Where Was Crossfire Trail Filmed? Tom Selleck’s 80s Adventure!

Following the success of the movie The Sacketts, Tom Selleck returned to playing a western movie solely intended for the TV. The movie is called Crossfire Trail, and it is a movie that would take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Today we will tell you where was Crossfire Trail filmed! So keep on reading.

Directed by Simon Wincer, Crossfire Trail went on to break many TV records in its time. Along with Tom Selleck, it also stars Virginia Madsen and Wilford Brimley in lead roles. A movie about love, respect, and companionship, Crossfire Trail is really one of a kind movie.

So where was Crossfire Trail filmed? Most of the filming for Crossfire Trail CL Ranch, Township Road, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. That’s it. You would think a movie as big as Crossfire Trail would have been shot throughout studios and more locations. But it’s not. So let’s explore what went down in Calgary, Canada!

With most filming locations distributed across film cities, it is always a good thing to know that there are real-life locations for us to visit too. If you’re intrigued by such trivia, then check out where movies like Morbius and This Is 40 have been filmed! 

The Plot Of Crossfire Trail | What Is The Movie About?

So before we move on to find out where was Crossfire Trail filmed, let’s check out what the movie is about. Crossfire Trail is a movie adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Louis L’ Amour. The movie is based in the late 80s, and the directors have done a good job of portraying the vibe.

The movie follows the life of Rafe Covington who along with his best friend Charles Rodney are on their way to San Fransisco. During their journey, Charles is beaten up and is left to die. During his last moments in his best friend’s arms, he asks Rafe to make a promise to him.

A promise that asks Rafe to look after his wife as well as their huge ranch back in Wyoming. Rafe loses his friend, but along with a few other pals, sets out to find the ranch. After an arduous journey, they end up finding the ranch in Wyoming and restoring it to make it sustainable and inhabitable. 

But things aren’t as easy. A wealthy businessman wants to marry the now widowed wife of Charles and will do anything to get her. Their ranch is under attack too. Local thugs round up the cattle and steal them. Rafe now has to fight to survive and honor the oath he made to his dying friend.

Where Was Crossfire Trail Filmed | All The Locations You Need To Know About

Crossfire Trail was released on January 21, 2001, and opened to positive reception. Critics praised Tom Selleck’s portrayal of yet another Western and the overarching storyline too. The movie went on the become the most-watched TV movie ever and kept the record until 2007.

Crossfire Trail is still regarded as a must-watch movie for all cinema students. So where was Crossfire Trail filmed? Let’s check out the location!

CL Ranch, Township Road, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The whole movie is based around the Wyoming ranch that Charles had left for his wife. But the director didn’t film the movie where it is supposed to be based in. Instead, the ranch in Calgary Alberta was used for the whole filming.

The ranch was transformed into a set and taken back in time. As the movie takes place in the late 1800s, there are a lot of century-specific changes that were made. Sets with houses and towns were constructed that resembled American architecture from the 19th century.

A lot of props and clothes were custom-made specifically for the film, which still lives on in some museums. Since the movie was shot in the 2000s, special care was taken to preserve its authenticity of the movie.

Calgary, Alberta

Not everything in Crossfire Trail has been shot on the ranch. Some outdoor shots that are in the movie have been filmed in and around the state of Calgary. Calgary is a beautiful Canadian state which is known for its natural resources. 

This has fairly been incorporated within the movie. More so when Rafe and his companions tread across the lands in order to find the ranch they are looking for they are faced with the battles of nature. All the beautiful scenery we see in the movie is all Calgary and not Wyoming. 

Some Interesting Facts About The Movie Crossfire Trail

As we previously mentioned, on the television release of the Crossfire Trail, it became one of the most-watched movies ever. The movie clocked in 12 million viewers on its release day. That record was broken by High School Musical when the movie was released in 2007.

Another interesting fact is that this movie was Tom Selleck’s second appearance in a movie adaptation of Louis. The previous one happened to be The Sacketts. That movie is considered to be Tom Selleck’s breakthrough movie. It made Tom a household name, which then lead to greater roles for him on television. 

Lastly, with regards to Calgary having been used as a stand-in for Wyoming. For years, Calgary has been the favorite place for many movie and TV show directors. Some of the most famous movies that have come out of the place are Inception and The Revenant. Even shows like Game of Thrones have done some of their filming in the region!

Final Words

So there you have it, folks! We hope now you know where was Crossfire Trail filmed! The movie is one of a kind experience and something you should definitely watch! Meanwhile, you should also check out where Parenthood and Heartland were filmed!

If there is a movie or a TV show that you will like to be covered, and find out its filming location, then let us know down in the comments!