Located between the Sheep River and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Black Diamond is the eastern gateway to Kananaskis Country.

It’s 52 kilometres west of Calgary, and is where Calgary’s ‘weekend cowboys’ often retreat to. This is also true western ranching country: working ranches with real cowboys on horseback, legendary Alberta blue skies and some of the most heart-stopping scenery in all of Canada.

While decidedly rural, the town of around 2,000 residents is well serviced with a medical clinic and a hospital, as well as an elementary and high school.

History

Coal deposits were found in the area now occupied by Black Diamond in the late 1800s, and by 1899, a coal mine was operating near the west bank of the Sheep River. High-grade coal was extracted and shipped by wagon track to Okotoks.

Miners were relocated to the area along with ranchers looking for a place to call home, and a store and post office soon followed. 

The name of the town came out of a hat: the only way to solve a dispute between calling the town Black Diamond after the mine, or Arnoldville after the owner of the store and post office.

Transportation

Head south out of Calgary on Deerfoot or Macleod Trail to reach Highway 2 and take the Okotoks turnoff. Head through Okotoks to reach Highway 7, and then turn west to reach Black Diamond. Or, head west out of Calgary on Highway 1 or Highway 8 to Highway 22 (the Cowboy Trail) and head south through Bragg Creek, Millarville and Turner Valley.

For those looking to commute to Calgary there has been talk of a commuter shuttle service starting, but nothing official has launched as of yet. There is a commuter shuttle that runs out of Okotoks, just a 20-minute drive away.