High River Homes for Sale

About High River

South of both Calgary and Okotoks, High River sits on the Highwood River. It was made a village in 1901 and a town in 1906, growing up around "The Crossing," a handy spot to ford the river. According to the Town, it is about 60 km south of Calgary on Highway 2, and Highway 23 joins Highway 2 here on its way east.

The 2021 Census from Statistics Canada recorded 14,324 residents, compared with 13,594 in 2016. High River has ranching roots, historic murals downtown and a long record of film and TV work, with productions like Heartland and Fargo shot here. High River homes for sale give buyers small-town life while keeping a Calgary commute possible.

Understanding the 2013 flood

Anyone considering High River homes for sale needs to know about 2013. The Highwood River has flooded the town many times over its history. In June 2013, flooding led to the evacuation of the whole town and damaged homes, businesses and underground infrastructure.

A network of berms now protects the town. Most went up shortly after the flood, with a large southwest berm completed later, and some neighbourhoods were taken out entirely. The Government of Alberta paid for the southwest berm, a 5th Street berm and river modelling. It chose not to build a river diversion after expert advice recommended increasing the capacity of the river channel through town instead. Local officials have said the town is now among the best-protected communities for flood risk; neighbouring Foothills County has pointed to effects on residents downstream.

Protection reduces the risk but does not eliminate it, which is why Kelly's checks below are important.

School boards

• Foothills School Division operates the public schools: École Joe Clark School, Spitzee Elementary, École Senator Riley Middle School and École Secondaire Highwood High School.
• Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools operates Holy Spirit Academy and Notre Dame Collegiate.

Check with the division to confirm which school serves a given address. How designation works is covered on our schools page.

Parks, history and recreation

Right beside downtown, the heavily treed George Lane Memorial Park offers a baseball diamond, a playground, an events stage, picnic spots, a gazebo you can book and a lit outdoor rink in winter, along with a seasonal campground operated by the Lions Club. The Museum of the Highwood shares the town's history from a historic building listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places, and the Town looks after pathways and green spaces throughout the community. For more in the region, see our golf courses and off-leash dog parks pages.

Commuting to Calgary

Highway 2 north is the usual commuter route. It is a longer trip than from Okotoks, so try it at rush hour to your own workplace. The Town does not describe any regular transit connection to Calgary, so expect to drive. Comparing options at the south end? Our Okotoks and South Calgary pages can help.

Kelly's High River checklist

• The home's flood history. Ask plainly whether the property was hit in 2013, what was repaired, and whether permits for that work were taken out and closed. Look for inspection records and receipts.
• Distance from the river and berms. Review provincial flood hazard mapping for the address, and ask the Town about local flood protection in that part of town.
• Inspection focus. Ask your inspector to look hard at the foundation, the basement and any sign of earlier water.
• Older houses. Lots of homes were built before today's codes, so check the age of the roof, plumbing and electrical.

The range runs from older character homes close to downtown to newer townhomes and detached houses. Our buyers' guide explains conditions and inspections, and the surrounding areas page compares other towns. Ask Kelly what is available in High River now.

Want to compare areas? Browse all 219 Calgary communities, or read about choosing a Calgary realtor.