Crowsnest Highway

File:Alberta Highway 3 (Crowsnest).png Crowsnest Highway
Highway 3
Route information
Length	1,161 km (721 mi)
Existed	1932–present
Major junctions
West end	Highway 1 (TCH) near Hope, BC
East end	Highway 1 (TCH) / Highway 41A in Medicine Hat, AB
Location
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Specialized and rural municipalities	Crowsnest Pass, Pincher Creek No. 9 M.D., Willow Creek No. 26 M.D., Lethbridge County, Taber M.D., Forty Mile No. 8 County, Cypress County
Municipalities	Hope, Sparwood
Major cities	Greenwood, Grand Forks, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Fernie, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat
Towns	Princeton, Osoyoos, Creston, Fort Macleod, Coalhurst, Coaldale, Taber, Bow Island
Villages	Keremeos, Midway, Salmo, Cowley, Barnwell
Highway system
Trans-Canada Highway Provincial highways in British Columbia
← Highway 2 BC → Highway 3A ← Highway 2A AB → Highway 3A

The Crowsnest Highway, also known as the Interprovincial or, in British Columbia, the Southern Trans-Provincial, is an east-west highway, 1,161 km (721 mi) in length, through the southern parts of British Columbia and Alberta, providing the shortest highway connection between British Columbia's Lower Mainland and southeast Alberta. It is designated a core route in Canada's National Highway System, and is designated as Highway 3 for its entire length.

The highway, which is mostly two lanes, was officially designated in 1932, mainly following a mid-19th century gold rush trail originally traced out by an engineer named Edgar Dewdney. It takes its name from the Crowsnest Pass, the location at which the highway crosses the Continental Divide between British Columbia and Alberta.

In British Columbia, the first segment of the highway between the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 5A is locally known as the Hope-Princeton Highway. In Alberta, the highway forms concurrencies with both the Red Coat Trail and the CANAMEX Corridor from Highway 2 west of Fort Macleod to Highway 4 at the eastern limits of Lethbridge.

Route description

The peak of Allison Pass.

British Columbia

The Crowsnest Highway's total length in British Columbia is 837 km (520 mi), and its total length within Alberta is 324 km (201 mi). The Crowsnest Highway's western terminus is at Hope, where it branches off from Highway 1. The highway goes east for 7 km (4.3 mi) to its junction with Highway 5, then through Allison Pass and Manning Provincial Park for 127 km (79 mi) towards the Town of Princeton. There are several significant ascents in this stretch between Hope and Princeton. The first is the steep climb to the Hope Slide, followed later by the remainder of the climb up to Allison Pass at an elevation of 1,342m (4,473 ft). After the summit of Allison Pass, where the Crowsnest crosses from the Fraser Valley Regional District into the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, the road descends for 40 km (25 mi) before beginning another long climb up Sunday Summit (1,284m, 4,280 ft). Soon after Sunday Summit is the descent into Princeton, where Highway 5A begins.

Through the Similkameen Valley westwards into the mountains

After Princeton, the Crowsnest goes southeast for 67 km (42 mi), through Hedley, to the Village of Keremeos, where a junction with a length of highway designated as 3A is located, leading towards Penticton and Highway 97. Another 46 km (29 mi) southeast, and the Crowsnest reaches the Town of Osoyoos and a junction with Highway 97. The highway then proceeds to hug the Canada-U.S. border east through a stretch of switchbacks known as Anarchist Mountain, which is also the name of the upland rural community beyond the summit. A few kilometres east of Anarchist Mountain, the Crowsnest enters the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary.

52 km (32 mi) east of Osoyoos, the Crowsnest reaches its junction with Highway 33 at Rock Creek, then the highway heads east for 70 km (43 mi) to its junction with Highway 41 at a location called Carson, just west of Grand Forks. Another 26 km (16 mi) east, passing through Grand Forks en route, the Crowsnest meets Highway 395 at the southern end of Christina Lake.

Further east from Christina Lake, the Crowsnest travels for 47 km (29 mi) through Bonanza Pass to its junction with Highway 3B at Nancy Greene Lake, which is the cutoff to the ski town of Rossland, shortly thereafter crossing into the Regional District of Central Kootenay. It is another 26 km (16 mi) east from Nancy Greene Lake to the junction with Highway 22 at Castlegar, and another 2 km (1.2 mi) east to a junction with another stretch of Highway designated as 3A, also within Castlegar. Leaving Castlegar, the Crowsnest reaches its eastern junction with Highway 3B 26 km (16 mi) east. Highway 6 converges with the Crowsnest at Salmo, 11 km (6.8 mi) east of the 3B junction, and the two highways proceed south for 14 km (8.7 mi) to the Burnt Flat Junction, where Highway 6 diverges south.

East of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest heads through the Kootenay Pass on a stretch known as the Kootenay Skyway, or Salmo-Creston Skyway. 67 km (42 mi) east of Burnt Flat, the Crowsnest reaches the Town of Creston, just past junctions with Highway 21 and Highway 3A. 40 km (25 mi) later, south of Yahk, Highway 95 merges onto the Crowsnest. The two highways share a common alignment for 72 km (45 mi) northeast along the Moyie River, crossing into the Regional District of East Kootenay along the way, to a junction with Highway 95A at Cranbrook. Another 6 km (3.7 mi) east, Highway 95 diverges north from the Crowsnest and Highway 93 merges onto the Crowsnest from the north. Highway 93 and the Crowsnest share a common alignment for the next 53 km (33 mi) southeast to Elko, where Highway 93 diverges south. 31 km (19 mi) north of Elko, the Crowsnest reaches Fernie, then it goes north another 30 km (19 mi) to its junction with Highway 43 at Sparwood, and another 19 km (12 mi) east, the highway reaches the boundary with Alberta at Crowsnest Pass.

Alberta

The Alberta portion of the Crowsnest Highway is designated Alberta Provincial Highway No. 3. Once into Alberta, the Crowsnest Highway goes east 16 km (9.9 mi) to the Bighorn Highway at Coleman, then 26 km (16 mi) east to its junction with Highway 22, another 20 km (12 mi) to its junction with Highway 6, then another 44 km (27 mi) to its junction with Highway 2 north, then proceeding 5 km (3.1 mi) east into the Town of Fort Macleod and the Crowsnest's junction with Highway 2 south. After Fort Macleod, the Crowsnest goes 27 km (17 mi) east, crossing the Oldman River, to Highway 3A southeast of Monarch, which feeds Highway 23.

The highway reaches the first access (Westview Drive W) to the City of Lethbridge 13 km (8.1 mi) later. At this point, the Crowsnest's only freeway segment begins. 2 km (1.2 mi) later, Highway 25 (University Drive W) branches to the north before crossing the Oldman River for the second time. The freeway segment ends at Mayor Magrath Drive, which branches as Highway 5 to the south. The highway intersects Highway 4 at the eastern limits of Lethbridge.

45 km (28 mi) east of Lethbridge, the Crowsnest reaches the Town of Taber. Within Taber, Highway 36 runs concurrently with the highway for 3 km (1.9 mi). Upon dropping the concurrency, the Crowsnest ends 113 km (70 mi) later at the Trans-Canada Highway in the City of Medicine Hat.

Major intersections

British Columbia

The following is a list of exits along the expressway and freeway portions of British Columbia Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway).

Hope to Princeton

Regional District	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Fraser Valley	Hope			Highway 1 (TCH) north, Water Avenue	Eastbound only
				3 Avenue	Westbound only
				Old Hope- Princeton Way
	Fraser Valley Electoral Area B			Highway 5 Coquihalla Highway, Highway 3, Crowsnest Highway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Castlegar

Regional District	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Kootenays	Castlegar			Highway 22 south (Columbia Ave.) – Rossland, Trail
				20th St., 6th Ave. to Highway 22	Westbound only
				Highway 3A east – Castlegar Airport, Nelson
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Cranbrook

Regional District	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
East Kootenay	Cranbrook			Begin expressway at 22nd Street north
				23rd Street N	At-grade intersection
				30th Street N	At-grade intersection
				Highway 95A north – Cranbrook Airport, Kimberley
				Highway 95 / Highway 93 north – Fort Steele, Invermere, Radium Hot Springs	Begin multiplex with Highway 93
				Expressway ends
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Alberta

The following is a list of major intersections along Alberta Highway 3 (Crowsnest Highway) from west to east.

Rural/specialized municipality	Location	km	mi	Destinations	Notes
Continues as BC 3 west - Sparwood, Fernie, Cranbrook
Municipality of Crowsnest Pass	​	0	0.0	Alberta - British Columbia border Crowsnest Pass (el. 1,358 m, 4,455 ft)
	Coleman	16	9.9	Highway 40 north (Forestry Trunk Road)
	Blairmore	18	11	20 Avenue east
		21	13	20 Avenue west
	Frank	24	15	153 Street	Passes Frank Slide
	Bellevue	26	16	9 Avenue / 213 Street	Access to Hillcrest
	​	30	19	East Hillcrest Drive	Access to Hillcrest
M. D. of Pincher Creek No. 9	Burmis	35	22	Highway 507 south – Beaver Mines
	​	40	25	Highway 3A east
	​	42	26	Highway 22 north – Longview, Black Diamond, Turner Valley
	Lundbreck	44	27	Breckenridge Avenue
	​	48	30	Highway 3A west
	Cowley	52	32	Highway 510 north
	Pincher Station	62	39	Highway 6 south – Pincher Creek, Waterton Lakes National Park 3rd Avenue
	​	65	40	Highway 785
Piikani I.R. 147	Brocket	77	48	Highway 786 south
M. D. of Willow Creek No. 26	​	104	65	Highway 810 south – Glenwood
	Divided highway begins
	Fort Macleod	106	66	Highway 2 north (Exit 89) – Claresholm, Calgary	File:Alberta Highway 3 (Crowsnest).png Highway 2 concurrency begins Red Coat Trail concurrency begins CANAMEX Corridor concurrency begins
		109	68	Highway 811 north (6 Avenue)
		111	69	Highway 2 south – Cardston, Carway	Hwy 2 concurrency ends
	​	132	82	Highway 3A east – Monarch To Highway 23 north – Vulcan	Eastbound access to Hwy 23.
↑ / ↓		134	83	Crosses Oldman River
Lethbridge County	​	138	86	Highway 3A west – Monarch Highway 23 north – Vulcan	Partial interchange Westbound exit, eastbound entrance
	​	142	88	Future Highway 3X east	Future Lethbridge and Coaldale bypass.
	Kipp	146	91	Urban Approach Road 205 north Highway 509 south – Stand Off
	Coalhurst	148	92	51 Avenue	Coalhurst access road
	Freeway begins
City of Lethbridge		151	94	Westside Drive W (Unsigned Hwy 3A)	Partial interchange Eastbound exit, westbound entrance.
		153.1	95.1	Highway 25 north – Picture Butte University Drive W south	Interchange
		155.0	96.3	Bridge Drive W (Former Hwy 3A)	Interchange
		155.4	96.6	Crosses Oldman River
		155.6	96.7	Access road to Oldman River valley
		156.1	97.0	5 Avenue N (To Scenic Drive)	Eastbound exit, westbound entrance
		156.3	97.1	1 Avenue S – City Centre To Highway 4 / Highway 5	Eastbound exit only
		156.8	97.4	Scenic Drive	Westbound exit, eastbound entrance
		157.7	98.0	Stafford Drive
		158.5	98.5	13 Street	Westbound exit only
		159.2	98.9	19 Street (To 3 Avenue S)	Eastbound exit/entrance
		159.4	99.0	Mayor Magrath Drive Highway 5 south – Magrath, Cardston	Access to Lethbridge Airport
		Freeway ends
		161.4	100.3	1 Avenue S To Highway 4 south / Highway 512 east	Eastbound exit only
		161.8	100.5	43 Street Highway 4 south – Milk River, Coutts, Great Falls Highway 843 north	Red Coat Trail concurrency ends CANAMEX Corridor concurrency ends
Lethbridge County	​	168	104	Future Highway 4X	Future Lethbridge bypass.
	Coaldale	173	107	Highway 845 (20 Street) – Lomond, Raymond
	​	184	114	Highway 512 south Future Highway 3X west	Future Lethbridge and Coaldale bypass.
M. D. of Taber	​	198	123	Highway 3A east – Barnwell
	Barnwell	200	120	Heritage Road
	​	202	126	Highway 3A west – Barnwell
	Taber	207	129	Highway 855 north (Park Road)
		208	129	Highway 36 south – Warner	File:Alberta Highway 3 (Crowsnest).png Highway 36 concurrency begins.
		210	130	Highway 36 north (64 Street) – Vauxhall, Brooks	Hwy 36 concurrency ends.
	Divided highway ends
	Grassy Lake	242	150	Highway 877 south – Skiff
County of Forty Mile No. 8	Burdett	254	158	Main Street	Passes through Burdett
	​	260	160	Highway 879 – Foremost
	Bow Island	266	165	Centre Street	Passes through Bow Island
	​	285	177	Highway 885 south – Etzikom
Cypress County	Seven Persons	301	187	Highway 887 – Orion
	​	312	194	Future Hwy 1X	Future Medicine Hat bypass.
City of Medicine Hat		321	199	Highway 523 east (Holsom Road SW)
		322	200	Viscount Avenue SW	Passes Medicine Hat Airport
		323	201	Highway 1 (TCH) – Brooks, Calgary, Swift Current, Regina Highway 41A east – City Centre	Hwy 3 ends.
Continues as Highway 41A east (Gershaw Drive SW)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Incomplete access       Unopened

See also

• Dewdney Trail
• Kettle Valley Railway (southern mainline of the CPR)

External links

• Crowsnest Highway tour
• 2010 Provincial Highways 1 - 216 Series Progress Chart (map, 8 MB) by Alberta Transportation.