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town in Alberta, Canada
North America > Canada > Prairies > Alberta > Northern Alberta > North Central Alberta > Barrhead

Barrhead is a town of 4,600 people (2016) in North Central Alberta. Barrhead was an important trading centre during the settlement of northwest Alberta. The town now relies on are oil and gas, forestry, and agriculture industries.

Understand

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Map
Map of Barrhead

Barrhead stretches along the Paddle River and at the intersection of Highway 33 (Grizzly Trail) and Highway 18. It is also on the route of the Express Trail, used by the North West Company.

History

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During the late 19th century and the early 20th century, Barrhead played an important role in the settlement of northwest Alberta. Highway 33, known as the Grizzly Trail, follows the original Klondike Trail, which was the shortest route to the Yukon during the Gold Rush years. Once established, this route was key to the settlement of the Peace River region. The old Barrhead town site, 3 km north of the present Town Centre, was a frequent stop over for the few Klondikers and others who needed supplies for the rigorous journey north.

Barrhead Grain Elevator

Established in 1906, Barrhead's position as a major trade centre on the historic Klondike Trail gave it a significant role in the settlement of north-western Alberta. It was a vital link in the trade route from Fort Edmonton to the Yukon. James McGuire, the child of one of the first settlers in the area, named Barrhead after his hometown in Scotland.

Today, the community's rich history can be revisited through a collection of artifacts at the Barrhead and District Museum. The museum also houses a large display of African taxidermy, as well as the Barrhead Visitor Information Centre, which is open from May to September. The great blue heron is another prominent figure in local lore, is often spotted along the shores of the Paddle River and local lakes, and is the town's official animal. A statue of the bird sits next to the Community Gazebo that marks the town centre and miniatures of the bird adorn the street posts.

Climate

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The town has a humid continental climate with warm summers and cold winters. There are four seasons. Temperatures reach upwards of 35 °C (95 °F) during June, July, and August and for a few months a year drop as low as −50 °C (−58 °F). Rainfall is moderate, with the majority falling during the summer months. The area is noticeably wetter than in surrounding regions, particularly to the south and east. Around a metre of snow falls on the region during winter. During the summer solstice, twilight extends throughout the night and during the winter, night comes quickly. However, the town gets to experience beautiful displays of the Aurora borealis and this helps with the dark.

Get in

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By car

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Barrhead is about 120 km (75 mi) north of Edmonton at the intersection of Highway 33 (Grizzly Trail) and Highway 18. Travelers from Edmonton can either take Highway 2 north to Westlock and follow Highway 18, or take follow Highways 16 and 43 to Highway 33.

By plane

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The nearest international airport is in Edmonton. Barrhead has a small airport southwest of town but it has no commercial flights.

Get around

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  • 1 Barrhead Centennial Museum, 5629 49 St, ☏ +1 780-674-5203, . June 1- Labour Day long weekend: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. (updated May 2020)
  • 2 Fort Assiniboine National Historic Site (Fort Assiniboine Museum), Hwy 661, Fort Assiniboine (approximately 40 km NW of Barrhead), ☏ +1 780-584-3737. Constructed in the classic Hudson’s Bay Company-style of a trading post and reflects the fur-trading times that helped to establish the area. Fort Assiniboine (Q18534260) on Wikidata Fort Assiniboine on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 3 Klondyke Ferry (Vega Ferry) (Hwy 661, near Vega). May-Nov: Daily 6:30AM-11:30PM. The Klondike (Vega) Ferry on the Athabasca River is one of only 7 remaining ferries in the Province of Alberta. The ferry operates from April to October. An ice bridge serves the crossing during the winter months. (updated May 2020)
Thunder Lake Provincial Park
Aurora Borealis overhead Thunder Lake Provincial Park
  • 1 Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park, Fort Assiniboine (50 km NW of Barrhead), ☏ +1 780-960-8170. A 7,903 ha (19,530 acres) protected area along the north shore of the Athabasca River. Features a diverse number of landscapes, from river flats to dunes to forests. Activities include backcountry hiking, horseback riding, backcountry camping, cross country skiing, hunting, and fishing. Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park (Q28972143) on Wikidata Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)
  • 2 Thunder Lake Provincial Park (21 km W of Barrhead), ☏ +1 780-674-4051. Located on the north-western shore of Thunder Lake, the park features setting for boating, water-skiing, swimming, running, fishing and camping. Thunder Lake Provincial Park (Q7798988) on Wikidata Thunder Lake Provincial Park on Wikipedia (updated May 2020)

Golf

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Main Street in Barrhead

Barrhead has some small shops in its downtown area.

Drink

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Sleep

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Bed & Breakfast

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Hotels & motels

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Connect

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Go next

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Routes through Barrhead
END ← Mayerthorpe ←    W  E  → Westlock → Edmonton via
ENDS at W E ← Swan Hills ←  NW  S  → Lac Ste. Anne → Edmonton via


This city travel guide to Barrhead is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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