Embark on a day trip from Calgary to Drumheller, the Dinosaur Capital of the World. Visit the Royal Tyrrell Museum (Tickets Included),Hoodoos Trail, see the world’s largest dinosaur & Atlas Coal Mine.

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Begin your day early with a scenic drive from Calgary to Drumheller, which takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Enjoy wide open views of Alberta’s prairies slowly transitioning into the striking canyons and hoodoos of the Badlands.

Your first and most iconic stop is Horseshoe Canyon, located near Drumheller, Alberta, is a dramatic U-shaped valley carved into the Canadian Badlands. Its steep cliffs and colorful, layered rock formations reveal millions of years of geological history. Visitors can enjoy panoramic viewpoints, hike the winding trails through the canyon floor, and explore unique landscapes.

Next stop is the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. It’s Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to ancient life and features one of the largest displays of dinosaur skeletons in the world. View real fossil skeletons, including Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Albertosaurus. Take a short hike behind the museum on the Badlands Interpretive Trail. Download the Royal Tyrrell Museum App for the Audio Tour Guide.

Please Note : The Royal Tyrrell Museum is closed every Monday from September 1 to May 14, except on public holidays. On days when the museum is closed for a holiday, we will visit the Last Chance Saloon instead.

Before heading out, an optional stop by the charming and quirky Little Church – a fully functional church that only seats six people.

Drive just 5 minutes into Drumheller town to see the World’s Largest Dinosaur, a massive 26-meter-tall T-Rex sculpture towering over the valley. You can even climb inside the dinosaur and peek through its open mouth for panoramic views of Drumheller. Walk around the nearby Downtown Plaza, visit small gift shops, grab snacks or souvenirs.

Stop for lunch at one of Drumheller’s top-rated cafes or restaurants. Take time to relax and fuel up for your afternoon adventures.

Just 15 minutes southeast of Drumheller lies the famous Hoodoos Trail, home to bizarre, mushroom-shaped rock formations that were formed over millions of years through erosion. These natural sculptures are one of the highlights of the Canadian Badlands. Enjoy a short, accessible hike suitable for all ages. Learn about hoodoo formations via interpretive signs.

On the way, you’ll pass the Star Mine Suspension Bridge, a 117-meter pedestrian bridge over the Red Deer River. Stop here for a quick walk and historic insights about Drumheller’s coal-mining past.

If you have extra time and interest in local history, take a 25-minute drive southeast to the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. It’s one of the best-preserved coal mines in Canada and offers guided tours by Coal Mine Staff where you can explore mine tunnels, tipples, and historic machinery.(Tickets are not included in the tour price).

After a day filled with dinosaurs, badlands, hoodoos, and history, start your drive back to Calgary. Catch the warm glow of the sunset across Alberta’s prairies as the perfect close to your Drumheller adventure.

Take in breathtaking views and hikes at Horseshoe Canyon.
Hike the Hoodoos Trail and see bizarre, mushroom-shaped rock formations
Discover Alberta’s coal-mining past at the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site.
Enjoy a scenic drive through Alberta’s prairies and the Badlands
Admission to the Royal Tyrrell Museum with Canada’s largest dinosaur fossils.

Transportation provided in a comfortable, air-conditioned Van or a SUV.
Royal Tyrrell Museum Admission Tickets.
Pick-up and drop-off from selected locations.
Bottled Water & Soft Drinks.
Professional Tour Guide.
Food.
Gratuities (optional).
Personal expenditures.
Atlas Coal Mine Admission Tickets (Available for purchase online or On-Site.).

 

 

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