Cardinal River Road — Cadomin to Mountain Park Ghost Town (Alberta)
Alberta's highest ghost town, earned on dirt.
Mountain Park was once Alberta’s highest incorporated town — a full coal-mining community perched above 5,500 feet in the Rockies — and it was abandoned so completely by the 1950s that the provincial government literally bulldozed it. The Cardinal River Road west out of Cadomin follows the Cardinal River drainage through dense lodgepole and open avalanche chutes, climbing steadily toward the ghost town site. Foundation outlines, rusted machinery, and the old cemetery are still findable for anyone willing to poke around in the willows. The drive itself is honest backcountry: single-lane dirt and gravel, soft shoulders, and a handful of wet crossings where seasonal drainages spill across the road bed.
High-clearance 4WD is the realistic minimum — a lifted truck or purpose-built rig handles it with confidence, but stock SUVs can get caught out by the soft sections and steep sidehills after rain. The Coal Branch region has no fuel between Edson and Hinton, so plan accordingly. Cadomin itself has no services worth relying on. Best window is late June through early October before early mountain snowfall closes the upper sections. Dispersed camping is legal throughout the forestry land corridor. No permits needed. Cell service is nonexistent from Cadomin west.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 24 mi / 38.6 km |
| Duration | 1 day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5540 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Cadomin, Alberta |
| Land manager | Alberta Forestry and Parks — Yellowhead County |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | alberta.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run this trail, or do I need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD handles it fine. The trail is graded gravel and dirt with some rutting — no extreme rock crawling. Lifted rigs aren't required, but skid plates are smart given the occasional embedded rock and soft shoulders.
When does Cardinal River Road typically open and close for the season?
June through October is the reliable window. Spring melt can leave the road badly rutted and seasonally gated into late May. Snow returns early at this elevation — October trips are doable but bring winter readiness.
Do I need a permit to drive through or camp along this road?
No permit required to drive the route. Dispersed camping is allowed on Alberta Crown land under standard provincial rules — no fee, no reservation, but fires need a valid Alberta fire permit when conditions require one. Check current fire restrictions before you go.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect?
The approach climbing toward Mountain Park has the most significant rutting and loose surface — nothing technically severe, but it earns the high-clearance requirement. Expect soft edges after rain and sections where two rigs can't pass without one pulling over. The ghost town itself is a walk-in from where you park.
Is there any gas or water available between Cadomin and Mountain Park?
Zero services once you leave Cadomin — no gas, no water, no people. Fill up in Edson or Hinton before heading into the Coal Branch. Carry your own water; the Cardinal River runs alongside sections of the trail but treat any surface water before drinking.
Trail track
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