Mayerthorpe: Cowboy Trail and Grain History

Mayerthorpe connects Alberta’s agricultural history with the route of the Cowboy Trail and various recreational activities in town. For a trip that combines a stretch of highway with local history and independent exploration, there are several specific points of interest here. The grounds of the Alberta Wheat Pool Grain Elevator offer a particularly vivid example; the Cowboy Trail, meanwhile, places Mayerthorpe along a tourist route that runs through ranchland.

Grain History at the Alberta Wheat Pool Grain Elevator

The grounds of the Alberta Wheat Pool Grain Elevator in Mayerthorpe cover about 0.69 hectares and lie beside a railway line. The complex includes a simple, wooden composite grain elevator built in 1966 and an adjoining wood-frame office building from the same year. There is also a sheet-metal-clad addition built in 1940. The different construction dates and styles give the site a distinct architectural profile, making it easy to distinguish the elevator, office, and addition.

The grain elevator is associated with the grain storage and transportation method that prevailed in Alberta for most of the 20th century. The complex is significant as evidence of the province’s agricultural and social history. Anyone interested in Alberta’s development beyond its major cities will find a tangible historical reason to include Mayerthorpe in their trip. The railway line beside the grounds is part of the site’s described location; the historic buildings tell the story of a time when grain storage and transport played an important role in agriculture.

Mayerthorpe on the Cowboy Trail

Highway 22 is also known as the Cowboy Trail, a tourist route. This makes it possible to see the town as part of a drive along the route: it runs through ranchland and onward through the centre of Mayerthorpe, while its northern terminus is about 6 km north of town.

The Cowboy Trail attraction in Mayerthorpe includes a custom-designed metal sign by local artist Tom Johansson and a short description of the route. The sign brings a local artistic touch to the theme of the tourist route, while the route description offers a brief overview. Those interested in the route can learn about this specific detail from Mayerthorpe as well as its course.

Recreational Activities and Seasonal Differences

Mayerthorpe’s BMX and skate park was rebuilt in 2021 and is free for residents and visitors to use. For a trip that includes being active in town, free access is a practical factor to consider when planning. There is also a public toboggan hill at the north end of town, right by Highway 22.

The Mayerthorpe Aquatic Centre is an outdoor pool that operates from June to August. If you would like to include the pool in your trip plans, this is the relevant seasonal timeframe. Another local facility is the outdoor skating rink, located beside the Mayerthorpe Curling Rink arena. The outdoor pool and outdoor skating rink are two different facilities that are easy to distinguish by their descriptions.

A Self-Guided Town Tour and Choosing a Destination

The self-guided tour of Mayerthorpe starts at either the Mayerthorpe Public Library or Fallen Four Memorial Park. These two suggested starting points provide a specific point of reference for anyone who wants to explore the town independently as part of the tour. Along with the grain elevator’s history and the Cowboy Trail’s route, they offer more than one reason to consider Mayerthorpe as a destination.

When looking for a vacation rental in Mayerthorpe, you can consider how much time you would like to set aside to explore the town.

Discover More Places

More town pages: Onoway, Athabasca, Barrhead, Sangudo, Westlock, Whitecourt.

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 13.