Cochrane (Alberta)

Cochrane is a town of 32,000 people (2021) in the Calgary Region of Alberta. Cochrane has a reputation for its western culture, which can easily be felt when you wander the streets (particularly Main Street).

Understand
The town is a popular destination for ice cream and coffee in its quaint western-oriented stores, and for windsports, golfing, hiking and other adventure activities. Cochrane is known for outdoor pursuits. It is a centre for paragliding instruction. The hill is a popular training ground for cyclists from the area, who take advantage of its 7% grade and 3.5 km distance.

Major industries include lumber, construction, retail, and agriculture (ranching). Cochrane is also a small industrial centre.

History
Cochrane was established in 1881 as the Cochrane Ranche, after Matthew Henry Cochrane, a local rancher. It became a village in 1903, and it had a newspaper and volunteer fire department by 1909. Cochrane was incorporated as a town in 1971.

Get in
Cochrane is northwest of Calgary on Crowchild Trail (Highway 1A) where it crosses Highway 22 (Cowboy Trail).

Get around
Car, taxi, or use the 30 km of pathways to travel by bike or on foot.

Go next

 * Calgary
 * Kananaskis Country