Saunders, Alberta was a coal mining town found alongside the North Saskatchewan river between Rocky Mountain House and Nordegg. It is a popular place for hikers, adventurers, ghost town enthusiasts, and campers. It is found about 20km east of Kiska/Willson PLUZ.
Category Archives: Exploration
Exploring Alberta’s Ghost Towns: Minnewanka Landing
Each day, thousands of Albertans and tourists explore Lake Minnewanka, but many don’t know about the ghost town lying beneath its frigid waters. Minnewanka Landing was a playground for the rich and affluent at the turn of the 20th century. It would later be destroyed because of Calgary’s growth. Here is that story!
Exploring Alberta’s Ghost Towns: Georgetown
Georgetown was a coal mining town in the Canmore/Banff region that was born from the remains of the failed Anthracite mine.
Exploring Alberta’s Ghost Towns: Bankhead
Bankhead was founded near the old Anthracite townsite after the town entered a state of decline and the mine was closing up.
Exploring Alberta’s Ghost Towns: Anthracite
Anthracite, Alberta is a former coal mining town found in Banff National Park. It was established in 1886 with the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway line through the Bow Valley. Today visitors with a keen eye can still see evidence of the town’s existence. So what exactly was this town that is an important part of Banff’s history?
Exploring Alberta’s Ghost Towns: Rowley
While Rowley, Alberta had humble beginnings and rapid growth – it has faced years of decline making it one of Alberta’s ghost towns. Steel rails and steam whistles have transformed into the deafening silence of the Alberta prairie winds blowing through the empty streets of Rowley. A few locals have held onto their community and kept it from falling victim to the relentless weather and disrepair found common in Alberta ghost towns.
An Alberta Secret: The Scalp Creek Natural Waterslides (Ya Ha Tinda)
If you happen to be planning a trip up to the Ya Ha Tinda Ranch area of the Bighorn Backcountry – there is an opportunity to slide down a natural waterslide right here in Alberta! The Scalp Creek Natural Waterslides are located along Scalp Creek on the Ya Ha Tinda ranch and they are a hidden gem only known about by a few. Of course they aren’t as large as the ones in the video above however the longest slide is a good 20ft into a natural pool of water at the bottom.
Exploring Alberta’s Crown Land: Ghost – Public Land Use Zone
Ghost is a Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) found in Southern Alberta. Like other PLUZ, Ghost is a popular place for backcountry campers and off-road enthusiasts. For people in north Calgary (or Cochrane/Airdrie) this is the most accessible PLUZ. Due to its large size, cool terrain, and wide range of activities – Ghost has long been a favorite for people looking to enjoy our gorgeous crown land (Ghost is my personal favourite PLUZ).
Exploring Alberta’s Crown Land: Livingstone – Public Land Use Zone
Livingstone is a Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) found in Southern Alberta. Like other PLUZ, Livingstone is a popular place for backcountry campers and off-road enthusiasts. Livingstone is one of the newer PLUZ. It was created in 2018 alongside Porcupine Hills PLUZ in order to provide designated trails to protect the environment and provide OHV recreation access for southern Albertans.
Exploring Alberta’s Crown Land: Porcupine Hills – Public Land Use Zone
Porcupine Hills is a Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) found in Southern Alberta. Like other PLUZ, Porcupine Hills is a popular place for backcountry campers and off-road enthusiasts. It was created more recently in 2018 in order to provide users with a designated set of motorized trails.