Drumheller Pathways

Be it urban or rural, be it big city or small town, be it prairie or mountain, we get out and hike. No matter where, no matter the season or weather, each week or so we set aside a day to put feet in motion. In our crazy world, it’s some mighty some good medicine and so a great release. While not all of these outings are interesting enough to share here, we think this one is and something you might similarly like to do. We’re in the Red Deer River Valley of Alberta (a favourite haunt) and taking a section of the extensive Drumheller Pathways system. There’s good times ahead.

Paralleling the river mostly, the trail makes a few diversions into quiet residential areas. There’s wooded groves, parks, badlands and stuff of historic interest to see along the way, so it’s a nice mix. Look for the big Dino, that massive (disused) train bridge and an old school hotel or two. The way’s easy going and almost totally flat, so no issues there. Mixing things it up a bit, we made a detour into downtown Drumheller on the return leg to take in a few old buildings of interest found there.

Passing through most of Drumheller, the route also takes in the once independent communities of Newcastle and Nacmine. We make a store in the latter community our turn around point and when done will have put on almost twenty kilometres there and back.

Began this trek at the far eastern reaches of the Drumheller Pathway system opposite the school athletic field, east side of town and off Riverside Drive (East). Head west and keep on the marked trail with Morris the Hike-a-saurus guiding the way. There’s sometimes dirt paths in the woods you can also take and there’s the occasional overlook point taking in the river and on the far side, the famous Alberta Badlands. From certain angles, you’d never even know you were in town.

Look for a large chunk of fossilized wood on display in a park. This stuff is not terribly uncommon in the area and neither are fossils in general. All this dates back a gazillion years when the area was a sub-tropical inland sea back “when dinosaurs ruled the earth”. You know Brontosaurus’, Stegosaurus’ and Oldsmobiles.

Random things seen: a closed healthcare facility (with strange noises emanating) and a 1950s Mercury that looks ready to hit the road. Old cars and small towns seem to go hand in hand and we almost always spot a few on walks like this. We saw no Bolers this day and that’s sad. Depending on the time of year, look for big clusters of bright red Boxelder bugs sunning themselves on exposed surfaces. This is the stuff of nightmares for those of us with aversions to creepy-crawly things.

Pass in behind the north end of downtown and just beyond a skate park and high above, look for a big towering T-Rex. There’s no missing it! The world’s largest you’re allowed to climb up inside (106 steps they say) and awaiting you from its jaws is a view of Drumheller like no other. “For the love of God…someone help that guy!” – jokes everyone on seeing a person up there.

Cross under a road bridge (no trolls, we checked) then continue along Riverside Drive West (7th Ave on Google Maps). Turn left on the true 7th Avenue, leaving the river behind, then go quickly right on 2nd Avenue West (later Newcastle Trail where it bends right). Now it’s sidewalk time. After a few blocks and at an empty lot look for remains of a Coke sign marking an old store. You’re in Newcastle now and moments later it’s the Dinosaur Hotel dating back to the early days when the community was separate from Drumheller. Like most in the valley it was a company town connected to a nearby coal mine and this place the local watering hole.

More rural now, continue along tree-lined Newcastle Trail (we think the old highway) and with only a few people living along it at this point it’s pretty quiet. Somewhere here, look for a memorial to Jeremy to your right. Where the road dead-ends cross an old railway roadbed, an ex-Canadian National line last used about a decade ago and pulled up a few years later. Look at that train bridge to your right spanning the Red Deer River and man, is that a lot of metal.

Those hefty cement blocks on the deck were not originally put to prevent vehicular access but to weight down the structure during a flood event a few years back. For some reason, the CNR seems to be holding on to this disused hunk of metal and you’ll get a nice view of it later on the return leg (or if you spin around once past it). Know more: Bridge Hunting – Drumheller Alberta.

On your left at the top of the valley, signs of a recent slump. The ground around here is soft and always seems to be on move to some degree, especially during wet years, so that this happened is not unusual. Here it was on a massive scale, however, and that is. It’s hard to gauge in size, but know that a serious amount of material was displaced and it must have been frightening to anyone witness to it. You’re now on a narrow bench between the river and highway and before long arrive in Nacmine also once its own town.

Arrive in bustling “downtown” marked by a store/gas station and a closed hotel. This is a good turn around spot and after a quick snack (ice cream’s real good!) head back the way you came. Notice the odd historic plaque here and there along the way, most identifying mines that operated in the area (lots of them). One focuses on this place (not publicly accessible): Commander Mine 1935-1956.

The river and train bridge looks so stunning in the fall with the trees all a bright yellow. This is a picturesque valley.

Once near downtown Drumheller, we made a quick diversion into the core to check out a little history there, before making our way back to the pathway. The Navy League Building and not far away an old garage plus the Waldorf Hotel are all from the old days and visually interesting. What’s that? An old pickup? Looks real nice too…click! Old iron is a thing. This detour might not be your thing, or maybe it is. If so, we left 2nd Avenue West onto 3rd Avenue West, then swung up to Railway Avenue at 2nd Street West (aka Highway #56) and then hit up 6th Street East to make it back to the river.

Continuing further it’s a pleasant stroll if there ever was one. Dip into the woods if you want one last time, take a final look at the river with the badlands a backdrop and before you know it you’re done. And a great time was had by all. The things we saw were cool, the workout great, the ice cream epic (no lotto winnings thought), the bad*** badlands scenic and wonderful, but still those bugs. Those damn bugs.

We’re never coming back!

Till the next trip report, stay awesome.

Know more (new tab): Drumheller Alberta Pathways.

They’re saying…

“I only know Chris, great guy. I sure enjoy reading about their travels.” James Churchill.

Awesome small town walks…
Okotoks Loop.
Roaming Nanton.
Vulcan Alberta “Trek”.

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: September, 2019.
Location: Drumheller, AB.
Distance: 19km there and back.
Height gain maximum: Negligible.
Height gain cumulative: Still Negligible.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports.
Technical stuff and notes: Those creepy red bugs! Ahhhhhhh!

Along the Drumheller Pathways system.

There are sometimes parallel footpaths in the trees.

It’s flat and easy.

Along here it keeps close to the Red Deer River.

A pleasant stroll if there was one.

Petrified Wood is common to the area.

We’re in the Alberta Badlands!

A closed healthcare facility.

This early ’50s Mercury.

The stuff of nightmares (Boxelder bugs).

Chomp!

The river’s rarely far away.

Remains of the old Newcastle Store.

The Dinosaur Hotel in Newcastle.

A memorial for Jeremy.

The old train bridge.

A recent landslide.

Morris The Hike-a-Saurus.

The closed Nacmine Inn at the turn around point.

We didn’t win – again!

But we do have ice cream!

This historical marker for a nearby mine.

A pastoral scene.

We saw a couple horses along this stretch.

The iron Dino.

The Navy League building.

In downtown, a former garage and the Waldorf.

Old iron spotted, this ’70s Ford Pickup.

One last peek at the the Red Deer River.

It’s mostly a pathway thing.