Contacts. The Royal Tyrrell Museum stands on the southwest corner of the 280-hectare Midland Provincial Park. There’s a cafeteria at the Tyrrell Museum but be sure to bring some snacks along for the ride! There is a $2 entrance fee.Show more Pets are not allowed inside the Museum, with the exception of service dogs. Hiking in the Horseshoe Canyon in Drumheller, Alberta was one of our favorite things to do in this area. ‘Doc’ Middleton – King of the Horse Thieves –, A Guide to the Best Drumheller Camping Spots, The Complete Guide of Things to Do in Drumheller for 2021, The Complete Guide to Getting to Drumheller for 2021, Where to Stay: A Guide to the Best Calgary Airbnbs, Where to Stay: A Guide to Accommodations in Banff, Beautiful Travel Puzzles of Alberta, Part Two, Finding the Best Christmas Lights in Alberta, Good shoes, with solid soles in case of inclement weather, as the surrounding rocks can get slick with rainfall, Plenty of water as summer temperatures can soar to 40+ °C, Sunscreen, hat and other clothing to protect you from the sun, $2 for the parking fee if you drive (cash or credit accepted), Scenic valley views and desert flora like cacti and wild grasses, Good shoes, with solid soles in case of inclement weather (the mud on the canyon floor can get thick and slick after a rainfall), Sunscreen, hat and other clothing to protect you from the sun and other elements, Best to hike in April through to September. Including tips on how to get there, where to stay, when to visit, and what to pack. Drumheller is the intriguing hub for all things dinosaur. Walking through Horsethief Canyon, it’s easy enough to forget you’re in the 21st century while you amble through terrain that resembles Hollywood’s Wild West. In 1743, French Canadian explorers François and Louis Joseph de la Verendrye coined the term ‘Badlands’ (‘ les mauvaises terres ‘ in french), when they first encountered it on their travels through the Prairies in Central Alberta, Canada. The dry, rocky valley walls can be rough on clothing and skin, but after a rare prairie rain the mud on the canyon floor is thick and slick as yogurt. 15 minutes southwest of Drumheller, Horseshoe Canyon is probably your first stop if you’re coming in from Calgary. Here, you can browse the exhibits and collections at the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum, climb up into the mouth of the World’s Largest Dinosaur, dig up a real fossil with a paleontologist, and learn from local experts at shops and attractions around town. Drumheller is on the Dinosaur Trail, a 48km loop that runs northwest from town and includes Hwys 837 and 838. If you’re traveling from other areas of the province and are unsure of the route, we have you covered in this guide on how to get to Drumheller. The Royal Tyrrell … Part land before time, part alien planet, Drumheller is a place where you can let your mind wander with your feet. A glacier-carved “U” surrounded by golden prairie, the aptly named Horseshoe Canyon is a dramatic introduction to the badlands. The hoodoos near Drumheller are beautiful in winter when they are dusted in snow. Hike through the hoodoos, or hug your kids by a crackling fire. A good place to start is at the World’s Largest Dinosaur (right next to Drumheller’s Visitor Information Centre), then take the trail through town, into Midland Provincial Park and finally, to the Museum. Length 0.3 miElevation gain 32 ftRoute type Loop Kid friendly Hiking Walking Cave Views No shade Fee There’s also lots to do in the area besides hiking! Located in the Canadian Badlands, Horseshoe Canyon is known for its ancient dinosaur fossils, colorful hills, and great hiking trails. Gooseberry Lake Provincial Park Consort, Alberta. Grab a map, then get yourself to Horseshoe Canyon. From Drumheller drive 16 km (10 miles) on the Dinosaur Trail (Hwy 838) to Horsethief Canyon for more panoramic views of the Canadian Badlands. If you wander past the entrance you land on the Badlands Interpretive Trail. The Drumheller hoodoos are internationally recognized icons of the Alberta badlands. The 10 must-sees on Alberta’s Dinosaur Trail: Horseshoe Canyon. Drumheller has the best badlands in Canada. A visit to the world-class Royal Tyrrell Museum needs to be at the top of your must do list. The protected Hoodoos site is a guaranteed spot to see Hoodoos but smaller versions of these sandstone giants can be found all over the Badlands. We're here to help you plan your Alberta vacation with real, local advice! There’s 18 km’s of pathways that run alongside the Red Deer River, through downtown and from the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Inside Midland Provincial Park sits the historic Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, which has the largest display of complete dinosaur skeletons in the world. Park your car at the Visitor Information Centre and walk, bike or splash your way through. The Canadian Badlands cover a large swath of south central Alberta, equivalent to an area slightly … Popson … In this day it’s rated as one of the most popular Drumheller hikes. They’re often topped by a hard, flared-out cap that protects and preserves its structure. Come and experience our trench and create an unforgettable experience that you can share with your friends and family. Let this post on Drumheller hikes be your guide! In this short, ½ km loop, you’ll enjoy gorgeous views overlooking the valley, sliced-open hill-sides revealing their multi-coloured bands of rock, and if the season’s right, the hot pink cacti-blooms speckling the ground next to your shoes. Badlands Trail is a 0.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near County Of Newell, Alberta, Canada that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. We’ve added another outdoor Badlands experience for you to enjoy on your visit to the Dinosaur Capital of the World. The Hoodoos are a group of stone columns with caprocks situated on approximately 11 hectares of land between Drumheller and East Coulee. Composed of sand and clay from the Horseshoe Canyon Formation, the solid, strong capstones protect the softer, underlying base creating their unique mushroom-like shape. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from May until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Horsethief Canyon works as well today as a hiding place from humanity as it did for outlaws more than a century ago. 30 minutes northeast of Drumheller, and something of a departure from the Badlands, is the Michichi Reservoir. An internationally recognized icon of the Badlands, hoodoos are fantastical stone pedestals that have been weathered and eroded over many years into strange shapes. Drumheller Hiking – Badlands Interpretive Trail Not far from the Royal Tyrrell Museum is the Badlands Interpretive Trail. We are all being asked to stay close to home this holiday season but in the New Year the Drumheller Valley will be waiting for you. 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