Forestry Trunk Road — Hwy 734 Elk River to Coalspur Ghost Town (Alberta)

The Coal Branch country northwest of Nordegg doesn’t get the Instagram attention it deserves, and that’s exactly why it’s worth driving. This section of Hwy 734 follows the Pembina River drainage past the Elk River crossing — a wide, gravel-bed ford that’ll test your confidence in spring runoff — before climbing into the cut-block foothills toward Coalspur. The ghost town itself is a scattering of concrete foundations, rusted cable drums, and collapsed tipple supports dating to the early 1900s coal boom. You’ll find it tucked into the treeline north of the highway near Sterco, and it’s the kind of place where you park and walk slow. Expect at least two muddy low spots between the Pembina junction and the ruins that can swallow a stock truck to the axles in May.

This is a high-clearance 4WD route, full stop. Lockers are useful in wet conditions but not mandatory if you know your lines. The road surface is gravel and dirt with embedded mud sections — plan for Moderate difficulty but be ready for Difficult conditions after rain. Best run July through September when the Elk River ford is manageable. No permits required. Fuel in Edson before you leave; there’s nothing out here. Cell service vanishes past the Pembina junction. Dispersed camping is legal on Crown land throughout the corridor.