HWY 546 Road-Trip, Explore Dyson Falls, Sheep River Falls, And More.

tracigrossi@gmail.com | October 13, 2020 | Hiking, Travel | No Comments

The HWY 546 Road-Trip is within an hour and a half drive from Calgary. Hwy 546 can be accessed at the west end of Turner Valley via Hwy 22 Cowboy Trail or Hwy 7 from Okotoks.

The road trip really begins much earlier as the Cowboy trail is one of the most scenic drives along the foothills that range from Mayerthorpe in the North to Lundbreck Falls down South. Whichever road you choose the sights will never disappoint.

What’s to see along Sheep River Road (HWY 546)?

Traveling Hwy 546 itself is full of beauty with a down-home country feel. Ranchers use this land for grazing their cattle, In spring and fall, it’s not uncommon to catch a live cattle drive in action, however, cattle share your trail as well so watch for those cow patties.

A popular area for horseback riding with Blue Rock and Mesa Butte both having equestrian trails so if you love horses you will catch a fair share of them around.

Rocky mountain sheep are often spotted grazing roadside or resting in the grassy meadow found just around the corner from the roadside lookout point.

Please be courteous and cautious throughout the year.

Hwy is closed from December 1 – May 14

Dyson Falls

Dyson Falls hike is an 8.9 km return trail that begins at the Indian Oils day-use area.

Hit the trail and go right down the wide pathway leading to a bridge. Underneath the bridge, you are welcomed by a stunning waterfall named Tiger Jaw Falls.

Across the bridge, head left where the trail will ascend for about 1.5 km then level out for the duration of the hike. The only part of the trail we found very cold and a bit breathtaking on this breezy October day.

The trail also is shared by Hoffman Mountain Trail which is a flagged path about 1.7km on the right that will take you to a scenic view.

Dyson Falls

The falls themselves may be smaller in nature than some previous hikes however captivating. Upon the arrival of the creek, there is no roar of gushing water but a faint trickle of water can be heard coming from the left, where the falls are somewhat hidden as the creek disappears into the canyon.

Many people rate this trail as boring however I found it relaxing and very enjoyable. We normally do moderate to hard hikes and this one was a nice break. A relaxing walk, with the sounds of nature, birds singing, and squirrels foraging as the trees sway and creak from the wind.

When you take your time, you can find beauty wherever you go. I captured some neat shots as well as spotted some deer peering through the trees.

*Snow-capped mountains through the trees.*

View the falls from the top as well as walk the ridge a bit to capture the falls head-on or you may be more adventurous and scramble down either side of the falls.

To the left of the falls is a bit easier route down however back up we took the path to the right of the falls. Falls you can walk right up beside to feel the spray off the rocks like an outdoor shower, a great cool-off point in the hot summer sun.

Stop and have a picnic to enjoy the peace and quiet then head back on the same trail. The hike was roughly 50 min in and 45 min out.

Back at the bridge, walk the ridge for more views of the river canyon.

Sheep River Falls

Just a short drive west is the Sheep River Falls day-use area. The falls are a short .5 km walk on the left. There is a rocky cave-like path that takes you right down close to the two falls. A longer hike will take you down to the river below.

If you are up for more hiking there are many trails to see close by, check the map.

Blue Rock Creek

Just a hop skip and a jump up the road from the Sheep River Day area of Blue Rock Creek. Parking is along the ditch. A short 1.8 km loop hike above the rocky canyon below.

If you are not up to a hike take a stroll up the creek bed to the stunning smooth-surfaced, blue-tinge rock canyon. Many little falls welcome you.

Junction Creek

Keep traveling west where the road ends at the Junction Creek day area. A quick walk to the path will have you look over the Junction Creek.

Find a safe trail down to the creek for some wonderful smaller falls and beautiful canyon views.

Junction Creek also has a 14km hike to another waterfall if you’re up for a hike.

Hidden Creek Falls

Find more on this waterfall Here.

Hiking

HWY 546 has an abundance of hiking trails. The mountain range here is spectacular and can be captured on many of the trails.

Missing Link Mountain was a fantastic hike. A gentle 4.5 km hike through the forest meandering alongside a creek which turned to steeper ascend after the skull tree where someone decided to attach the skeletal remains of an animal to a tree. Now a point of interest at the halfway mark of the hike.

The panoramic snow-capped mountains seem to rise seamlessly from the foothill landscape making for one breathtaking view.

Other hikes include Windy Point, Foran Grade, Volcano Creek, Indian Oils, , Death Valley, Sandy McNabb, Blue Rock, Gorge Creek to name a few.

Foran Grade Hike

Foran Grade hike is a 6.9 km loop hike that winds up the prairie trail with a 360-degree view of the beautiful Sheep River valley and the city of Calgary in the distance.

Road trip comes to a close

The HWY 546 Road-Trip heading back was just as scenic and full of unexpected surprises with all animals around.

After a day of hiking, we like to stop and test out some of the local craft beer places for a refreshing beverage. On this day we stopped at Eau Claire Distillery.

The distillery specializes in handcrafted spirits, gins, vodka, and whiskeys. Try out sample testing at the bar or order a flight of their homemade recipes. Pretty tasty drinks indeed.

Although we enjoyed our flights they were a bit pricy as were the options available for resale. The country vibe decor was nice with the tractor seat seating and a few antiques neatly placed above the bar. However, Seating was limited more so due to COVID. Overall, If one fancies fine-crafted branded liquor this is a nice experience.

Find all 6 Stunning Waterfalls here:

Watch the video for the road trip experience below.

These waterfalls look just as stunning in winter.

Local shops in Black Diamond and Turner Valley

Turner Valley and Black Diamond have some of the most unique shops with a country flair to finish up your road trip. Below is a list of some of my top picks.

Crystal Boutique, Unique gifts, and wellness.
Marv’s Classic Soda Shop, Classic 50’s Diner.
Cool Hand Luc’s Treasure Shop, From soup to nuts Luc may have it.
Diamond In The Rough, Gifts, Women’s fashion, and repurposed items for your home.
Black Diamond Gallery, Exotic treasures and historical art, and unique home decor from around the world.
Wood King, Firewood, Uniquely crafted wood sculptures.
Hard Knox Brewery. A comfortable place to unwind inside or out enjoying one of their best microbrews.

Chuckwagon Café, Great food, and service in this unique red barn-inspired café.
Coyote Moon Cantina and Espresso Bar, A casual little cafe for food, coffee, and ice cream.

Okotoks Erratic

If heading out on HWY 7 a must-see unique sight to see is the Okotoks Erratic. The largest of many rocks from a rockslide in the Athabasca River Valley in which the glacier carried the debris downstream where it came to rest here in the Okotoks area.