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Bar U Ranch National Historic Site Announces Details Of 2023 Season

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By NPT Staff - May 30th, 2023
Bar U Ranch National Historic Site south of Calgary is now open for the 2023 season.

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site south of Calgary is now open for the 2023 season/Travel Alberta, Andrew Penner

Canada’s only national historic site commemorating ranching is open for the season. Bar U Ranch National Historic Site — an hour south of Calgary near Longview — is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Sept. 30.

Set in the rolling foothills of the Rockies along Alberta’s famous “Cowboy Trail,” Bar U is a working cattle operation. It has many historic buildings and structures, illustrating various stages of ranching development from 1882 to 1950, and is rich in cultural landscape features.

The ranch is currently home to seven Percheron draft horses. Smoke, Smudge, Daisy, Dolly, Pocca, Terra, and Hawkeye share ranch duties including pulling visitors on wagon rides and towing historic agriculture equipment demonstrations. 

Some things to note for 2023:

• The café has been discontinued, but the gift shop has snacks and beverages and people can bring food and find a picnic spot.

• The east portion of Pekisko Creek trail will be closed this season. There are other trails and scenic viewpoints.

• Visitors can talk with the restoration crew while they work on the Alwood Cabin, Chophouse, Blacksmith Shop and other historic buildings. Restoring historic buildings while maintaining their original essence is an ongoing project for Parks Canada’s Built Heritage staff.

• Parks Canada is reimagining the visitor center. Staff are working with historians and Indigenous groups to create new interpretive material and displays. Expect never-before displayed artifacts, new seating areas, a kids play area and complimentary coffee.

• Guests can learn the story of the ranch while being pulled by Percheron draft horses on free wagon rides that are accessible to all and run multiple times a day.

• Bar U Ranch welcomes back members of the Bearspaw First Nation. Guests can visit the Stoney Nakoda tipi encampment in the Pekisko Creek meadow to learn more about Indigenous culture and perspectives, and discover the historic relationship between foothills ranches and local Indigenous peoples.

Important dates for this season are:

• June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

• July 1: Canada Day

• July 8 to 31: Historic Places Days

• Aug. 19: Alberta Open Farm Days

• Aug. 20: Old Time Ranch Rodeo

• Sept. 17: Chore Horse Competition

The government of Canada offers free admission to all Parks Canada’s administered places for youth aged 17 and under. In celebration of diversity, it also offers free admission to new Canadian citizens for one year through the Institute for Canadian Citizenship’s Canoo mobile app.

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