Red Rock Coulee Natural Area

Alberta Parks

Information & Facilities

Red sandstone boulders up to 2.5 meters in diameter are scattered throughout the area, creating an other-worldly scene. Amongst the boulders and grassy knolls you may catch a glimpse of resident wildlife like the western meadowlark, Nuttall’s cottontail and rattlesnakes. This hilly grassland coulee has an abundance of aromatic sagebrush and flowering plants such as gumbo primrose, prickly pear cactus and the prairie crocus.

Red Rock Coulee Natural area has no facilities on site and can be extremely hot and dry during the summer months. When visiting, be sure to wear proper closed-toe shoes, sun protection and bring lots of water. In wet or rainy conditions, the natural clay here makes the area extremely slippery.

Location: 56 km southwest of Medicine Hat along Hwy. 887


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Hunting in Red Rock Coulee Natural Area

More information:

Learn about hunting in Alberta's parks system

*To be connected toll-free in Alberta, dial 310-0000 followed by the 10-digit phone number.

Maps & Guides

Park Management

Classification Natural Area
Legislation Wilderness Areas, Ecological Reserves, Natural Areas and Heritage Rangelands Act
Park Size 800.96 Acres / 324.15 Ha
Legal Boundary O.C. 146/85
Administration / Information 403-528-5228
Regional Office South Regional Office
District Cypress
Natural Region Grassland - Mixedgrass
Grassland - Dry Mixedgrass
Natural Region Description

This area contains large red spherical sandstone concretions that have eroded out of the softer bedrock, the best example of spheroid rock formations in Alberta. Concretions measure up to 2.5 metres across and are believed to be among largest in the world. There are eroded steep-sided coulees and a small upland of fescue-needle gras. In places, hoodoos (columns of bedrock) have formed. Plants include gumbo primrose, sagebrush, juniper, prickly pear cactus, prairie crocus and broomweed.

Land Use Framework Region South Saskatchewan
Updated: Jul 18, 2025