The Canadian Badlands Trail

Discover two-billion-year-old rocks plus the largest collection of dinosaur skeletons in the world.

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Horsethief Canyon | Field Station

Worlds Largest Dinosaur, Drumheller

If Calgary is your gateway, head north toward the Canadian Badlands Trail on Highway 2 to Crossfield and then veer east on Highway 72 (which becomes Highway 9). Be sure to stop at Horseshoe Canyon, Canada’s mini-Grand Canyon — a picturesque pocket of badlands amidst the prairies. Continue along Highway 9 to Drumheller where the Dinosaur Trail begins. But before you venture out on this scenic loop through Alberta’s lunar-like badlands, spend some time in the town of Drumheller where murals of dinosaurs decorate scores of historic buildings. At one end of Main Street, right on the banks of the Red Deer River, is the world’s largest fibreglass Tyrannosaurus.rex, where 106 stairs lead you straight into the beast’s actual mouth.

Dinosaur Skeleton, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller

Heading out on North Dinosaur Trail, just six kilometres west of Drumheller, is the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, arguably the finest dinosaur museum in the world. The Tyrrell is devoted to dinosaurs and was named after Joseph Tyrrell, who in 1884 discovered an Albertosaurus, the first of hundreds of complete dinosaur skeletons, since removed from Alberta’s badlands. Today the museum has more than 120,000 specimens and 35 dinosaur skeletons, more than any other museum in the world. All are strikingly and imaginatively presented with the crowd-pleasers being the original Albertosaurus and Tyrannosaurus.rex, as well as more unusual creatures such as the Xiphactinus. The museum alone is worth several hours, but you can spend a full day here by tacking on a short hike or guided tour to some nearby bone-beds. Throughout the summer the museum offers Dino Camps and plus guided hikes.

Horsethief Canyon, near Drumheller

Continue west on North Dinosaur Trail (Hwy 838) along the Red Deer River Valley to the first point of interest, the Little Church, often described as being able to seat thousands but only six at a time. The road then climbs steeply out of the valley onto the prairie benchland. Take the first access road on the left — it doubles back to Horsethief Canyon Lookout from where there are spectacular views of the Badlands and the multicoloured walls of the canyons. The trail’s halfway point is the crossing of the Red Deer River on the Bleriot Ferry, one of the few remaining cable ferries in Alberta. The South Dinosaur Trail continues along the top of the valley to Orkney Hill Lookout for more panoramic views across the Badlands and the lush valley floor below. Along South Dinosaur Trail is the Canadian Badlands Passion Play site, a natural amphitheatre where the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is re-enacted, and the Drumheller Ski Hill.

Hoodoos near Drumheller

Head east of Drumheller on Hoodoo Drive Trail (Hwy 10) named for those oddly shaped rock formations that look like petrified mushrooms. Take a short side trip along Secondary Road 10X and cross 11 one-way bridges en route to Wayne. Drive back to Hoodoo Drive Trail and head east to East Coulee. Once a thriving community of over 4,000 people this small town’s history is displayed in the East Coulee “Big” School Museum. Two miles further east you will come to the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. The most complete Mining Museum in Canada, this attraction features Canada’s only remaining surface tipple.

After completing the loop, take a little diversion 17 km south to Horseshoe Canyon. The canyon, named for its horseshoe shape, extends from Highway 9 to the Kneehill Creek area for approximately 3 km. It covers 200 hectares and is more than 1.5 km wide at its widest spot. Its geological features illustrate more than 70 million years of natural history. Further west along Highway 9 to Secondary Road 840, head south and you will come to the tiny town of Rosebud, well-known around Alberta for its lively dinner theatre performances.

Dinosaur Dig, Dinosaur Provincial Park, near Brooks

Serious "dinophiles" can add another day to their trip by heading south on Highway 56, then east on Highway 1, and slightly north on Highway 36 to Dinosaur Provincial Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). Its focus is the Field Station, a base for scientific research, but is also home to numerous dinosaur bone-beds, rivaled only by sites in China’s Gobi Desert. Most people come here for guided walks and the popular badlands bus tours, which take in parts of the park otherwise out of bounds to visitors. Not only is the diversity of specimens great, but so is the sheer volume; more than 300 museum-quality specimens have been removed from bone-beds found here, and are exhibited in museums around the world.

Back on Highway 1, continue heading east. Visit the city of Medicine Hat, described by Rudyard Kipling in 1907 as a city 'with all hell for a basement' because of the huge gas fields under the city and this area. Today visitors flock to the world's tallest teepee, bask under Medicine Hat's endless skies or tour the Clay Products Interpretive Centre and the Medalta Historic Site.

Alberta Birds of Prey Centre, Coaldale, Crowsnest Pass

Continue your southwesterly journey with stops at Red Rock Coulee, Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, Dinosaur and Heritage Museum in Warner, and the city of Lethbridge. While in Lethbridge, visit the Nikka Yuko Japanese Gardens, Fort Whoopup and the Sir Alexander Galt Museum. Take a 10-minute drive east to experience the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. Finish off the tour by heading back north to Calgary and visiting points of interest along the way.

Alberta has more than 25 sample itineraries that span the province. Discover the other scenic drives with detailed trip planning advice.