High River
Around High River
Illustration made for Popchat
Town and around · Alberta · 14k people
High River
Locals say Foothills
Where the foothills roll and the river flows
foothills greenprairie amber
Welcome to the Foothills, where the prairie meets the mountains. Whether you're here for the rodeo, the river, or just the friendly small-town vibe, you'll feel at home. Grab a coffee on Main Street and say hi.
Clubs for High River
No clubs for High River yet.
The room
One room for everyone around High River. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around High River. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- George Lane Memorial Park Central park with playgrounds and green space.
- Museum of the Highwood Local history museum in High River.
- Nanton Lancaster Air Museum Aviation museum with a Lancaster bomber.
- High River Rodeo Grounds Home of the High River Rodeo and other events.
- Main Street High River Historic small-town main street with shops and eateries.
- Highwood River River through town, popular for fishing and walks.
- Outdoors Fishing on the Highwood River
- Outdoors Hiking the Foothills trails
- With kids Visit the Museum of the Highwood
- With kids Watch a rodeo event
- Evenings Live music at local pubs
- Evenings Country line dancing at the saloon
- Locals love rodeo grounds
- Locals love cattle ranches
Through the year
- High River Rodeo June A classic Canadian rodeo with bull riding, barrel racing, and more.
- Nanton Air Show July Aviation showcase at the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum.
- High River Farmers Market Summer weekends Weekly market with local produce, crafts, and food.
- Nanton Antique and Collectible Show August Vintage finds and collectibles in Nanton.
- High River Agricultural Fair August County fair with livestock, exhibits, and rides.
Foothills climate features warm, dry summers and cold, snowy winters with frequent chinooks. Best: Summer (June–August) is the best time to be out, with warm days and long evenings.
Getaways
- Okotoks Nearby town with shops and the Big Rock.
- Calgary Big city with the Stampede, museums, and more.
- Strathmore Small town with a lake and golf.
- Canmore Mountain town with hiking and scenery.
Local flavour
Teams
- High River Flyers Heritage Junior B Hockey League
Also rooting for Calgary Flames (NHL), Calgary Stampeders (CFL), Calgary Wranglers (AHL), Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Eat and drink
- Alberta beef steak The region is cattle country; beef is a staple.
- Bison burger Bison ranching is common in the foothills.
- Perogies
- Saskatoon berry pie Saskatoon berries grow wild in the area.
- Local craft beer High River Brewing Company and other Alberta breweries.
Where people go
- Rodeo grounds Home to the High River Rodeo and other western events.
- Cattle ranches Working ranches dot the foothills, a defining feature.
- Foothills trails Hiking and horseback riding paths through rolling terrain.
- Highwood River A clear river running through town, popular for recreation.
- Small-town main street Historic storefronts and local businesses in High River and Nanton.
- Grain elevators Iconic prairie landmarks, still standing in Nanton.
Heritage and traditions
High River is proud of its deep ranching roots, small-town charm, and the spirit of the foothills, celebrated through rodeo and community events.
This time of year in High River
- Harvest Fall Fall is harvest time, with farmers markets and harvest festivals.
Say it like a local: “Pop” — Soft drink, as in 'pop'.
Music and arts
- Cowboy poetry and western music Local gatherings and events feature cowboy poetry and traditional western songs.
A little history
- 1880s Founded as a ranching and railway town.
- 1940s Author W.O. Mitchell lived here and wrote 'Who Has Seen the Wind'.
- 2013 The town was severely flooded but rebuilt with community spirit.
- Game day Friday night hockey games
- Game day Rodeo events
- Outdoors Cross-country skiing
- Outdoors Snowshoeing
- With kids Visiting the Heartland set
- With kids Taking a horse-drawn wagon ride
People speak with a Canadian prairie accent, often using 'eh' and 'pop' for soft drinks. Rodeo and ranching terms like 'buckaroo' are sometimes used.
Only here
- High River is the filming location for the long-running CBC series 'Heartland'.
- The Nanton Lancaster Air Museum houses one of the last airworthy Lancaster bombers in the world.
- The High River Rodeo is one of the oldest in Alberta.
- The town's Main Street has been used as a film set for many productions.
New here? A few tips
- Embrace the cowboy culture—attend a rodeo and try a bison burger.
- Be prepared for cold winters and warm summers; dress in layers.
- Learn to love the wind, especially the Chinooks that can warm winter days.
- Get to know your neighbours at community events like the farmers market.
- Visit the Nanton Lancaster Air Museum for a piece of aviation history.
Make this page better
Know a place, a festival, a word locals use, or something here that's wrong? Suggest it; someone at Popchat checks every one.
Sign in and join a club here to suggest.
Nearby
Every areaOkotoksAlbertaThe heart of the FoothillsCalgaryAlbertaBig sky, big heart, and a cowboy spirit.StrathmoreAlbertaSmall town, big skies, warm heartsCanmoreAlbertaAlpine air, mountain soulSouthwestern AlbertaAlbertaBig skies, open range, and Rocky Mountain views.LethbridgeAlbertaWhere the prairies meet the coulees, and the wind tells stories.BrooksAlbertaPrairie warmth and badlands wonder.CranbrookBritish ColumbiaMountain air, small-town heart.
High River. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.