ICYMI! The Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Trochu Arboretum, the Three Hills Car Cruise Show and Murals
In between attending The Quilt Show on the Bow on May 31, 2024, and the Aga Khan Foundation World Partnership Walk two days later on June 2, what do I do on a sparing day? Some online newsletters I receive carry a column called ICYMI (In Case You Missed It), which is what made me stop at Roy’s Place in Claresholm, Alberta, for an enormous cinnamon bun earlier this year on my day trip to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo World Heritage site. The UNSECO-designated site beautifully showcases Blackfoot culture.
Once again, my favourite column came to my help on Saturday, June 1! It suggested that I visit Trochu, a small town known for its beautiful Arboretum, and Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, which is nearby.
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When I reached Trochu, I was informed about the annual cruise car show in the small town of Three Hills on the first weekend of June. It draws hundreds of enthusiasts from across Alberta. So, I took advantage and spent a couple of hours walking through the kilometre-long stretch of cars on Main Street on my drive back to Calgary. I was awestruck by the beautifully restored vehicles and some incredible old cars.
Here is a collection of photos from my 24-hour trip to Trochu. Dry Island and Trochu should be on your itinerary from Central or Northern Alberta to the Badlands in Drumheller. Or make it a day trip from Calgary. You can walk down to the bottom when you visit the Horseshoe and Horsethief Canyons near Drumheller. What I found impressive at Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park was that I could drive to the Red Deer River. It is a gravel road, and while the drive’s central section is flat, some sections at the beginning and end are very steep. The route is impassable — and closed — after it rains. It was exciting, and I found driving up a bit more challenging!
The Trochu Arboretum
A small arboretum with many varieties of trees and flower plantations. One of the great features is that the garden has benches to relax and ponder. A small pond with goldfish will delight the young ones. At the end of the garden, there is a spacious gazebo overlooking the garden.
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Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park, Alberta
I discovered during the trip that the Badlands stretch north of Drumheller. While not as striking as the Horsethief Canyon, Dry Island Buffalo Jump is a verdant forest. From the clifftops, I was serenaded by the songs of numerous bird species and the distant howls of coyotes in the early morning. One of the most unique aspects is the ability to drive down a steep, gravel road, a route that becomes impassable in wet conditions. This thrilling descent leads to a fantastic day use area, ideal for launching your boats into the Red Deer River. Trails wind through the forests, offering a chance to observe a wide variety of bird species and animals such as the coyotes.
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Three Hills — A Historic Car Show and Murals
What an interesting Main Street the town of Three Hiils has with plenty of restaurants and a particularly fine book store specializing in used and rare books. The weekend of June 1/2, 2024 was dedicated to showcasing more than 600 original old cars and many with rebuilts. Thousands of people were on hand to admire the cars and speak to their owners. The Three Hills Cruise show was created by a few car enthusiasts in the 1980s and has grown over the years. I was quite surprised by the quantity of large mural paintings that dotted the town’s buildings.
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Date posted: June 6, 2024.
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