DRUMHELLER
Dinosaur country
A provincial park near Brooks, Alberta, is a hidden, prehistoric gem
When it comes to searching out a Jurassic Park experience in Alberta, Drumheller has always been synonymous with dinosaurs. The town of Drumheller is the focal point of the province’s world-famous Dinosaur Valley, which boasts impressive badlands along with the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum.
AMONG THE HOODOOS:Dinosaur Provincial Park is an Alberta treasure. —photo by Duane Pilson
However,that’snot the only place in the province where you can leap back thousands of years—so to speak. Dinosaur Provincial Park also provides visitors with a unique prehistoric experience.
Located two hours east of Calgary (48 kilometres northeast of the town of Brooks), Dinosaur Provincial Park boasts a variety of services and facilities including camping, bus tours and guided and non-guided hikes throughout this badlands region.
The park is a designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Site.
We had a chance to visit the park in July and stayed for five days, although we weren't able to enjoy all the park has to offer thanks to some wet weather; but the experience was well worth it, with the diverse scenery, helpful staff and an interesting field office.
As we crossed the prairie landscape approaching Dinosaur Provincial Park, we had no way of anticipating what nature had in store for us. Suddenly, a vast vista of rough-hewn valleys and hoodoos greeted us as we stopped at the lookout at the park entrance. We were struck with the sheer beauty and stunning vista that we saw.
The park literature describes a visit as a 75-million-year foray back in time to a badlands filled with strange hoodoos in a landscape more reminiscent of the moon than the earth. Talk about dead on!
One of the most interesting things about the landscape, we found, was the stark contrast of it. On one hand you have the spectacular and raw badlands, but throughout the park you'll find cottonwood groves and vegetation near the Red Deer River, which winds its way through the park. After setting up camp, we took a trip to the Field Station Visitors Centre, which contains exhibits on the park, a theatre, preparation labs and a bookstore.
Although not big in contrast to the Royal Tyrrell Museum, the well laid out and informative displays provided us with an educational experience about the creatures that roamed this region so long ago—not to mention a nice dry place to go to. When you visit the Visitors Centre take the time to talk to the park’s knowledgeable and exuberant staff about the park—they genuinely enjoy talking with the park visitors.
Of course, another big selling point of a trip to the park is the plethora of hiking trails it offers, as well as bus tours. Depending on the time of year you visit, there are also fossil safaris and bone bed hikes.
One thing we found out talking with the park’s staff is the importance of making a reservation if you plan on staying at the park. During the summer months the park’s campground is running at 100 per cent occupancy, so don’t take a chance—take the time to reserve a campsite. This is not an overnight destination, but one you should plan on spending a couple of days at so that you don’t miss anything it has to offer.
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