Legends of the Fall – then and now

Our goal this glorious blue sky day was to find and photograph the cemetery scene location from the film Legends of the Fall. It was not an easy task. The site is obscure and undocumented, although we had a rough idea where it was located, and we knew that given its remote location getting there would require a hike in. There are no roads leading to it – just cow paths and rough cart tracks. We had to use those big nuggets on out heads that God gave us to track it down and our feet to get us there. That’s how we like it.

Let’s look at the three LoF movie scenes we’ve chosen to explore this trip. The location, by the way, is along the Bow River just east of Seebe Alberta.

The first screen image from the movie shows a river at sunrise. It’s a transition scene, connecting one element of the story to another, and appears only briefly. Finding the location, as it turned out, was easy and seeing it in daylight was something else. It’s a stunning place! Note the elements that help line it all up – the small pond and the cliffs in back. They match those seen in the film.

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ Scroll down for photos or to comment ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓

In the next scene, we see Brad Pitt’s character Tristan Ludlow, at his brother’s grave. It’s a touching piece where he laments the passing of his younger sibling Samuel, who died at his side on the battlefields of World War One. Tristan feels responsible for this death and it will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Finding this location required us to traverse the top of some steep bluffs high over the river, until things looked right. That’s the spot, we found it!

Not seen in the photo is a dangerous drop off just to the left of the shooting position. It’s a long way straight down to the river! In the background to the right we can see flat faced Mount Yamnuksa, a popular scramble destination, along with the interconnected Door Jamb Mountain, Loder Peak and Old Goat Mountain to its left. Other peaks seen further again to the left include Heart Mountain, Mount McGillivray and Pigeon Mountain. On our visit they were somewhat obscured by a blue haze (from forest fires).

The third and final scene we chose to use from the movie was shot at roughly the same spot as the second, only at a slightly different angle. It the movie, we see One Stab, a helper at the Ludlow Ranch, standing with Samuel Jr. They morn the passing of Isabel Two, Samuel’s mother, Tristan’s wife and One Stab’s daughter. She was killed in a skirmish with corrupt police under the employ of a local bootlegger.

Many other scenes from the movie were shot in the area. Far too many for us to document this day. We hope to return. In fact, if plans go well, it’ll take many visits to record them all. Interestingly, a scene from the 1950s Marilyn Monroe movie River of No Return was also filmed nearby.

Be sure to comment on this post (below pictures).

Visiting this site requires hiking down the Bow River valley along what we call the Horseshoe Canyon trail to its end. Then we bushwhacked into the Stoney First Nation’s Reserve for a time, which is otherwise off limits unless you have permission as we did.

The movie Legends of the Fall was released in 1994 and was for the most part well received. It’s about the trials and tribulations of a family of brothers and their father living on a remote wilderness ranch in the early part of the twentieth century. Legends was was not Brad Pitt’s first work – he’s been acting since the late 1980s – it was however the one that really catapulted him to stardom. In the words of many, “he’s dreamy”.

People may ask why do we do these then and now reports. I guess it’s because we can. Researching the objective is always a good challenge (we find them only using our detective skills) and getting there is often fun too. Lining up the shot and getting it right, or at least close, is yet another exciting element. Finally, knowing that our readers find these interesting makes it all a worthwhile.

We really enjoyed shooting this series. The gorgeous setting made it a visual treat, the work to get it done was both challenging and enjoyable, and the subject matter was to us quite interesting. It made for a fun outing.

Images from the movie are copyright TriStar Pictures/Sony Pictures Entertainment.

Check out these movie “then and now” posts…
Brokeback Mountain then and now – Elks Lodge and Ennis’ Apartment.
Silver Streak movie then and now – walking the tracks.
Superman 3 then and now – bridge scene.

A post you’re sure to like…
Beachwood Estates.

If you wish more information on what you’ve seen here, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: August, 2014.
Location: Near Seebe, AB.

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Legends of the Fall scene

A brief transition scene from the 1994 movie Legends of the Fall.

Location Legends of the Fall

It looks even better in the daylight!

 

Legends of the Fall cemetery

Brad Pitt, as Tristan, in a touching moment from the film.

Filming location Legends of the Fall

To get to this spot we had to hike in some six kilometres.

 

Legends of the Fall location

The producers sure picked some hard to get to locations.

Legends of the Fall filming location

But what stunning places they are.

50 responses

  1. Shane D says:

    I didn’t realize you an article for this movie. My association with the movie comes from my days managing a home centre in Calgary’s SW. The World War I scenes were filmed on Tsuu T’ina lands as the military buildings south of Glenmore Trail and west of 37th Street were being torn down and demolished. However, for the movie scenes, there wasn’t enough ‘rubble’ and over the course of a month the production team purchased 12 pallets of cinder blocks to be broken by hand. The person who catches Brad Pitt after being blown back into the trench was my store’s yard foreman who was a member of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and were used as extras.

  2. Jubano says:

    Where did you start your 6K walk to get to the grave site and in what direction

  3. Alan says:

    Thank you so much for all this. Since seeing the film as a boy (over two decades ago) the story and in particular the scenery has always resonated with me. Knowing that such unspoilt and wild beauty exists in a world where nature is being eroded away is comforting. A truly special place and one in which I would love to visit one day. I greatly appreciate you sharing the story of your hike and your beautiful photos, it brought me great joy

  4. Scott Thrower says:

    Thank you for this article! I too am a huge fan of this film, and found your post a few months back. I have always wanted to see the terrain and landscape where it was filmed in person. Since your article, I found the location of the Ranch on Google earth. Seeing these spots is a bucket-list item for me, and I am a bit of a history buff myself. I deeply regret that the lodge exterior was torn down, but understand that is how it goes with film sets. Side-note: I also am in search of the Lodge exterior (location) used for ‘The Edge, 1997, with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin.’ in Alberta as well. I hear the same happened for that shoot as well / facade, torn down.

    I live in NW Suburbs of Chicago, and am vacationing to Banff National Park next summer/fall 2019 with a few family & friends on a guy’s trip, and this would be the perfect opportunity for me to visit these locations (especially the Legends of the Fall) locations.

    I would like to please ask you where/if/how I might donate to your cause or the First Nation’s Reserve, and who to ask permission from to respectfully hike to the film’s ranch and cemetary locations.

    Please let me know.

    Thanks for your hard work, I know it must’ve been quite a lot of research, having done similar things myself. Keep up the great work!

    Scott T. West Dundee, IL USA

    • Scott so nice to hear from you. Interestingly I worked on the movie The Edge. Kinda. I was a support truck driver for a few days during filming. Easiest work days ever. Yes, the lodge is long gone. In fact it was a shell of a building, and quite unconvincing up close. Getting in the Reserve can be hit or miss. Phone the band office, tell them what you hope to do, and see if they allow it. They’ll likely ask you to pay something. Best of luck.

  5. Kathastrophe says:

    How do i know if i am on nations reserve land?

  6. Jay Peterson says:

    Thank you for the article. We just returned from a week in the Banff area and enjoyed getting our picture taken at the spot of cemetery scene (we went rafting and climbed out at that spot). Pretty spectacular area!

  7. ryan says:

    how do you get permission to hike to this spot? we are getting married around there next week!

  8. Rob Humeston says:

    Had a chance to buy one of the tombstones when they went up for auction in Calgary after the movie, but the bidding went a little higher than I wanted to pay. Kinda kicking myself a little bit ever since, always liked that movie.

    • That’s interesting. I was on the set of Hell on Wheels lately, production’s now wrapped up, and they mentioned some of the stuff seen will get sold off. Thanks for commenting!

  9. Lennart Knol says:

    Nice work! It is a shame that the ranch was torn down, it had many lovely details. Wish we had some scenery like that back home. Thanks

    • My understanding is the building was mostly a facade made to look like a fine ranch house, but otherwise not one. Nice scenery in our part of the world, no doubt there! Thanks for commenting.

  10. Cheryl says:

    My favorite movie of all time! I met the guy who owns the property and he invited us to see it. That was years ago, and I really want to find out where it’s exactly located

    • No guy owns the property, it’s on a First Nation’s Reserve generally off limits to outsiders. Perhaps you’re confused with something else.

  11. C. Davis says:

    This is great ! The movie means so much to me .. I am confused is the cemetary the location that you need permission to see ?

    • Most of the outdoor scenes were filmed in remote corners on a First Nation’s reserve and are not generally accessible to outsiders. We were given special permission to hike in.

      • Martina says:

        How we can get this premission? I am travelling from Croatia to Banff this summer and I would like to visit this scenary from the movie. Thank you.

        • We been asked to not share that I’m afraid. Sorry. However, for a small donation to our historic society we can reach out to our contact within the tribal government there to see if perhaps there’s a way we can get you inside. Any amount $25 or over, any amount you like, Paypal or Interac Transfer will get the ball rolling. To the address ChrisBIGDoer@gmail.com. Or private message us first and we’ll send more details.

          • ryan says:

            i would gladly donate in order to see if we can get permission to hike to this spot. we will be in the area next week for about 6 days (to get married). please let me know!!!

          • So nice to hear to chat. Send us a private message and we’ll fill you in on what you need to do.

  12. Pedro says:

    Do you know where parts of the movie were filmed in the river ghost?

  13. FM says:

    Very nice pictures and work. I will be sure to add this to my places to see list. Two quick questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEr4rhfDKcQ the youtube trailer has from 0:13 to 0:16 a landscape with Brad Pitt riding his horse, do you know where that is?
    Also, how, where and with whom did you get permission to enter the area?

    • We know a lot of mountains in our area, but those ones don’t seem familiar for some reason. Perhaps some of our friends and associates might know and I’ve sent off some emails to them. I’m afraid we can’t give out that contact information, so sorry. We will however pass your email along to them and so they may write you back. Thanks for commenting!

    • Scott Thrower says:

      Found the landscape in the Trailer from 0:13 – 0:16!! The middle mountain Pitt is facing on horseback is Mount Engadine, in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, south of Spray Valley Provincial park. Here is the google maps view of that valley with the snaking river that Pitt rides his horse out of, which is a tributary south out of Spray Lakes Reservoir ….

      (cut and paste in Google)
      google.com/maps/@50.83753,-115.3442167,3a,75y,17.36h,93.6t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sAF1QipMIJbAccnOAZAkgmOsJDrP1LAu7VFgS-RQw4gKR!2e10!3e11!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipMIJbAccnOAZAkgmOsJDrP1LAu7VFgS-RQw4gKR%3Dw203-h100-k-no-pi-10-ya0-ro-0-fo100!7i5376!8i2688

      Enjoy! Let me know if you make it there! I plan to go see this area in a little over a week!

      • Good detective work there Scott. I didn’t recognize the place in the movie, and then promptly forgot about it, then on seeing your post it was a “doh” moment knowing we’ve been in that very spot before!

  14. Staci Martin says:

    FYI you mentioned the mourning of Isabel two she was the daughter of Pet and Dexter thus a “halfbreed” (a terrible name) which is why they didn’t send her to traditional school. All though it was never stated I wondered if Pet was One stabs daughter.

  15. Patricia says:

    This is cool – do you happen to know if the Ludlow ranch house set was located in the same spot? I know it must have been in the same general area based on the landmarks. I read somewhere that the ranch house was destroyed by vandals.

  16. Lori says:

    It is the Ghost River.

    • I’m not sure if your comment is meant as a question or statement, but I guess it doesn’t matter as the response would be the same: it’s the Bow River (as mentioned in the post). I know that for certain, as we were there. Thanks for commenting!

  17. Jill says:

    How exactly do you get to the field where the ranch was? Can you send me a screenshot of google maps or something?
    Thanks!!

    • It’s a 6km hike in from the Seebe dam along the Bow River. It’s on the Stoney First Nation reserve, which requires permission to enter (which we had), and is only accessible by foot. The road in is not driveable.

  18. lazy_cat says:

    This is possibly the best film I’ve seen. My s/o laughed at me last year when I said I hadn’t heard about it and immediately put it on. I cried for ages afterwards, then watched it again and again and again, several nights in a row. Yep, can’t get enough of it.

  19. bobstutan says:

    Fantastic movie, Probably my favorite that Brad Pitt was in. Interesting things you two do.

  20. Danny Jones says:

    How’d you get on the ranch?

    • There is no ranch, just a field where the set was. It was a good hike in.

      • Old Grunt says:

        There are real bears there you know with your hiking…..I hope you took a .45.

        • Bears have a bad rep. They’re little interested in people most of the time. We’ve never had a close call, and I’m sure given what we do one is inevitable eventually, but we know the drill and feel comfortable of a positive outcome.

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