# Donalda and Forestburg

Donalda and Forestburg are two villages about 40 minutes apart in a rural area of East Central Alberta.

## Understand

52.5828-112.5721 Donalda. (population 225) is a village is home to the "World's Largest Oil Lamp", standing at 12.8 metres (42 ft) high and is one of the Giants of the Prairies. 52.5803-112.0682 Forestburg. , (population 800) is an agricultural and coal mining community that's home to a small railway.

## Get in

Donalda is located just east of the Highway 53/56 junction, 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Stettler, 80 km (50 mi) east of Ponoka, and 165 km (103 mi) southeast of Edmonton. Forestburg is about 35 km (22 mi) east of Donalda via Highway 53 and 16 km (9.9 mi) west of Highway 36.

## Get around

Being in rural Alberta, a private vehicle is the only realistic way to get around.

## See

* 52.50583-112.190711 Diplomat Mine Interpretive Site, Highway 855, Flagstaff County (8 km S of Hwy 53 on Hwy 855; 16 km SW of Forestburg), ☏ +1 780-582-3668. Canada's only surface coal mining museum. Interpretive site with mining machinery and a view of a view Paintearth Mine (active surface coal mining operation) and the Battle River Generating Station. (updated May 2022)
* 52.58484-112.573862 Donalda & District Museum, 5001 Main Street, Donalda, ☏ +1 403-883-2100, info@donaldamuseum.com. A variety of historical collections and buildings, including the Lamp collection – over 1,100 lamps, dating from the 1600s to 1960; Whitford collection – Métis artifacts from the early 20th century; and the local history collection – 4,000 artifacts depicting the history of the Donalda area and its residents. (updated May 2022)
* 52.58534-112.573173 World's Largest Lamp, Railway Ave & Main Street, Donalda. (updated May 2022)

## Do

* -112.06291-112.062911 Battle River Train Excursions (Battle River Railway), 5009 50 Avenue, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-781-9260, friendsbattleriverrail@gmail.com. Full day train excursions along the Battle River Railway, with departures from Forestburg and Kelsey (30 km SW of Camrose). (updated May 2022)
* 52.4897-112.2112 Big Knife Provincial Park, Highway 855 (11 km S of Hwy 53 on Hwy 855; 22 km SW of Forestburg), ☏ +1 403-742-7516. Located on the Battle River at the confluence with Big Knife Creek. Activities in the park include canoeing, kayaking, swimming, fishing, power boating, camping, and hiking. (updated May 2022)
* 52.50605-112.184483 Diplomat Trout Pond, Highway 855, Flagstaff County (8 km S of Hwy 53 on Hwy 855; 16 km SW of Forestburg), ☏ +1 780-384-4100. The Diplomat Trout Pond is stocked with Rainbow Trout on a yearly basis. Camping is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, with no reservations allowed; 15 sites available. $15/night (campground). (updated May 2022)

## Eat

* Cedars Pizza and Steakhouse, 4203 53 Street, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-582-4150. Daily 8AM-9PM. (updated May 2022)
* CJ's Deli and Restaurant, 4906 50 Street, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-582-4196. M-F 8AM-5PM. (updated May 2022)
* LRT Cafe & Go'fer Ice Cream, 4706 43 Avenue, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-582-2335. M-F 11AM-7PM, Sa 10AM-7PM. (updated May 2022)

## Drink

* Donalda Tavern, 5020 Main Street, Donalda, ☏ +1 403-883-2044. Lunch: Tu-Sa 11AM-2PM, Su noon-8PM; Supper: Tu Th 5-8PM, W Sa 5-10PM, F 6-9PM. (updated May 2022)
* Many Horses Saloon, 5004 50 Street, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-582-2411. Su-Th noon-1AM, F Sa noon-3AM. (updated May 2022)

## Sleep

* 52.454-111.98141 Battle River Crossing Resort, Range Road 144, Flagstaff County (10 km SW of Galahad; 20 km SE of Forestburg), ☏ +1 403-740-9196, contact@brcresort.ca. Check-in: noon, check-out: 11AM. No service campground in natural wooded area, removed from highways or lights, on an organic farm along the Battle River. Rental RV's and 6 Extended Stay lots available. Recreation includes canoing, kayaking, tubing along the Battle River for a lazy river float. (updated May 2022)
* 52.58555-112.067862 Battle River Inn & Suites, 4801 53 Street, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-582-3676, battleriverinnsuite@gmail.com. (updated May 2022)
* 52.5866-112.069383 Forestburg Motor Inn, 4906 54 Street, Forestburg, ☏ +1 780-582-3918, forestburgmotorinn@gmail.com. (updated May 2022)

## Nearby
### Alliance

A small hamlet 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Forestburg, located along Highway 36 overlooking the Battle River valley.
* 52.41344-111.823854 Valley Ski Club, Alliance (1/4 mile west of Hwy 36 on Twp Rd 400), ☏ +1 780-879-2106, info@valleyskihill.ca. Small ski hill in the Battle River valley that has served East Central Alberta for 75 years. (updated May 2022)