Cottonwood Flats Trail

If you’re driving Scenic Loop Road in Dinosaur Provincial Park, then the Cottonwood Flats Trail is a fun, family-friendly walk. Cottonwood Flats Trail doesn’t look like the other trails in the park. Rather than walking through the Badlands, the Cottonwood Flats trail leads you into a riparian landscape with shrubs, massive old Cottonwoods, and other trees.

The views of the Red Deer River are perhaps the best part of this short walk. If you get the day right, dawn or dusk can light up the landscape on the other side of the river with the most magical colours.

While Cottonwood Flats is a lollipop route, you can walk this as a loop to maximize the amount of time along the Red Deer River.

From the parking lot, head out on the trail and when you get to the first junction, go right. Follow the interpretive path with storyboards that explain the area and history.

Soon, you come near the Red Deer River, and you’ll have some magnificent views. All too soon, you come to another junction. You can go left here and return to your car, or extend the walk and go right, continuing along the path parallel to the river.

The path veers away from the river and goes parallel to Little Sandhill Creek. Before you know it, you’re back on Scenic Loop Road, where you go left. Normally, walking along a road isn’t ideal, but there are nice views and in 5–10 minutes you’re back at your car.