UNIQUE SITES
Coal Branch Highway
The Coal Branch Railway is now a chain of
abandoned mining towns along the eastern
slopes of the central Canadian Rocky Mountains
and was once an important part of Alberta’s
coal industry. Once the Branch was famous for
its guarantee of work and overall prosperity,
however, technological advancement outdated
the collieries and many of the once prosperous
towns are now abandoned. The railway was a
link from Bickerdike (seven miles west of Edson)
to the coal mining towns of the Rockies.
S off Highway 16 onto Highway 40
Mountain Park
Mountain Park used to be a thriving village of
more than 1,000 people but now is a ghost
town. No more remains of the town but faint
traces of buildings and a cemetery that is
taken care of by previous residents of the
town.
Cardinal Divide
The Cardinal Divide is an elevation of land
that separates the Arctic Drainage from
drainage to Hudson’s Bay. The Cardinal
Divide is a day use area with hiking trails
that showcase much of the unique wildlife
and wildflowers in the area, providing for a
truly pleasurable alpine view.
Brule Sand Dunes
These three storey sand dunes are fun places to hike, bike or quad. In the 1900s the Grand Trunk Pacific railway
ran across the dunes hoping to connect the Rockies to Edmonton. Drifting sand over the tracks caused this
section of the railway to be shut down and remains of some of the tracks are still visible today.
W of Hinton off Highway 16
Ogre Canyon
The canyon and the sinkholes within it were carved out by streams and underground water. The climb to the top
is a difficult one, rising up almost 900 metres along switchbacks. Four wheel drive is recommended on the gravel
road to get to the parking lot. NW of Hinton near Brule
48
www.gallowaystationmuseum.com
Photo by Madison Sharman www.leamanexchange.com