# Dust, dinosaurs and hoodoos – by camper through the Alberta Badlands

> About 850 kilometres from Calgary through the Red Deer River Valley to Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park: prairie that suddenly breaks off into…

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/rf-106-drumheller-dinosaur-trail/

**At a glance:** 5-day round trip of about 543 km (337 mi) with 10 stops, starting and ending in Calgary. About 6 h 02 min of driving in total. About 850 kilometres from Calgary through the Red Deer River Valley to Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park: prairie that suddenly breaks off into canyons, and a campsite in the middle of Canada’s largest fossil field.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 543 km (337 mi) |
| Driving | 6 h 02 min |
| Suggested days | 5 |
| Stops | 10 |
| Route | Calgary → Calgary |
| Provinces | AB |
| Updated | September 1, 2026 |

*About 850 kilometres from Calgary through the Red Deer River Valley to Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park: prairie that suddenly breaks off into canyons, and a campsite in the middle of Canada’s largest fossil field.*

## The spirit of the route

Heading east from Calgary, at first you see only wheat, canola and sky. Then the road dips and the prairie tears open: the Red Deer River valley cuts into soft sediment, and the walls glow in ochre, grey and rust red. In summer the Drumheller Badlands smell of dust and sage, and after rain the tracks turn into slippery clay. Hoodoos stand like mushrooms at the edge of the valley, the river meanders between poplars, and in the evening grasshoppers crackle. Further southeast lies Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a campground in the cottonwood forest by the river and fossils that are washed free anew with every rain. The route is hot, dry and wide open; it demands a water supply, sun protection and respect for the prairie rattlesnakes.

## Stage-by-stage plan

### Stage 1: Calgary to Drumheller (approx. 140 km)

- **The drive:** From Calgary take Highway 9 northeast through wheat and canola fields, past Irricana and Beiseker; the road is well built but has no shoulder, speed limit 100 km/h. Suddenly the ground drops away to Horseshoe Canyon, then it is down into the Red Deer River valley to Drumheller. Pure driving time is just under 2 hours, half a day with stops. Fill up before Drumheller in Beiseker or Irricana; in town there are several petrol stations and supermarkets.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Horseshoe Canyon: a viewpoint right on Highway 9, about 17 km west of Drumheller, with short trails into the canyon of banded sandstone; the hike has no shade, so bring drinking water.
  - Drumheller viewpoints and “Tyra”, the world’s largest dinosaur replica (Tyrannosaurus rex, about 26 m tall), with a walk-in mouth as a viewing platform – check opening hours and admission beforehand.
  - Red Deer River Valley on the descent into the valley: the first view of the Badlands is unpaved at the roadside; it is better to stop at one of the pull-outs on Highway 9.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area (Alberta Parks), northwest of Drumheller on the Red Deer River on the Dinosaur Trail Loop (Highway 838): a basic site by the river, and the ferry is part of the loop; according to Alberta Parks the recreation area has a limited summer season (most recently about the end of May to early September) and at times no drinking water; check facilities, season and length limit beforehand at albertaparks.ca. Midland Provincial Park nearby is a day-use area only and does not allow camping. In Drumheller there are also private RV parks (often fully booked in summer and on public holidays).
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Free camping is practically impossible in the valley: land by the river is mostly private or leased, and fences and cattle pastures are the rule; overnighting at viewpoints and roadsides is monitored. If you are looking for a quiet spot, ask a farmer for explicit permission.
- **Insider tip for campers:** After rain, gravel tracks in the Badlands turn to slime and are impassable even for four-wheel-drive vehicles – stay on paved roads and check the weather forecast. Bring drinking water (at least 3 l per person) and sun protection; in high summer the valley floor can get well above 30 °C.

### Stage 2: Drumheller to Drumheller (Dinosaur Trail and hoodoos) (approx. 110 km)

- **The drive:** Two loops from Drumheller. The Dinosaur Trail Loop (Highway 838) leads northwest over the ferry at Bleriot Ferry and back past Midland Provincial Park; the second heads southeast on Highway 10 to East Coulee and the hoodoos. Roads are paved but narrow and with bends, speed 50–80 km/h; the ferry is a small cable ferry with weight and size limits. Pure driving time is about 2 hours, and sightseeing makes it a full day.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology: one of the largest fossil collections in the world, with dozens of dinosaur skeletons; check opening hours and admission beforehand on the website, and allow about 2–3 hours for the museum.
  - Hoodoos (Hwy 10, about 16 km southeast of Drumheller): sandstone columns with caps of harder rock, shaped by wind and rain over millennia; stay on the paths, as erosion is quick and the stones are brittle.
  - Atlas Coal Mine in East Coulee: a National Historic Site of Canada with the country’s last surviving wooden coal-loading tower; guided tours are seasonal, so check opening hours beforehand.
  - Bleriot Ferry: a cable ferry across the Red Deer River, free of charge; Alberta Transportation gives operation as mid-spring to 30 October, and in 2025 it was closed at times for repairs – clarify the status for 2026 beforehand via 511 Alberta (bypass via Highway 837).
- **Official campsite or RV park:** As for stage 1: Bleriot Ferry Provincial Recreation Area. As an alternative there are private RV parks in Drumheller (clarify facilities such as electricity and water with the operator beforehand); names and availability change, so book early.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** Here too there is no legal free camping in the valley; overnighting in the car parks of museums and attractions is not permitted.
- **Insider tip for campers:** The ferry at Bleriot Ferry is small: according to Alberta Transportation it takes around 13 cars and up to 62.5 t, and when operations are interrupted Highway 837 crosses via the bridge. On the roads by the river, lorries and day-trippers skid in the rain, so keeping your distance is important; use the petrol station in Drumheller.

### Stage 3: Drumheller to Dinosaur Provincial Park (approx. 280 km)

- **The drive:** From Drumheller east on Highway 9 and south on Highway 36 to Brooks (alternative routes via Highway 1 and Highway 56 are possible, compare map and satnav), then about 48 km northeast to the park near Patricia (follow the signs). Endless prairie, hardly any villages, few petrol stations: fill up fully in Hanna or Brooks. Windy and very hot in summer. Pure driving time is about 4 hours, a full day with breaks. The last kilometres are paved; from the park entrance the road drops steeply into the valley.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Hanna and Brooks: prairie towns with petrol stations, supermarkets and water points; Brooks also has the historic aqueduct (Brooks Aqueduct Provincial Historic Site) – check opening hours beforehand.
  - Entering Dinosaur Provincial Park: from the viewpoint at the edge of the park you see the Badlands in their full extent, and the sight is finest in the evening in low light.
  - Fossil fields: the park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979; large parts are a nature reserve and accessible only on guided tours.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** Dinosaur Provincial Park Campground (Alberta Parks) in the cottonwood forest on the Red Deer River: according to Alberta Parks over 120 sites for tents and motorhomes, including unserviced ones, only a few electrical sites (most recently 15) and pull-through sites, showers and flush toilets in season, a sani-dump station, reservations up to 90 days ahead; the taps at the sites and the showers are out of service from the beginning of October and the end of October respectively, and dump-rinse water is not available in late autumn. Book early in high summer and on public holidays.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** No free camping in the park itself. In the surrounding area, access to land is almost always private or leased; overnighting without a campground requires the owner’s permission. The nearest legal alternatives are other Alberta Parks campgrounds.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Check your water supply in the tank: drinking water at the site is seasonal, and the nearest shops are around 50 km away in Brooks. From the vehicle you can see deer and porcupines in the evening; in the park, rattlesnakes and ticks are reported more often in spring and summer.

### Stage 4: Dinosaur Provincial Park to Dinosaur Provincial Park (day programme) (approx. 30 km)

- **The drive:** A day in the park without changing location. The loop through the valley is short, with car parks at the trails; a large part of the park is accessible only with a ranger-led tour. Heat, little shade and soft ground characterise the day, and after rain the paths are slippery and partly closed. Total distance by vehicle under 30 km.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Guided tours and bus tours in the nature reserve: the access restriction protects the fossil beds; check registration, dates and prices before arrival via Alberta Parks or the Royal Tyrrell Museum Field Station.
  - Badlands Trail, Prairie Trail and Coulee Viewpoint: short loop trails with views of hoodoos and the valley landscape, accessible without a guide; check times and closures beforehand.
  - Royal Tyrrell Museum Field Station: exhibition and demonstrations of on-site excavation, seasonal; check details before your visit.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** As for stage 3: Dinosaur Provincial Park Campground. The site is especially quiet in the evening atmosphere, but allow for mosquitoes and heat in summer.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** No legal free camping in the park.
- **Insider tip for campers:** Fossils must not be collected or taken away; leave even finds on the path where they are and report them to the rangers. After rain the tracks can turn to mud – heed the weather forecast and park notices, and if necessary stay a day in camp.

### Stage 5: Dinosaur Provincial Park to Calgary (approx. 290 km)

- **The drive:** Back via Brooks to Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) heading west: four lanes, speed up to 110 km/h, via Bassano and Gleichen to Calgary. Straight, fast, with crosswinds; in rush hour the approach to the city is slow. Pure driving time is about 3.5 hours. Fill up and shop on the way in Brooks.
- **Highlights & must-sees:**
  - Bassano Dam on the Bow River: a dam built in 1914 with a visitor area, partly accessible; check opening hours and access beforehand.
  - Brooks Aqueduct Provincial Historic Site (if not yet visited): an unusual structure on the prairie, only a short stop; note the seasonal opening.
  - Calgary: arrival at the skyline; if returning a rental vehicle, plan for the dump station and petrol station beforehand.
- **Official campsite or RV park:** In Calgary there are private RV parks on the outskirts (clarify names, facilities and availability beforehand). A simpler option is a last night in a park east of the city; reservation required.
- **Free camping or nature tip (where legal):** In Calgary and the surrounding area, overnighting in the vehicle on streets and in car parks is prohibited and is monitored.
- **Insider tip for campers:** On Highway 1 the speed limit and lane-change rules are strictly enforced; crosswinds push high-roofed vehicles. For returning the vehicle, use the dump station before the city on Highway 1 (clarify the location beforehand).

## Camping practice & local rules

### Wild camping & overnight parking

- Canada has no nationwide right to roam for free camping. In Alberta, camping on public land outside provincial and national parks is allowed in some areas (usually up to 14 days), but not on private and leased land. On the prairie almost all land is either farmland or leased grazing land; nothing is possible without the owner’s permission.
- In the provincial parks (Dinosaur, Bleriot Ferry), overnighting is only allowed on the designated sites; sleeping in the vehicle is not tolerated in the car parks of museums, viewpoints and shops.
- Wildlife: prairie rattlesnakes are native to southern Alberta and Dinosaur Provincial Park – wear sturdy footwear, do not reach into rock crevices, do not touch animals. Ticks, mosquitoes and grasshoppers are widespread; check for ticks after hikes.
- Fossils and artefacts are protected under the Historical Resources Act: do not collect, do not take away, do not dig up.
- Fire bans are frequent in summer; check the current status with Alberta Wildfire and Alberta Parks, and light fires only in fire rings.
- Apps and sources: iOverlander, Campendium, ParkAdvisor and albertaparks.ca; road conditions via 511 Alberta.

### Waste disposal & supplies

- Dump stations: Dinosaur Provincial Park, some Alberta Parks campgrounds and private RV parks in Drumheller and Brooks; rinse water is turned off in late autumn. Overview at sanidumps.com.
- Drinking water: tap water in Canada is drinkable, but at basic sites such as Bleriot Ferry it is often available only via pumps or not at all; carry canisters and a supply.
- Never discharge grey water onto the ground or into the river; empty chemical toilets only at dump stations.
- Propane: petrol stations and dealers in Drumheller and Brooks; European cylinders need adapters, and rental motorhomes have fixed tanks.
- Fuel: petrol stations in Beiseker, Drumheller, Hanna and Brooks; only a few petrol stations between Hanna and Brooks, none in the park itself.
- Shopping: supermarkets in Drumheller and Brooks; in Dinosaur Provincial Park only small items.
- Electricity: sites with hook-ups usually offer 15/30 A (120 V); note adapters for European devices (type A/B) and voltage converters.

### Vehicle size & traffic rules

- Speed limits: highways mostly 100 km/h, dual-carriageway sections of Highway 1 up to 110 km/h; towns 50 km/h; Dinosaur Trail Loop and park roads much slower. Observe signs.
- Dimensions: vehicle height in Alberta up to 4.15 m, width 2.6 m; the ferry at Bleriot has size and weight limits (details from Alberta Transportation), and multi-storey car parks are mostly under 2.1 m.
- Bleriot Ferry: free and seasonal (until the end of October); operation depends on weather and water level, closures for repairs are possible, check the status via 511 Alberta.
- Admission: Alberta provincial parks charge fees for camping and in part for day use; check current prices at albertaparks.ca. The Royal Tyrrell Museum has a separate admission charge.
- Turning right on red is permitted after a full stop (except where prohibited); stop for school buses with flashing lights; mobile phone at the wheel only hands-free; open alcohol containers in the vehicle are prohibited. A German driving licence is sufficient for tourists, and an international driving permit is often recommended.
- Weather and season: May to September is best; in summer heat above 30 °C, thunderstorms with hail and sudden downpours; after rain unpaved roads become impassable. Early frost in autumn.
- Emergency: 911; mobile coverage drops out in the valleys.

## CampingSpirit packing & preparation checklist

- At least 3 l of water per person per day plus a 20 l canister – there is no drinking water along the way in the park and at the viewpoints.
- Sun hat, sunscreen and light long-sleeved clothing – the Badlands offer hardly any shade.
- Sturdy footwear and walking poles because of rattlesnakes and slippery clay.
- Insect repellent and tick remover for the river and the prairie.
- Levelling ramps and base plates – sites by the river are often soft and slightly sloping.
- Offline maps and a paper map – dead spots in the valley and on the way to Dinosaur are normal.

_As of 2026-09. Closures, fees and booking rules change: check official sources before you go._

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Calgary** (AB)
2. **Horseshoe Canyon** (AB)
3. **Drumheller** (AB)
4. **Royal Tyrrell Museum** (AB)
5. **Hoodoos** (AB)
6. **East Coulee** (AB)
7. **Brooks** (AB)
8. **Dinosaur Provincial Park** (AB)
9. **Bassano** (AB)
10. **Calgary** (AB)

## Best time to go

The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. Cold, short days in November–March. July and August are the busiest months: book campsites early. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

## FAQs

**How long is Dust, dinosaurs and hoodoos – by camper through the Alberta Badlands?**
5-day round trip of about 543 km (337 mi) with 10 stops, starting and ending in Calgary. About 6 h 02 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Dust, dinosaurs and hoodoos – by camper through the Alberta Badlands?**
We suggest 5 days: about 6 h 02 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Dust, dinosaurs and hoodoos – by camper through the Alberta Badlands start and end?**
It is a round trip that starts and ends in Calgary.

**Which provinces does Dust, dinosaurs and hoodoos – by camper through the Alberta Badlands pass through?**
Alberta.

**When is the best time for Dust, dinosaurs and hoodoos – by camper through the Alberta Badlands?**
The most pleasant months are usually June–August. Still fine, with some compromises, in May and September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)