West Coast Traveller RV Roadtrip: Drumheller, Alberta: The greatest show unearthed

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Dinosaur Valley. Dinosaur Trail. Hoodoos. Badlands. Tyrannosaurus Rest (that’s not a typo). Fossil World.

The world’s largest dinosaur.

Simply said, Drumheller is part of the greatest show unearthed. For those who love dinosaurs, this is the place to be.

There’s something fascinating about this place. Carved out of the prairie by the Red Deer River, the valley really is part of dinosaur alley, with discoveries made in the area that are nearly 77 million years old.

Driving into Drumheller is visually stunning in July, with bright yellow canola fields lighting up the prairie like the sun itself, contrasting against the blue horizon with lines as sharp as the blue and yellow Ukrainian flag.

Wheat, dark green and immature, waves in the wind. And throughout all of this, the occasional pumpjack lifts Alberta oil to the surface, bobbing up and down like an enormous grasshopper, draining ancient oil beds far beneath the ground.

This canyon, 17 km east of Drumheller, can be viewed from platforms at the edge of the canyon, or by walking down into it. Fiona Anderson/Triumph Social Media Marketing photo

As we motor along, I wonder, did the fuel in our tank originally come from here?

Horseshoe Canyon is a few kilometres outside Drumheller. It’s a fantastic place, full of Jurassic history. But what we liked about it was how easy it was to walk through Star-Trek like formations far beneath the Prairie.

I ran here in my younger days, exulting in the other-worldly landscape, and enjoying the challenges of the terrain. This day, we enjoyed the walk, smelling the occasional sage brush, and seeing footprints in the sand, although I couldn’t resist a run up the well-maintained gravel stairs leading to the surface.

These hoodoos, located just outside Drumheller, were created between 70 and 75 million years ago and were formed by the effects of erosion caused by water, wind and frost. Fiona Anderson/Triumph Social Media Marketing photo

In Drumheller, we broke out our canoe, launching in the river and paddling upstream against the current to find a nice picnic spot.

The river has deer and pelicans, interrupted by the occasional paddler, people tubing and powerboats.

The town is full of dinosaur kitsch, with a statue on nearly every corner. Tourists can ascend the inside of world’s largest Tyrannosaurus Rex and sit in its mouth, looking up the Red Deer River Valley.

Streets are named after dinosaurs, and the creative Jurassic juices flow throughout the community, with our favourite being the Tyrannosaurus Rest, a local B&B.

For those interested in Hoodoos, there’s Hoodoos Recreation Area, a short drive out of town that features strange, enormous mushroom-like rocks, formed by millions of years of erosion.

The jewel in Drumheller’s prehistoric crown is the Royal Tyrrell Museum. This amazing facility has 45 fully assembled dinosaurs and will take you through nearly four billion years of history.

Even the streets in Drumheller have dinosaur-themed names. Apparently there really were ankylosaurus and centrosaurus dinosaurs. Photo Credit: Fiona Anderson/Triumph Social Media Marketing

They say it takes three hours to tour the Tyrrell, but in my estimation, you’ll want to come back several times over a few days just to understand some of the sheer volume of history represented there.

Lastly, it takes a little time, but after a while you’ll begin to understand why Alberta punches above its weight as a vacation destination.

Besides Klondike Days and the Calgary Stampede, the province is full of natural wonders. Banff, Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump, Dry Island Buffalo Jump, Elk Island National Park (home to more than 400 bison and plains buffalo – but more on that next week!).

All of this is set in a rich agricultural heritage full of cattle and crops, and a vitally important oil heritage, all on pristine roadways devoid of litter, and skies that go on forever.

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The welcome sign just outside Drumheller is a precursor of things to come – the first of many dinosaurs on view in the town. Fiona Anderson/Triumph Social Media Marketing photo

These places make the badlands a great experience

Royal Tyrrell Museum, a 12,500 square-metre building that houses one of the world’s largest collections of dinosaur skeletons, many of which were found in the area. Located 6 km northwest of Drumheller on Highway 838
Acadia Valley Prairie Elevator, showcasing Alberta’s farming history. Located in the hamlet of Acadia Valley, 200 km east of Drumheller.
Alberta Birds of Prey Centre features the hawks, owls, eagles and falcons of Alberta on a 70-acre wetland, 230 km south of Drumheller.
Alberta Prairie Rail Exchange lets you take a trip on a steam or diesel powered train which may be “attacked” by outlaws. Located 100 km north of Drumheller on Highway 56.
Atlas Coal Mine described as the most complete coal mining museum in Canada. Located in East Coulee, 20 minutes southeast of Drumheller on Highway 10 (just past the Hoodoos)
World’s Largest Dinosaur is 82 feet high and 151 feet long – four times bigger than a real Tyrannosaurus Rex. Find it in the centre of town and climb to the top for a great view of the Red Deer River Valley.
Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park lets you enjoy an authentic Blackfoot Cultural experience with exhibits, tours and performances, 95 km south of Drumheller on the way to the Alberta Birds of Prey Centre.
Village of Stirling, Alta. is one of Canada’s finest examples of a traditional Mormon village. It’s located just under 300 km south of Drumheller near Lethbridge, Alta.
Devil’s Coulee is an excavation site you can explore, including seeing real dinosaur eggshells. About 300 km south of Drumheller, and 70 km south of Lethbridge, Alta.
Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site protecting some of the most significant fossil fields in the world. Located about 165 km southeast of Drumheller.
Writing on Stone Provincial Park is home to the largest concentration of First Nations rock are on the North American Plains. Located near the U.S. border at Coutts, Alta., about 350 km south of Drumheller, and 125 km south of Lethbridge.

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Fiona Anderson and Paul Bucci, from Triumph Social, are travelling across North America this year, first by bicycle from Florida to California and now by truck and travel trailer from B.C. to Northern Ontario and back. Both are veteran writers, editors and social media marketers.

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