Inspiring travel one scoop at a time with the Alberta Ice Cream Ale Trail

This summer, the Alberta Ale Trail is serving up a new kind of itinerary. The Ice Cream Ale Trail is a new, family-friendly itinerary that invites Albertans and travellers alike to take the scenic route, sampling cold craft beer and cold treats along the way.

From Medicine Hat to the Crowsnest Pass, visitors are invited to discover local craft breweries, family-run ice cream shops, and other unique experiences that make southern Alberta a destination worth exploring.

This strategic initiative is helping drive tourism to lesser-known regions, supporting culinary and beverage entrepreneurs, and creating new reasons for travellers to explore beyond traditional hotspots.

Tapping into food tourism

Food and drink are powerful motivators for travel, and growing drivers of tourism spending. The Alberta Ice Cream Ale Trail is tapping into this trend with a playful, accessible theme that appeals to families, couples, and groups alike.

The results? A sweet and hoppy experience that’s both highly marketable and deeply rooted in the communities it celebrates. Each stop along the trail is a chance for visitors to engage with local makers, learn the stories behind the products, and invest in rural Alberta’s tourism economy.

Many of the featured breweries and creameries are independently owned and operate in regions where tourism is still developing. By helping these businesses attract more foot traffic and extend their summer season, the trail supports long-term sustainability and growth along Highway 3.

Supporting rural tourism

The Ice Cream Ale Trail aligns with our broader strategy to drive year-round visitation, increase rural tourism spending, and create investable opportunities in emerging destinations across the province.

Whether it’s a pint glass or a waffle cone you prefer, we’re excited to see how this trail continues to grow and how it inspires other operators and destinations to develop fresh, collaborative visitor experiences rooted in what makes their communities unique.

To learn more about rural tourism development, visit our tourism development zones.