Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site Tours and Activities

Step back in time with a visit to the Atlas Coal Mine. Situated in the heart of the Canadian Badlands, this has been named a National Historic Site and offers a fascinating insight into the lives and trials of those who worked in the mines, operational right up to 1979.Head beneath the earth's surface on one of the many tours, or into the coal tipple. Alternatively, you could jump on the mine's coal train or, if you don’t fancy a tour, you can simply wander the grounds, learning about the site's history from the many information panels dotted along the trails.Rising 12 metres above the surrounding badlands, the wooden tipple was a machine created to sort the coal. This machine was constructed in 1936, and the guided tours of the interior allow visitors to learn how the system worked and find out more about the workers that manned it.The Mine Train Tour gives you a chance to rest your weary feet and see much of the site at the same time. Simply hop aboard the battery-powered train once used to transport coal to the surface. This tour lasts for about 45 minutes and takes you through the above-ground parts of the mine and the dramatic landscape around it.Don your miner's helmet and follow a guide beneath the surface as part of the Tunnel Tour. This tour will educate you on the miners' lives and allow you to see the conditions they worked in. The tour is not suitable for those with mobility difficulties or for children younger than six years of age.If you're feeling particularly adventurous, you could try taking part in a ghost tour. These include eerie tales of the mine's buried secrets and sightings of the ghost of the manager's wife.Atlas Coal Mine is 15 minutes from Drumheller and 1.5 hours from Calgary by car and there is free on-site parking for visitors. There is no public transport running here. Opening hours vary by season, so it's a good idea to check the mine's official website before you visit.