From the small town of Caroline in central Alberta we visited Ram Falls for the first time on a bright Sunday morning in December. The three-hour long drive over back roads that were barren except for one solitary set of tracks in the fresh snow was our slow route to the scenic falls.
The rolling foothills and the treacherous roads were like riding a roller coaster weaving from one trunk road to another and through the pristine Elk Creek Wildlife Sanctuary where I saw my first moose; as a matter of fact as we came upon the clearing we counted five of the powerful giants lying on the frozen ground, resting under the warmth of the mid-day sun.
Keep Your Eyes Peeled And Cameras Ready For the Sights Along The Way
And it was a lucky bonus that a little further on we also got an all too rare glimpse of a weary group of wild horses grazing in a clear-cut area with one ear perked to ensure they knew what we were up to.
West of Rocky Mountain House and South of Nordegg we began our day as we pulled into the parking lot of the Ram Falls provincial campground and followed the route that previous visitors had made by packing down a trail in the knee-deep snow through the day use area to the top of the falls.
In the winter, nature’s cold breath freezes the 50 feet of falls into a tall solid wall of ice that hangs suspended against the sheer drop to the snow covered valley below.
Ram River Located In the Eastern Slopes of the Rockies
It was eight months later when we returned to the provincial park again to witness the powerful force of the water in summer as it rushed over the steep riverbank into the canyon of eroded shale and sandstone carved out by the raging Ram River in the eastern slopes of the Rockies.
Summer revealed the awe-inspiring shades of blue and green of the river and the water was clean and clear through to the rocks on the bottom. The power of the falls was forcing spray back up on itself and created a gorgeous rainbow that bridged the two sides of the valley.
It takes exactly 133 steps to lead visitors down to the edge of the ravine and a viewing platform that provides the spectacular view of the falls and the rugged terrain of the Ram River valley.
Back to the top of the man-made stairs; we took the path in the opposite direction from where we approached the falls and followed the river downstream.
Some Consider Ram Fall The Best Wilderness Adventure Destination
Almost as engaging as the falls themselves was the scenery along the top of the canyon, which is considered by many visitors to be one of the best wilderness adventure destinations in the world.
Bighorn Sheep grazing above the falls on the oppose side is a common site and although we did not run into other wildlife that day, elk, grizzly and black bears and white-tailed deer also make the Rocky Mountain Forest Reserve their home. In the fall, bald eagles can be spotted hovering over their hunting ground along these eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
Summer or Winter, This Is A Must See Landmark
Now that we have seen the great falls in both summer and winter, I would be torn to recommend one over the other. Our winter trip exposed moose and wild horses that moved out of the dense forest to find sun but summer meant a longer trip and a walk further downt the path where we witnessed the power of the great river at work. Either way, this must see landmark will provide a breathtaking memory for all its visitors.
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