262240 Horse Creek Rd

Cochrane grew out of the Cochrane Ranche — Alberta's first large-scale cattle ranch, founded in 1881 and named for Senator Matthew Cochrane. The original site is now a 136-acre historic park with museums and trails.

Big Hill Springs Provincial Park, about 10 km away, has small waterfalls that flow year-round over tufa terraces — and the remains of Alberta's first commercial creamery.

From the rise north of town the western horizon is the Rockies — and in winter, the chinooks that roll over them bring warm breaks you can watch arrive.

MacKay's on Cochrane's historic main street has been scooping since 1948. The weekend line-up out the door is a local institution.

The Ghost Reservoir on Highway 1A draws sailors in summer and ice-fishers and iceboaters in winter.

Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park protects the Bow River valley between Cochrane and Calgary, with trails stepping down to the river.

Room for a garden, outbuildings and equipment — with Cochrane's groceries, restaurants, rec centres and schools a short drive down the road.

Highway 1A and the Trans-Canada put Canmore roughly 50 minutes away and Banff about an hour — ski days without the city traffic.

Cochrane sits about 30 km northwest of Calgary; downtown is roughly 40 minutes via Highway 1A and Crowchild Trail.

Cochrane's Big Hill on Highway 1A — about 3.5 km at a 7% grade — is a favourite training climb for Calgary cyclists, and the hills around town are a paragliding hub.