6 Most Neighborly Towns In Alberta
Alberta is considered by many to be among Canada's most beloved tourist destinations. With two of its biggest cities, Edmonton and Calgary, and an incredible array of natural beauty, from the Rocky Mountains to the Great Plains, the list of must-see and do things in the province appears to be almost endless.
It is a great place to be for both tourists and residents, and today we would like to highlight some of Alberta's smaller, more community-oriented towns that you ought to check out, whether you're a local or visiting from somewhere else.
Canmore
Canmore is one of Alberta’s most accessible mountain towns and makes for an ideal alternative to the busier and more commercial Banff. Located just minutes from Banff National Park, it provides all the impressive Rocky Mountain views you can want with a fraction of the crowded and more budget-friendly options for dining and accommodations.
Like many Rocky Mountain towns in Alberta, Outdoor activities define Canmore’s appeal. The surrounding Bow Valley offers extensive hiking and biking trails, while the nearby Canmore Nordic Centre is home to world-class snowshoeing and cross-country skiing trails to keep you busy this winter.
Canmore's proximity to Kananaskis Country adds several epic outdoor adventure options, including numerous backcountry hikes and viewpoints in the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
You also don't need to stray far to get close to the beauty of nature here. The Bow River runs through town, creating a more urban space for scenic riverside walks throughout the year. Wildlife is commonly spotted nearby as well, with herds of elk commonly spotted in and around Canmore.
For a taste of the area's history and culture, the Canmore Museum explores the town’s early days as a stop along the Canadian Pacific Railway, while arts venues such as artsPlace host a variety of local performances and exhibits. Several festivals, including the Canmore Folk Music Festival, bring further creative energy to the community throughout the year.
Jasper
Jasper is a gateway to some of Alberta’s most scenic and remote landscapes. Situated within Jasper National Park, the town is surrounded by towering peaks, gorgeous glacier-fed lakes, and extensive wildlife populations. Elk, bighorn sheep, and even bears are frequently spotted near the town, while several nearby trails allow you to get up close to nature, whether it's on foot, bike, or horseback.
Opportunities to get outdoors and witness some of the best scenery in the province are abundant here. If you're driving up from the south, the Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s best scenic drives is a perfect stop during your trip. This natural landmark leads to highlights like Athabasca Glacier and Sunwapta Falls. Furthermore, Maligne Lake, known for its incredibly blue waters and the iconic Spirit Island, is also a short drive away, offering boat tours and hiking trails around its shores. In winter, Marmot Basin is the place to go for downhill skiing with fewer crowds than other, larger resorts in Alberta and British Columbia.
Jasper is also renowned by stargazers from around the country. As the second-largest dark sky preserve in the world, it hosts the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival, attracting astronomers and casual observers alike to its clear skies devoid of the light pollution you get in bigger cities.
Since being devastated by a wildfire in 2024, hotel options in Jasper are currently at a low capacity. Regardless, this iconic Candian town is rebuilding and could use all the support it can get.
Drumheller
Drumheller stands out for its otherworldly badlands scenery and deep importance in the field of paleontology. Located in the Red Deer River Valley, the town is surrounded by eroded rock formations, hoodoos, and fossil-rich landscapes that have made it one of the world’s top dinosaur discovery sites.
Dino fans from around the world flock to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, one of the leading dinosaur museums in existence, which houses an extensive collection of fossils, including complete dinosaur skeletons and interactive exhibits that detail the prehistoric history of the region.
Drumheller is also a lesser-known hotspot for outdoor exploration, providing desert-like landscapes that aren't common elsewhere in Canada. The Hoodoos Trail offers a close-up look at the area’s unusual rock spires, while Horseshoe Canyon and the nearby Midland Provincial Park both contain networks of footpaths that lead to amazing views of the badlands. The 11-kilometer Dinosaur Trail scenic drive is another must-do activity and passes by key landmarks, including the historic Bleriot Ferry and viewpoints overlooking the valley.
Downtown Drumheller houses a nice mix of local shops, restaurants, a brewery, and other attractions such as the World’s Largest Dinosaur, a 26-meter-tall T. rex statue with an observation deck inside its mouth. Whether visiting for its prehistoric past or its unique landscapes, Drumheller offers an experience unlike anywhere else in Alberta, making it one of the province’s most intriguing communities to visit.
Waterton
Located in the far south of Alberta, near the Montana border, Waterton is best known as the only community within Waterton Lakes National Park. Unlike larger mountain destinations, its remoteness helps maintain a peaceful, less crowded atmosphere than other national parks, even during peak travel seasons in the summer months.
Waterton, officially called Waterton Park, sits along the shores of Waterton Lake and is hugged by lofty peaks that rise sharply from the water’s edge. Its compact layout allows you to walk between lakeside restaurants, gift shops, and historic sites while taking in views of the surrounding scenery from all angles.
Perhaps the town's most famous icon, The Prince of Wales Hotel, built in 1927, is perched on a bluff overlooking the lake and opens for guests between May and September.
When you delve into the park itself, you can look out for trails that range from easy walks to challenging summit hikes. For example, Bear’s Hump provides a quick but steep climb to a panoramic viewpoint over the lake and town, while the Crypt Lake Trail, one of Canada’s most popular hikes, features waterfalls, tunnels, and a secluded alpine lake after at the cost of an arduous 11.5-mile hike.
For something a little more laid-back, a boat tour across Upper Waterton Lake is a highly scenic way to explore the area and even cross into Montana’s Glacier National Park. Another easy-to-get-to natural landmark in the area is Red Rock Canyon. Accessible by car in the summer, this canyon, carved over thousands of years of erosion, reveals its impossibly red rock walls that can be explored up close.
Fort Macleod
Fort Macleod is an excellent destination to visit for history buffs, with its strong ties to Alberta’s earliest days and its well-preserved downtown, which retains the look of a late 19th-century frontier town. Originally established as a North-West Mounted Police outpost in 1874, it played a crucial role in bringing law and order to the region. Today, the Fort Museum of the NWMP tells that story through exhibits and regularly held historic reenactments.
The historic Main Street is home to a collection of brick and sandstone buildings that now house many of the town's businesses and amenities. Be sure to check out the Empress Theatre. Built in 1912, is one of Canada’s oldest operating theaters and continues to host live performances and film screenings. For paranormal fans out there, the theater is also considered among the most haunted spots in Canada!
Beyond its more modern historic draws, Fort Macleod sits beside one of Alberta’s most significant and ancient landmarks, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, just a short drive away, offers insight into Indigenous Plains culture and the buffalo hunting practices that had been used locally for thousands of years.
Moreover, the surrounding foothills are ideal for scenic countryside drives in Alberta's vast farmlands, with views stretching toward the Rocky Mountains in the distance.
Lacombe
Lacombe draws sightseers with its distinct architecture, its longstanding agricultural heritage, and its growing reputation as a culinary destination in Alberta.
Located just north of Red Deer, roughly halfway between Calgary and Edmonton, the town has made significant efforts to maintain its historic charm while supporting its growing, modern industries. Tourism blends the two, and the downtown core of Lacombe features some of the region's most meticulously restored brick buildings, including the Flatiron Building, one of Alberta’s best examples of Edwardian Revivalist architecture. Several interesting murals throughout the town depict scenes from its past, adding another window into the past.
Furthermore, the Lacombe & District Historical Society operates the Michener House Museum and the Blacksmith Shop Museum, both offering insight into the Lacombe's early development.
As mentioned, Lacombe’s food scene has gained attention in recent years. Several farm-to-table establishments highlight local ingredients in this deeply rural community, with Blindman Brewing leading the way in Alberta’s craft beer movement. The surrounding countryside is of course dotted with farms, offering you seasonal markets to pick up some local produce and other agritourism experiences.
Gull Lake, a short drive west of town, is not just one of the few lakes in central Alberta suitable for boating and fishing, but its eastern shore is home to Gull Lake Honey Company, a notable local food producers serving a wide range of artisan made good and tasty treats.
Visit these Friendly Alberta Towns Today
Whether you are looking for an outdoor adventure in a national park, want to uncover a community's past through its historic downtown core, or simply want to experience something new in a friendly atmosphere, these neighborly towns in Alberta are perfect for both residents and visitors alike. From the remote beauty of Jasper to the quaint, rural appeal of places like Lacombe, any of the destinations mentioned above will provide you with memories that will have you wanting to go back in no time.
See another side of Alberta outside of the big cities the next time you're traveling in western Canada, as these are just a few of the many spots in the Wild Rose Province we highly recommend.
