The glampsites at Cabin on the Coulee Farm are located on one square mile of land (1 section - 4 Quarters) that makes up 640 acres, in East-Central Alberta. The northernmost 200 acres of this section are very special, what is locally known as “coulee land” or "badlands". Though the majority language of early Alberta was English, there is a great deal of positive French and Metis influence in our culture and language. The word coulee has a French origin.
A coulee is "deep ravine, seasonally flooded," 1804, a North American word, originally used in areas explored by French trappers, from French coulée "flow". Our original log cabin sits near the south edge of our coulee, while the yurt sits near the west edge. As part of the Battle River Watershed, during spring runoff when the snow melts, some of the water running through the bottom of the coulee may, by chance end up in Hudson’s Bay via the Battle River, the North Saskatchewan River, Lake Winnipeg, and the Nelson River.
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In addition to our nephew and niece's grazing cattle, you might be able to spot some of these plants and animals while staying at our glampsites. As with any wild or domestic animals, use caution and common sense when they are in the area. Please don't pick the wood lilies! Once they are picked they won't grow back in that spot. Feel free to take pictures of them!
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Native land in Alberta refers to land that has never been plowed or cultivated. On our section of land, the approximately 200 acres of coulee land has obviously never been cultivated, but there is also a 65 acre spot of flat land on the southwest corner of the section that has never been cultivated. This is very rare in this part of Alberta, since most flat land has crops growing on it or once was cultivated but has been seeded back to non-native grass.
It is our goal to conserve and preserve all the native land that we have for the future and to give our glamping guests an opportunity to experience this native land first hand. During the days of the buffalo, this land would have been prairie, but since they are gone, groves of mainly poplar trees have grown on this landscape. These trees come and go, based on the moisture conditions, but the native fescue mixed grass between the treed areas have seasonal flowers like prairie crocus and three sisters that are a rare treat.
We strongly encourage bicycling, photography, and hiking with your family in the coulees! Feel free to hike off-leash with your dog in the coulees, but please keep track of them and be mindful of other guests with their pets.
If you want to make a post about your family in the coulees make sure you use #cabinonthecoulee and tag our social media accounts!
Due to our insurance, at this point in time we do not allow ATV vehicles or horseback riding on our land.
