East Coulee

East Coulee is a small community in the Southern Alberta region of Alberta, Canada, near the community of Cambria. It is part of the Town of Drumheller, which is a hub for dinosaur tourism.

Understand

East Coulee is known for its Atlas Coal Mine. East Coulee lies in the Red Deer River valley at an elevation of 675 m (2,215 ft). It was one of the filming locations of the television series MythQuest.

Get in

By car

East Coulee is on Highway 10, approximately 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Drumheller's main townsite and 112 km (70 mi) northeast of Calgary.

See

Atlas Coal Mine

• 1 Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, 110 Century Drive (20 minutes SE of Drumheller along Highway 10), ☏ +1 403-822-2220. May 1–Jun 22: 9:30AM-5PM; Jun 23–Aug 26: 9:45AM-7:30PM; Aug 27–Oct 8: 9:30AM-5PM. Climb the last wooden tipple in Canada. Learn how coal was sorted, stored, and shipped in this unique processing plant. Walk the gantry – a gradual ascent - 125 feet up to the top of the Tipple to learn about the reality young boys faced: that the dangers of the surface were a training ground for the formidable "belly of the beast. Follow in the historic footsteps of the miners. Put on a cap lamp and hike up the inclined conveyer tunnel to the mine entry, set high in the Badlands. Explore the dark side of coal mining – learn about accidents, brawls, the women, and the unmentionable side of Drumheller Valley history. $10 per person, $30 family. (updated Nov 2018)
• 2 East Coulee School Museum, 359 2nd Ave (from Hwy 10, go past the old garage and the East Coulee Motor Inn; turn right at the second intersection, at the Community Hall; museum is dead ahead), ☏ +1 403-822-3970, fax: +1 403 822-2111, info@ecsmuseum.com. May-Sept: daily 10AM-5PM; Oct-Apr: private bookings only. Displays of life during the coal-mining era. $7. (updated Nov 2018)

Do

• 3 Willow Creek Hoodoo Interpretive Trail (take Highway 10 southeast 16 km from Drumheller, look for sign marking turnoff, drive 1 km NE to parking area). Hoodoos are a characteristic rock formation of the badlands. Looking like 2-m-tall mushrooms, they were formed when a cap of more resistant rock protected the softer rock underneath from erosion. Hoodoos can be found in other parts of the region, but this trail makes a few of them easy to visit. A picture there shows that, sadly, there are fewer hoodoos now than even a few decades ago, as erosion and tourist curiosity take their toll. The trail is under 1 km and an easy scramble across rocks. Parking area includes covered picnic tables and chemical toilets. There is also a Hoodoo Trail drive through the area, along Route 10. (updated Nov 2018)

Eat

The School Museum has a cafe/lunch room, but otherwise, either go to Drumheller to get a meal or bring your own food beforehand.

Sleep

• 1 East Coulee Guest House, 110 2 Avenue, ☏ +1 403-823-0737. Continental breakfast. Featuring barbecue facilities, a garden, a terrace and a shared lounge. Free WiFi and private parking. All rooms have a shared bathroom. Doubles $69. (updated Mar 2018)

Go next

Routes through East Coulee

Drumheller ← Jct ←

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