Dinosaur fossils have put the Canadian Badlands on the world map. This region of Canada has more paleontologically significant locations than most places on earth.
Albertosaurus – from the Cretaceous Alberta exhibit at the Royal Tyrrell Museum
Drumheller, an hour and a half east of Calgary is home to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. This is THE place to see, if you like dinosaurs. I went ga ga with it. If you go, be sure to check out Albertosaurus, discovered by Joseph Tyrrell in 1884. Can you say “bipedal predator”, “large carnivore”? She was smaller than Tyrannosaurus rex, and a few million years earlier, but she was local and her fossils have been found in Dry Island Buffalo Jump, and other fossil sites not far from Drumheller.
I spent half a day at the Royal Tyrrell touring its amazing galleries. My favourite was the Lords of the Land. It’s simply amazing but I also discovered that during the summer season, young families can camp overnight with Royal Tyrrell staff in Midland Provincial Park beside the museum. There are also hands-on learning events at the Royal Tyrrell in biology, paleontology and geology.
Descending into the Drumheller Valley after leaving Calgary
Or how about climbing into the jaws of a T-Rex. You can’t miss the Drumheller town mascot which stands a couple of stories high next to the Drumheller visitor centre. It’s the largest town mascot in the world. Drumheller is dino-kitch, full of dino- inspired sculpture, signage, diners, hotels and RV parks. Even the local golf course is known as the Dinosaur Trail Golf & Country Club. I thought the modern day versions of dinosaur-like creatures at Drumheller’s Reptile World were very cool. This Drumheller attraction is run by an ex-pat from the UK whose passion is to dispel any myths associated with these magnificent creatures.
Like the prairie sky, things are BIG out here - the town mascot, Drumheller, Alberta
Dinosaur Trail Golf Club puts a whole new spin on looking for your ball
The helicopter ride over Horseshoe Canyon just outside of Drumheller is worth the few bucks it costs. Back on the ground, look for a small booth run by Fossil Steve and see his fantastic collection of dinosaur fossils and casts.
Between Trochu and Big Valley is where you’ll find Dry Island Buffalo Jump (map). Many of the fossils that make up the exhibits in the Royal Tyrrell galleries were found and excavated in this park. Here are some pictures and some information about the jump which is an Alberta provincial park. Much of the research on the Albertosaurus dinosaur (which lived over 69 million years ago in this region) was done in this area. Dry Island Buffalo Jump is the highest of all the buffalo jumps in Alberta and the furthest north. Early native peoples drove buffalo, a major food source, over steep cliffs here.
The Red Deer River snakes its way through the bottom of the canyon at Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park
If you follow the Red Deer River southeast from Drumheller, you’ll come to Dinosaur Provincial Park, near the town of Brooks (map). It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Park the car, join a guided tour (there are lots) and hike to the Centrosaurus bone bed to see what all the fuss is about. There are dinosaur bones everywhere! Museums and collectors have been taking specimens out of this place for over a century. But don’t YOU take anything. It’s against the law!
The first turnoff in Dinosaur Provincial Park leads to a breathtaking viewpoint over the canyon/valley
If you still need an excuse to hit the road, it’s almost a four hour drive from Dinosaur Park south to the Village of Warner and the Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur Heritage Museum. In the 1980s a young lady found dinosaur eggs near here and that resulted in a major discovery and the creation of the museum.
It’s easy to lose yourself in the Canadian Badlands. This is a vast area and it’s possible to travel for many hours without ever seeing another person (that’s the best part). So make sure you have lots of gas in the tank and drinking water in the trunk. Also, carry a cell phone and keep it charged. The landscape is ancient but our technology doesn’t have to be.
The full effect of Horseshoe Canyon can only be appreciated from the air
[...] world’s largest dinosaur is in Drumheller. That makes good sense since Drumheller is also home to the largest museum in the [...]