The Town of Drumheller and the surrounding area is an underrated, hidden gem in Alberta. Known as the heart of the badlands and the dinosaur capital of the world, it is such a unique and picturesque location! Drumheller is located around 1.5 hours from the city of Calgary and just over 2.5 hours from the town of Banff. These are the 12 best things to do in Drumheller, Alberta!
Things to do in Drumheller
1. Horseshoe Canyon
Horseshoe Canyon is about 15 minutes away from the Town of Drumheller. It offers amazing viewpoints from the parking lot above, and you can take an easy hike down into the canyon to explore the badlands up close! If you only have a few choices about what to do in Drumheller, Horseshoe Canyon should be at the top of your list!
Cost: Free!
2. The Town of Drumheller
The Town itself is a really fun place to spend some time in. Around town there are dinosaurs everywhere – statues on the side of the road, wire dinos on the street lights, dinos sitting on the benches along the streets – it’s really cool! Grab some souvenirs or just wander the town, it’s very cute and a fun place to spend some time!
Cost: Free to walk around & explore!
3. Go to the top of the World’s Largest Dinosaur
In Drumheller, you’ll find the World’s Largest Dinosaur. It’s pretty hard to miss because it is so big! You can have a picnic in the green space near the dino, and can climb to the top for an awesome view of Drumheller and the surrounding landscape!
Cost: $4 CAD to climb to the top
4. Grab a Snack (or ice cap) at Tim Hortons
No trip in Canada is complete without a stop at Tim Hortons. My favourite thing to get is an ice cap, which is basically a slushy coffee drink. Another favorite is their donuts and Timbits – you can’t go wrong with these!
Cost: Around $2 – $4 CAD for a drink or pastry!
5. The Hoodoos Trail
The Hoodoos Trail is a scenic spot you can stop at to see large hoodoos that have been protected. A hoodoo is a tall, skinny, sandstone rock formation with a large stone on top (pictured). They are an iconic site of the badlands and you are guaranteed to see them here!
Cost: Free!
6. Atlas Coal Mine
The Atlas Coal Mine gives you a glimpse into the mining past of this area. It’s a great stop to make and a fun and interesting thing to do while in the Drumheller area.
Cost: Varies, but around $12/person – $35/family
7. Star Mine Suspension Bridge
Originally built for the coal workers of the mine, this suspension bridge is a unique place to visit and get a different view of the Red Deer River and the landscapes of Alberta. I love suspension bridges, so this is one of my favourite things to do in Drumheller.
Cost: Free!
8. Asteroid Ice cream
You can grab some delicious ice cream at the cutest ice cream shop! The shop itself is located in Rosedale (right near the suspension bridge & hoodoos trail) and looks like a castle. There is other food on offer as well, like burgers and fries!
Cost: Varies!
9. Royal Tyrell Museum & Midlands Provincial Park
This museum is the dinosaur museum of Alberta. It is incredible and if you are wanting to see fossils – this is the first (and only) place you need to look. They have a ton of exhibits, day camps, and activities for young kids. It is definitely a must see stop to surround yourself with dinosaurs (and learn a lot about them too!). The park surrounding the museum is also beautiful, so factor in some time to hike/walk the surrounding area of Midlands Provincial Park.
Cost: Varies! Around $21 CAD/adult. The surrounding Midlands Provincial Park is free to explore.
10. Horsethief Canyon
Similar to Horseshoe Canyon, Horsethief Canyon is another stop where you can really explore the landscape of the badlands and surround yourself with nature and amazing views!
Cost: Free!
11. Drive the North & South Dinosaur Trial
The two Dinosaur Trails are scenic drives through the Badlands. If you have a car and the time to do this drive – I would recommend it! A few popular stops along the trail are:
- The Little Church
- Bleriot Ferry
- Orkney Viewpoint
Cost: Free!
12. The Town of Wayne (A ghost town!)
Wayne is around a 15 minute drive from the Town of Drumheller, and is a cool stop because it’s a ghost town! If you’ve never been to a ghost town, it’s worth a stop and is super eery and cool to visit! Especially while in the Badlands, it’s a fun thing to do in Drumheller!
Cost: Free!
Hopefully, this guide about fun things to do in Drumheller, Alberta was helpful in planning your trip, or gave you some inspiration to visit in the future!
If you’re visiting the Rockies, I would highly recommend making the drive out here, even if just for the day – because it is stunning and so unique and fun!
Let me know if you have any other recommendations for the area, or if you’ve been here and what your favourite stop was!
Read More on Canada:
- Your Banff National Park Bucket List
- The Best Stops Along the Icefields Parkway in Alberta
- How to Beat The Crowds at Moraine Lake: Biking to Moraine Lake!
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Hey! I’m Kat. Based in Alberta, Canada I love to travel to the Rockies and explore new places around the world. Follow along on my adventures and find inspiration and tips for your own travels.
molly says
I have seen HooDoos in Utah but didn’t know I could see them in Alberta! Thanks for the tips!
Kat says
Thanks Molly! I’ve never been to Utah, but am definitely hoping to visit sometime soon!
Shelley says
World’s largest dinosaur!?!?!?!? SIGN ME UP! Drumheller looks like a true hidden gem. I saved + pinned this blog for my next Ca. trip…. I just have to see those majestic hoodoos, and that dinosaur.
Kat says
Thank you so much Shelley! It is truly amazing!!