Badlands Tour: Drumheller with Museum, Hoodoos & Dinosaurs
Description
Start your day with a scenic 1.30 hours drive from Calgary to Drumheller, where Alberta’s prairies transform into the dramatic canyons of the Badlands. Your first stop is Horseshoe Canyon, a breathtaking U-shaped valley with layered cliffs and hiking trails. Next, visit the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum, home to one of the largest collections of dinosaur skeletons, and enjoy a short hike on the Badlands Interpretive Trail. Stop by the tiny yet Little Church before heading into town to see the 26m-tall World’s Largest Dinosaur. Stroll Drumheller’s Downtown Plaza for shops and snacks, then enjoy lunch at a local café. In the afternoon, explore the Hoodoos Trail with its iconic mushroom-shaped rock formations and visit the historic Star Mine Suspension Bridge. If time allows, discover the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site. (Note: Closed for the Season. On closures, we visit the Last Chance Saloon.) Conclude with a scenic sunset drive back to Calgary.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Horseshoe Canyon offers a perfect blend of dramatic badlands scenery, moderate hiking routes, wildlife, and star‑filled skies—all in the heart of Drumheller. Whether you're a solo explorer, family, or photography enthusiast, this spot is a must-see on any Alberta Badlands adventure.
The World’s Largest Dinosaur is an iconic 86-foot-tall T. rex statue in Drumheller, Alberta—four times the size of a real T. rex. Visitors can climb 106 stairs inside to reach a viewing platform in its mouth, offering panoramic views of the town and badlands. Located beside the Drumheller Visitor Centre and Rotary Spray Park, it’s a fun stop for families and photo lovers. Great for a quick visit, selfies.
The Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller, Alberta is Canada’s top destination for dinosaur lovers. It showcases over 800 fossils, life-size dinosaur skeletons (like T. rex and Triceratops), and hands-on exhibits about ancient life. Visitors can also view real fossil prep work in the lab and walk the Badlands Interpretive Trail outside. It’s a must-visit for families, science fans, and anyone exploring Alberta’s badlands.
Taking a lunch break in Drumheller is a great way to recharge between exploring dinosaurs, badlands, and scenic trails. Whether you're looking for a quick bite, a sit-down meal, or a picnic spot, Drumheller has a variety of options.
A charming, free slice of local history that mixes a playful suspension-bridge experience with dramatic views of the Drumheller Badlands—and a nice stop to break up your Dinosaur Trail tour.
The Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, just 20 minutes from Drumheller, is one of Canada's most complete historic coal mines. It features the last wooden coal tipple in the country and offers self-guided tours and unique guided experiences like: Train rides through the old mine site ️ Tipple tours to explore coal processing ️ Underground hikes into mining tunnels Open seasonally (May–October), it's perfect for families, history lovers, and anyone curious about Alberta’s coal-mining past. Wear sturdy shoes and book tours in advance! Please note that the Coal Mine is now closed for the season. We have added an additional stop at the Last Chance Saloon instead.
The Drumheller Hoodoos are striking sandstone rock formations located about 16 km east of Drumheller. These natural spires, shaped by erosion over thousands of years, stand 5 to 7 meters tall and are protected by harder capstones. Visitors can enjoy a short, easy loop trail with parking and picnic areas nearby.
The Last Chance Saloon in Drumheller is a historic bar and restaurant located in the ghost town of Wayne. It offers classic western charm, great food, and a glimpse into Alberta’s wild past — a must-stop on your Drumheller adventure!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(9)
We were extremely disappointed with our tour. This was mainly due to the car and guide. There were 5 people squeezed into a Honda Pilot, lic. 0-FW959 white. Every time we stopped my friend and I had to climb out of the back seat, and climb over the middle seat flipped over. I am an agile Senior but this was not how I wanted to be transported. As we were the smallest in size we were relegated to this back seat. To have paid $129 per person, it should have been a bigger vehicle. Our guide appeared to close his eyes and slightly wander across the center line several times on the way to Drumheller. He denied that he was sleepy but all five of us felt very unsafe. His English was not fluent enough to be a guide, he could not answer basic questions about Calgary. He was just a driver. But that was not how the trip was advertised. As for the Dinosaur Museum. It was great and I highly recommend a visit there. The in-depth models and information was outstanding. I would recommend the trip just find a fluent, competent guide. We could not understand him when he said his name but his car licence number was listed above.
Thank you for your feedback. We're sorry your experience didn't meet your expectations. This tour had only five guests, so a Honda Pilot was used. Unfortunately, it isn't practical to operate a larger van for such a small group. Regarding the drive, there were very strong winds that day, which can cause vehicles to shake and require frequent steering corrections. Safety is always our top priority. We also appreciate your comments about the guide's communication and will take them into consideration. We're glad you enjoyed the Dinosaur Museum and thank you again for sharing your experience.
Hello, Thank you so much to still do the tour even we could not change the day. Our tour guide was very helpful and gave us enough time to explore all sightseeing's stops. And even stopped shortly once on our request to shoot some photos. The day was fantastic with a lot of great memories. Big Thank you again Sandra
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the tour and that our guide made your day special. It’s great to know you had enough time to explore and capture those memorable moments. We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you again on another adventure soon! Warm regards, The Banff Trip Planner Team
It was all very, very interesting to see. Everybody should go because it is such unusual things to see.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you found it very interesting and unique. 🌟
From start to finish, my visit & experience was nothing short of outstanding. At any point of time, we felt welcomed and well taken care of. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about what they do, they clearly love what they do and guide you with all their hearts. Highly recommended for all kinds of travel plans. Whether you’re visiting for the first time or returning, ideal for families, solo travellers, or groups.
Thank you for your kind words! 🌟 We’re thrilled to hear that your experience was outstanding from start to finish and that you felt welcomed and cared for throughout. Our team truly loves what they do, and it means so much to know it made a difference in your journey. We appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you, your family, or friends again on your next adventure
1 - Terrible experience! We booked the day before and went to the hotel as requested to be picked up and NO ONE SHOWED UP! They did not notify us that they decided to cancel the tour since there were not enough people. Not even a text message. We needed to call multiple times to a phone that went to voicemail. When the finally answered, that was their excuse
We’re sorry to hear about your experience. We communicated the cancellation properly to TripAdvisor, and they sent both an email and a message regarding this. We believe the notification may have been missed.
The trip was excellent. It started on exact time. The driver was patient and friendly, he guided us through all the stuff. He didn’t rush on any site.
Thanks you so much for taking time for the review
It was a great experience. Our tour guide was really informative and patient. Everything was on time and very well coordinated.
Thanks you so much for taking time for the review
We love this trip. Our Guide Jass was awesome. We like the visit of museum and the hoodoos. The Tour was well planned and organized. Highly Recommended
Thanks you so much for taking time for the review
Went on Monday August 10 it was so crowded in the museum , it was hard to read any of the information about the dinosaurs , people were posing for pictures in front of them , shoving an pushing you. Might be better in the fall to go back an see it .
It looks like your feedback is specifically related to the museum experience. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts. We hope you’ll consider booking with us again during the off-season for a more relaxed experience, and we trust you enjoyed the rest of your trip.
