Edmonton 
It is an eerie sight: standing over 6200 feet above sea level and the mountain valleys, among the graves of a cemetery that date back over 100 years. Mountain Park Cemetery and Historic Mining Townsite create a creepy fall road trip out into the desolate forest which has overtaken the old Mountain Park, and which you can view from above.
The Yellowhead Highway (Highway 16/Trans-Canada Highway) runs alongside Highway 40/47 between Hinton and Edson. It is a calm and serene drive taking you through Alberta’s historic Coal Branch, with mines still in operation nearby. The sites and sounds around the scenic area are an array of river valleys, deep forests, mountain wildlife, and jagged but small mountains.
To get to the gravel road to the elevated cemetery and abandoned ghost town, your drive must detour south through the valley town of Cadomin on Range Road 234A. Follow this through the town of Cadomin as you pass this town’s old mine, interpretive signs, and the Whitehorse Creek Campground.
The cemetery itself is easy to spot, being marked with a Canadian Flag and interpretive sign. You are free to roam the area respectfully, and to follow the trail beyond the graves. This leads you to the few remaining pieces of the town of Mountain Park.
Credit: beeswriting
A few things to note: Watch for the massive coal trucks, too! These intimidating but super cool trucks will work nearby, as the Cheviot Mine is still in operation. This also means that following the road signs and maps is extremely important here.
The road to Mountain Park is a rocky gravel road made easier and safer with four-by-four vehicles. Once past Cadomin, there are no services.
Planning your Trip to Cadomin and Mountain Park
Credit: beeswriting
What: Mountain Park is a former Alberta town that relied on the nearby coal industry. As mines slowly became abandoned, so too did the town of Mountain Park. The Mountain Park Cemetery is a short drive south of the town of Cadomin, and along the way are interpretive signs, the entrance to an abandoned mine, and an old, restored cart.
Once at the cemetery on the hill, you’ll see sweeping foothill views as you’re in Canada’s highest elevated cemetery. The plots date back to the World War One era and are a burial site for WW1 and WW2 veterans. The historic cemetery is well-maintained with a natural path winding through it.
A little way beyond the cemetery is a short trail leading to the ghost-town-site of the old Mountain Park town. Beyond the cemetery and along the trail are what remains of the town, including rail lines, a couple of structures, and markers indicating where the hospital and school were, for example.
Best time to go: Summer/Fall
How much: free
Getting there:
Credit: beeswriting
The quickest way to access Mountain Park is via AB-40 and 47, just south of the TransCanada Highway. There is access at Hinton in the west and Edson in the east. From this highway, it is a south turn onto Range Road 234A towards Cadomin. Follow this road through town, and you will arrive at a large Canadian Flag on the hill.
For more information:
Whitehorse Wildland Provincial Park
