Brokeback Mountain (2005) filming locations

Longview, Canada

Rolling foothills of southern Alberta, near the Bar U Ranch (national historic site).

The scene : 1 min — The montage of peaks and hills that opens the film, shot westward from a high site near Hwy 22.

Carseland, Canada

Intersection of Hwy 24 and Range Road 260 in Carseland, northeast side of the railway.

The scene : 1 min — The opening of the film in the fictional town of "Signal, Wyoming": a telephoto lens brings the famous group of three utility poles closer, which are actually very far apart. The neighboring Quonset building (former gas station) hosted the cut scene "Signal Gas Station".

Cowley, Canada

Small village in southern Alberta crossed by a railway, on the Crowsnest Highway.

The scene : 2 min — Cowley embodies the fictional town of 'Signal, Wyoming': Jack arrives in town looking for work, Joe Aguirre's trailer office is parked in the lot of a butcher shop, and it's in a nearby alley that Ennis collapses after Jack leaves.

Canada

Small canyon of the Bow River (glacial turquoise water) on the lands of the Stoney Nakoda Reserve, near Morley.

The scene : 9 min — Near the spot where the Basque guide warns Ennis about the bulky soup cans; the Bow River forms a lovely little canyon there.

Canada

Bow River Canyon on the lands of the Stoney Nakoda reserve.

The scene : 9 min — The procession of sheep along the spectacular canyon of the Bow River (shots partly composed with Canyon Creek and Moose Mountain).

Canada

Ford across Canyon Creek along Canyon Creek Road (Hwy 66), amid the gas installations of Shell Canada.

The scene : 10 min — One of the most poignant moments of the opening: the lambs cross the stream and Jack performs his "walk on water" — an imagery that critics liken to the Styx, the Rubicon, or the Jordan.

Canada

Mont Lorette (2,469 m), on Hwy 40 near the entrance to Kananaskis Golf Course.

The scene : 12 min — Establishing shot of the two peaks of Mount Lorette, signature image of the Kananaskis range.

Kananaskis, Canada

Spray Valley Provincial Park, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.

The scene : 14 min — The ridge that the two men are riding, framed by the peaks of the Goat Range.

Canada

Hill along Hwy 742 (Smith-Dorrien Rd), near Rummel Creek.

The scene : 14 min — Striking hill captured in an establishing shot.

Canada

Day use area of King Creek, on Hwy 40 in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

The scene : 15 min — The stream where a stunt bear stalled the shoot by licking its lips instead of growling, and where the mules run wild ("Whoa. Come back here!").

Kananaskis, Canada

Log bridge spanning Goat Creek at Campsite #2 (Spray Valley Provincial Park).

The scene : 23 min — The iconic log bridge of Campsite #2 (laundry day, Jack's song); the "first morning" shot that echoes, an hour and a half later, the departure after the Dozy Embrace.

Kananaskis, Canada

Clearing by the shores of Goat Creek, in Spray Valley Provincial Park (Kananaskis), near Canmore.

The scene : 24 min — The clearing of the famous tent, near the stream: campfire, log bridge, grassy hill — "Tent don't look right".

Canada

Summit prairies of Moose Mountain, accessible from Hwy 66 in Kananaskis.

The scene : 31 min — The vast summit prairies where the only real intimate conversation of the summer takes place: "You know I ain't queer" / "Me neither" — a shared lie against the backdrop of a herd at dusk.

Canada

Fortress Mountain Ski Resort, located on Hwy 40, at the foot of the legendary summit of The Fortress.

The scene : 37 min — The "really big" snow-capped mountain in the shot of the small tent ("pup tent"), composite shot filmed near the parking lot of the station.

Kananaskis, Canada

Small embankment adjacent to Campsite #2, on the edge of Goat Creek in Spray Valley Provincial Park.

The scene : 39 min — The grassy slope ("Get Goin', Cowboy" Hillside) behind the tent, with the backdrop of Ha Ling Peak, where Ennis struggles in vain to untangle his future — "Time to get goin', cowboy", "This ain't no rodeo, cowboy".

Cowley, Canada

The scene : 43 min — The austere passage between the village building of Cowley and the Masonic Lodge where Ennis, overwhelmed, pounds the wall and vomits after Jack's departure — "What the fuck are you lookin' at?".

Dinton, Canada

Small wooden Anglican church in Dinton, a hamlet in southern Alberta southeast of Calgary.

The scene : 44 min — The wooden church of Ennis and Alma's wedding; the wedding portrait was taken on the northwest side.

Beiseker, Canada

The scene : 45 min — Ennis, a young groom, shovels hot asphalt while dreaming of Brokeback.

Claresholm, Canada

Hart family farm on Hwy 520, in southern Alberta.

The scene : 47 min — Ennis and Alma's foyer, the "slum" that Alma dreams of leaving; her clothesline and kitchen are still visible.

Fort Macleod, Canada

The scene : 52 min — The 4th of July celebration with fireworks, and Ennis's outburst.

Rockyford, Canada

Rockyford rodeo grounds, a village in eastern Alberta that houses several buildings from the film.

The scene : 54 min — The two rodeos (Childress and Electra) where Jack tries to ride a steer and retrieves his red hat.

Crossfield, Canada

Former grocery store of Crossfield, now empty, which retains its period sign "Choice Meats / Fresh Produce".

The scene : 58 min — Monroe's grocery store, the setting for the clash between the masculinities of Ennis and Monroe.

Fort Macleod, Canada

JC Edgar building in Fort Macleod, at the corner of 3rd Avenue (Archie Maclean Ave) and 25th Street.

The scene : 1 hr — Alma's apartment above a laundromat, in the fictional city of 'Riverton'.

Rockyford, Canada

Drinking establishment on Main Street in Rockyford, formerly known as Dun Rovens Pub, now The Pub on Main.

The scene : 1 hr 2 min — The bar "JT's Bar" (now "The Pub on Main"), one of the three Brokeback buildings in Rockyford, next to the phone booth and facing the "Riverton" post office.

Calgary, Canada

Curling rink of Springbank Park For All Seasons, adjacent to Springbank Community High School, used as a filming location.

The scene : 1 hr 5 min — The interior of the motel — like the interior of the famous tent — was shot in a studio, on this curling rink west of Calgary.

Beiseker, Canada

Small roadside motel near the Esso station, east of Beiseker.

The scene : 1 hr 5 min — The exterior of the motel where Jack and Ennis reunite.

Canada

The scene : 1 hr 9 min — The flat road that Ennis and Jack drive down, through the rolling hills of the foothills.

Canada

Section of Hwy 742 (Smith-Dorrien Rd) facing Mount Foch, above the Lower Kananaskis Lakes.

The scene : 1 hr 9 min — Mountain road view, Mount Foch (3,180 m) welcoming travelers on Hwy 742.

Canada

Day use area of Elbow Falls, in Bragg Creek Provincial Park, upstream of the Elbow Falls.

The scene : 1 hr 10 min — By the Elbow River: the scene "Sweet Life" ("You know it could be like this, just like this, always") and, years later, the scene "Maybe Texas" — the same proposition, the same refusal.

Dorothy, Canada

Picturesque hamlet of Dorothy, in the valley of the Red Deer River near Drumheller.

The scene : 1 hr 12 min — The flashback of young Ennis (9 years old) in the "Badlands" of Alberta.

Calgary, Canada

The scene : 1 hr 14 min — The Newsome family's agricultural equipment store (in "Childress, Texas") where Jack searches for his parka among the rodeo belts hanging on the wall.

Claresholm, Canada

Cabin built in 1927 for a single uncle, on the Hart family farm (Hwy 520), the same large plot of land as the Lonesome Ranch.

The scene : 1 hr 20 min — The rustic cabin where Ennis settles after his divorce.

Dorothy, Canada

The scene : 1 hr 20 min — The winding road before a dark abyss toward which Jack rolls tirelessly.

Dorothy, Canada

Section of Hwy 570 east of Dorothy, in the Badlands of the Red Deer River valley.

The scene : 1 hr 22 min — The "Texas" road: a straight, dull road rising towards a hill covered in tall grass — the exact opposite of the "Entering Wyoming" road, filmed on the same route in the opposite direction, for one of the most poignant silent performances of Jake Gyllenhaal.

Calgary, Canada

The scene : 1 hr 24 min — The Twist house in Texas where the tense Thanksgiving dinner takes place — "Sit down, you old son of a bitch!" — when Jack stands up to his father-in-law.

Blackie, Canada

Former hardware store of Blackie, on Railway Avenue, next to the Masonic Lodge.

The scene : 1 hr 29 min — Exterior of the bar (the "Black and Blue Eagle") in the snowy streets of "Riverton": Thanksgiving fight and Ennis's altercation with a truck driver.

Canada

Smuts Creek, west side of Hwy 742, in front of Mount Smuts and The Fist.

The scene : 1 hr 30 min — One of the film's most carefully crafted pan shots, a moment of serenity just after the tumultuous Thanksgiving scenes, set to the music "Riding Horses" by Santaolalla.

Canada

Spillway Lake, one of the Lower Kananaskis Lakes, south of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park.

The scene : 1 hr 30 min — Serene frame of Ennis and Jack's peaceful horseback ride.

Canada

Mud Lake, near the parking lot of Burstall Pass on Hwy 742.

The scene : 1 hr 41 min — Ennis drinks Old Rose whiskey and exchanges lies with Jack, Mount Murray towering behind him.

Kananaskis, Canada

Clearing by Goat Creek at Campsite #2 (Spray Valley Provincial Park).

The scene : 1 hr 49 min — The site of the dozy embrace (‘Dozy Embrace’) revisited in flashback by Jack — ‘the only moment of simple and enchanted happiness in their separate and difficult lives.’ A cairn of fans now marks the spot.

Conrich, Canada

Country road (Range Road 283, known as "Rainbow Road") near the hamlet of Conrich, east of Calgary.

The scene : 1 hr 53 min — The isolated place, by the railway track, where Jack meets his death — beaten to death with a crowbar according to the version that Ennis dreads. The road bears the ironically foreboding name of "Rainbow Road".

Beiseker, Canada

Old prairie farm whose facade is concealed by a thicket of caragana, now barricaded.

The scene : 1 hr 55 min — The Twist farm, which Ennis visits after the announcement of Jack's death.

Beiseker, Canada

Grassy clearing surrounded by a white fence, near the old dump of Beiseker.

The scene : 2 hr 3 min — The location of Ennis's trailer, where his adult daughter comes to announce her wedding — the final scene of the film.

Canada

Belvedere near Dead Man's Flats (exit 98 of the Trans-Canada), facing the peaks of Kananaskis.

The scene : 2 hr 8 min — The "postcard" view of Mount Lougheed and Windtower, which closes the film's final emotion — "Jack, I swear."

Canmore, Canada

The scene : The second campsite, where the tension between the two men erupts.

Calgary, Canada

Former historic blues hotel-bar of the East Village neighborhood of Calgary, now closed (incorporated into the National Music Centre). Built in 1905, it is classified as a municipal historic resource.

The scene : The western bar where Jack is looking for rodeo work.

Calgary, Canada

Alley in the Ramsay neighborhood of Calgary, along the Dominion Bridge Building (near Café Rosso).

The scene : The industrial alley transformed into a 'Mexican' border where Jack seeks encounters.

Calgary, Canada

The scene : The interior of Alma's new house (Sunalta/Scarboro neighborhood).

Canmore, Canada

Spray Range peaks, south of the Spray Lakes Reservoir near Canmore (Spray Valley Provincial Park).

The scene : The peaceful reunion of Ennis and Jack in the midst of nature.

Calgary, Canada

Branch No. 1 of the Royal Canadian Legion, located in downtown Calgary. A club house and event space, it is designated as a municipal and provincial historic resource.

The scene : The interior of the charity dance dinner at the "Red River Social Club."

Mesilla, United States

Old tortilla factory near the historic Plaza de Mesilla, next to Las Cruces, about 30 miles from the Mexican border.

The scene : The establishing shot of the fictional Mexican border town.

United States

Grand Teton National Park, in the northwestern Wyoming.

The scene : Views of the landscapes of Wyoming (the state where the story takes place).

Canada

Kananaskis Range, in the Canadian Rockies southeast of Banff, is the main mountainous setting of the film.

The scene : The mountains that embody the 'Brokeback Mountain' of the title: establishing shots of the peaks (Fortress Mountain, Moose Mountain, Mount Lougheed, Windtower, Three Sisters) and waterfalls (Elbow Falls).

Irricana, Canada

The scene : Filming in the village of Irricana (no specific scene documented).

Lacombe, Canada

The scene : Filming in the town of Lacombe (no specific scene documented).

Canada

Nicoll Ranch, along Jumping Pound Creek to the west of Calgary.

The scene : Set of the deleted scene "Hippie Discovery": Ennis and Jack pass a colorful VW van on a small mountain road (scene cut during editing).

Canada

Canyon Creek Valley, in Kananaskis Provincial Park.

The scene : The first campsite along Canyon Creek: "No more beans," Jack recalls his rodeo days, "Hell, that's the most I've spoken in a year." The circle of stones from the campfire is still in place.

Canada

Summit of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, in the Kananaskis Rockies.

The scene : Ennis cleans the coffee pot in the river while watching Jack climb the west summit of Mount Inflexible (the sheep were added in CGI).

Canada

Galatea Day Use Area Suspension Bridge (Spray Valley Provincial Park), near the head of the Galatea Creek Trail.

The scene : The suspension bridge ("Basque Bridge") over the Kananaskis River, where the Basque supplier (played by Calgary actor David Trimble) tells Ennis that it is "too early in the summer to be tired of beans."

Seebe, Canada

Bow River near the hamlet of Seebe, at the entrance of the Kananaskis Valley.

The scene : The Diving Cliff on the Bow River, where Jack (a stunt double) and Ennis bathe nude — a site that is now closed and controlled by a hydroelectric power station.

Canada

Mountain lake of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, in the Kananaskis Rockies.

The scene : The most famous shooting location of the film: the final camping scene and the heartbreaking "I wish I knew how to quit you," with Mount Lyautey in the background (one of the five "Brokeback Mountain" locations in the film).

Dinton, Canada

The scene : The baseball field transformed into a drive-in where Ennis and Alma watch a beach movie: a computer-generated cinema screen is embedded in the field, complemented by legs from speakers salvaged from a drive-in in Calgary.

Rockyford, Canada

The scene : The post office of "Riverton": Ennis writes "You bet" on a postcard, then in the nearby telephone booth, learns the word "DECEASED" — the death of Jack.

Rockyford, Canada

The scene : The exterior of the "Childress Dance Hall": on the bench in front of the bank, Randall Malone hints to Jack at a certain tolerance ("Drink a little whiskey, fish some. Get away"). The country bank was transformed into a chic dance hall with awnings, a red carpet, and benches.

Carseland, Canada

The "Blue Bar" of Carseland (originally a bright blue, repainted in earth tones for filming and then restored); it incorporates a small hotel on the upper floor and had previously served for The Hi-Lo Country (1998).

The scene : The "Signal Bar" where Ennis and Jack meet and have a beer for the first time; its tiny counter gives their silhouettes a larger-than-life presence.

Cowley, Canada

The scene : In front of the barracks, Jack's 1950 GMC truck spends the summer of '63 here; this is also where he gets into his truck and leaves — "I can't believe I left my damn shirt up there".

Calgary, Canada

Famous honky-tonk / country bar in Calgary on Macleod Trail, its walls adorned with award-winning rodeo saddles; closed in 2019.

The scene : The authentic hangout of the rodeo cowboys in Calgary, where Jack conducts his financial research and where Lureen makes her "call of the heart" in the space at the back left of the bar.

Fort Macleod, Canada

The scene : The municipal council chambers serve as the courtroom for Alma's divorce — "del Mar divorce granted."

Calgary, Canada

The scene : The wooden-framed exterior of Monroe and Alma's house (Mount Pleasant neighborhood): Ennis slams the door on Thanksgiving evening and returns years later to find Alma Jr. under the covered porch.

Fort Macleod, Canada

A sandstone jewel from 1903, one of the main historical buildings of Fort Macleod, a witness to the city's "glory years"; most of the action takes place in the bar on the first level.

The scene : The bar on the ground floor (« Cassie's Bar ») where Cassie serves Ennis and where their parallel relationship begins — « earlier today I was castratin' calves ».

Fort Macleod, Canada

Former Greyhound cafe/bus station in Fort Macleod, now closed.

The scene : Ennis meets Cassie over a slice of apple pie — "Hey, Ennis del Mar. Where you been?".