SHEEP RIVER
The Blackfoot people called this river 'Eetookiap', their word for sheep, and a reference to the bighorn sheep found at the river's headwaters in the Rocky Mountains. This spot you're standing at now was a ford shallow enough for the great herds of bison to cross, followed by the Blackfoot. This ancient crossing later became known as the Macleod Trail -- the trail used by bull trains, stagecoaches and the Northwest Mounted Police -- which crossed the Sheep River at two locations -- one is near where you are standing; the second is further east near the train bridge.
