This gateway and basecamp for Rocky Mountain adventures has a great deal of fall fun to offer. Stop in Cochrane in Alberta for a getaway to experience the small city’s fall colours, events, markets, dining, and access to the beautiful Bow River.
Cochrane is lined with great trails for appreciating the fall colours or bird migration, while other nearby parks offer several more opportunities for recreation.
Scenic Drive: Cochrane is great place to start your Cowboy Trail/Highway 22 Scenic drive from Calgary.
The Best Fall Colour Hikes near Cochrane
There are extensive trail systems within and near Cochrane for enjoying the best of the foothills’ fall scenery. And with many of these trails, there will be views and scenery enhanced by mountain views or the Bow River. These parks and the river valley are also where birdwatchers can catch glimpse of the fall migration.
- Locally, the best fall views will be on the Bow River Trails on the south side of Cochrane. The Riverfront Park Trail is a pleasant 5km out-and-back as it follows the banks of the Bow.
- Cochrane Ranche Walking Trail is an ideal fall colour walk for history buffs featuring Interpretive Murals, Men of Vision Statue, and the Cochrane Historical Museum amid sweeping prairie landscapes. If you are planning a fall wedding, Cochrane Ranche House is an ideal location.
- Haskayne Park, Jim Uffelmann Memorial Park, and Mitford Park are all great places for fall picnics and strolls enjoying the changing season.
- The Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park east of Cochrane has close to 30km of riverside trails to offer hikers and cyclists (only two short trails are off-limits to cyclists). The area’s fall scenery can be further appreciated with an afternoon picnic.
- Big Hill Springs Provincial Park, which is north of town, offers short hikes with rewarding views around Big Hill Creek, including a small waterfall.
Cochrane by Bike
The trails of Cochrane are lined with great fall scenery whether you take your bike ride along the Bow River, through town, or around the nearby natural areas and parks.
- As it runs through Cochrane, the Bow River Valley is surrounded by trails on both sides, many of which are paved to make for easier cycling. Begin on either side of town with locations like McCaig’s Park in the west, and the Bow River’s Edge Campground in the east, to follow the river all the way through Cochrane.
- The Big Hill Creek Park, central to town and on the river’s edge, will grant cyclists access to the rest of Cochrane to the north. This trail can take your bike ride all the way to the Cochrane Ranche House as it follows the Big Hill Creek.
Paddling the Bow
Whether you prefer to paddle on your own or with a guide, the Bow River offers exceptional fall scenery for a trip between Ghost Lake, Cochrane, and Calgary.
- The Bow River after Ghost Lake offers a calmer ride and experience than the river waters further west. And below the Ghost Lake dam is a popular starting and launch point for a float to Cochrane. From the dam, a float can take about 4-5 hours, depending on flow rates.
Local Dining in Cochrane
A vast majority of the local restaurants, pubs, or cafes in Cochrane are found around 1st Street and Memorial Way, a scenic area in town for a fall stroll between establishments or shopping.
- Local cafes like the Cochrane Coffee Traders and Vine Coffee Company are ready with warm drinks as the temperatures dip and with caffeine for the start of those outdoor activities.
- Catch the end of patio season (weather permitting) with local spots like the Aama Nepalese Cuisine, Cabeza Grande, Fence & Post, or the Texas Gate Bar & Grill.
- Taste the local brews of Cochrane’s microbreweries: Half-Hitch Brewing Company and the Rocky View Brewing Taproom are both open to the public.
- If you are in Cochrane for the first time, do not miss MacKay’s Ice Cream.
Unique Experiences & Attractions
These tours and attractions near Cochrane include chances for incredible family fun, getting up close with nature, and learning about the local history.
- The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, located west of Cochrane on the Bow Valley Trail, offers an incredible experience like no other in Alberta. The sanctuary offers visitors a chance to walk around the outdoor wolfdog enclosures on guided tours, as well as meet-and-greet tours for those 15 years and older.
- Calaway Park will be open for the fall season until Thanksgiving Weekend. Before then, the park will host a Boo-Crew Costume Party on September 12 and 13 to help visitors get excited about Halloween! The amusement park is about 22km south of Cochrane.
- Visit the Cochrane Ranche Historic Site for some of the best sweeping mountain views that the area has to offer. The large public park offers hiking opportunities, historical information, picnic amenities, and washrooms.
Events in Cochrane this Fall
These upcoming fall events in Cochrane are great ways to get to know the local arts and culture, or food and drink.
- The local Farmers’ Market is open each Saturday until October 3. The Market by the Bow takes place on Cochrane’s Griffin Road with over 60 vendors to browse and shop.
- Discover Cochrane restaurants during the Tastes of Cochrane on October 17 & 18th. Stop into the participating restaurants to sample something special from their menu.
- Enter Cochrane’s Haunted Hayloft October 29–30 for a chilling Halloween adventure inside the AG Society’s barn. Explore immersive scare rooms, eerie décor and live actors in a multi-room haunted house designed for families, teens and thrill-seekers from across the region.