Cardston and is easy to find with the local mural painted along the building beside the Home. Step inside and go back to 1887, when Cardston was settled by the Card family.
Inside the home are preserved artifacts from the town’s earlier days, and a small shop. The owners and operators are renowned for their extensive knowledge of the area and its rich history.
See a historic courthouse
A stop by the Courthouse Museum (on the southbound side of Highway 2) is the best way to get a true sense of the history of Cardston and some of the surrounding area.
The historic and preserved building is filled with museum artifacts that date back to Cardston’s earliest days in the late 1800s. Authentic furniture decorates the museum, and there is a little bit to see for all sorts of interests.
Visit the Cardston Temple
Near the north side of Cardston is a beautiful piece of architecture that is worth a visit or even a stop off the highway. The Temple belongs to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is the oldest of its kind outside of the United States. Surrounding the temple are sprawling gardens and fields, which can lead you to Cardston’s Lions Park and Town Square. The entire area around the Temple is a popular spot for picnics, field sports, or simply relaxing in the sun.
Go on guided fishing and rafting tours
If you’re looking for an adventurous stay in Cardston, the Incept Adventure Company can help with whitewater rafting and kayaking, or guided fishing tours. The kayaking and rafting tours bring you through the Coal Canyon, while the fishing tours take you out of various lakes in the area. The various tours range in price and difficulty.
Watch sunset over the Rocky Mountains
If you aren’t spending the night in the area, then you are encouraged to stay for the sun goes down. On a clear day, the sunsets over the Rocky Mountains create jaw-dropping vistas of foothills, prairie, mountains, and sky all in one with all of their bright, contrasting colours. Within Cardston is Sunset Park, or you can head to Waterton Lakes in the west for even more stunning views.
Tee off at Lee Creek Valley Golf Course
If you’re looking for somewhere to golf this season with a view, then you can drive south to Cardston’s Lee Creek Valley Golf Course. These gorgeous greens and challenging course are a par 71 course with a few water and sand hazards to watch out for while you golf.
If you’d like to tour more than one golf course on your trip, the Magrath Golf Club is only a 20-minute drive northeast of Cardston and offers equally as scenic greens.
Discover local vendors at the Cardston summer market
Vendors, farmers, crafters, cooks, and bakers all gather at…on summer weekends for the Cardston Summer Market. The Market is scheduled to return in 2025 and is an excellent way to experience the town by foot while shopping for locally made food, home décor, clothing, and more.
Celebrate Cardston Heritage Week
At the beginning of August, you can join the town of Cardston in celebrating its rich history and culture through the Cardston Heritage Week. The week’s festivities include daily pancake breakfasts, a family softball tournament, the Chinook Rodeo, and a mud bog event (driving competition). The week concludes with a large parade on Saturday morning and fireworks in the evening.
Watch Live Show at Carriage House Theatre
Live theatre is not just for big cities. Cardston’s Carriage House Theatre is home to a family of dedicated performers. If you are visiting during summer, get tickets to their summer productions. In addition to offering entertaining live experiences, the Theatre also promotes the arts in town by hosting summer camps, workshops, and its Academy, a theatre camp for kids. The iconic theatre is easily accessible on Main Street.
Relax at a B&B
Credit: Great Canadian Barn Dance
For a stay in the centre of Cardston, The Cobblestone Manor is a scenic location, and the grounds and interior make the perfect backdrop to an afternoon meal, or a night away. The restaurant offers high-end comfort food, and the rooms are simple and elegant.
Northeast of Cardston you can also find a picturesque seasonal RV resort in the Great Canadian Barn Dance. The facility normally offers live entertainment, weekend barn dances, and overnight camping- these are on hold until further notice due to COVID-19.
Fish at St. Mary Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area
The St. Mary PRA is only a 20-minute drive from Cardston’s centre and can provide a place to stay and a weekend’s worth of fun, or a place to stop and enjoy for the day. The three campgrounds and three day-use areas sit along the northeast shore of the reservoir. St. Mary Lower and Wally’s campgrounds are open from May to October, and St. Mary Upper campground is open for both summer and winter camping. The three-day-use areas are open from May to October.
Credit: Alberta Parks
Go camping
With so much to see and do in and around Cardston, you might want to find a place to rest your head for the night. Luckily, there are many campgrounds around Cardston, all of which offer something a little different in terms of your experience. To camp right in town, reserve a spot at the Lee Creek Campground, open April to October. The St. Mary Reservoir PRA and Waterton Lakes NP also offer camping within a 30-minute drive of Cardston.
Enjoy a trail ride
With the mountains and Waterton National Park, only a half-hour drive away from Cardston, there are many ways to explore this part of Alberta. A truly authentic means by which to explore this stunning landscape is by horseback, and the closest option to Cardston is Alpine Stables, located within the National Park. The Stables are open from May to September and offer anywhere from 1-hour to 8-hour trail rides on which you can see either the southern Rockies in spring bloom, under the summer heat, or when the leaves change in the fall.
Alpine Stables
