hikes in Drumheller

The badlands and hoodoos create a setting that differs from the Rocky Mountains lining the Alberta and British Columbia border—walking on the trails carved out here will have you feeling you’re a character in a western movie. And the number of stories swirling around you, whether dinosaur or western-like, will add a layer of epic eeriness, supernaturalness to your hiking adventures!

The Greatest Hikes In Drumheller

One of the best ways to get a feel for the indescribable vibes in prehistoric Drumheller is to explore the area on foot! While you’ll find more hikes in the nearby (sort of) Dinosaur Provincial Park, it’s still fun to lace up your shoes and let the badland scenery envelop you between dinosaur viewings. Most visitors travelling through Drumheller don’t stay too long, and thankfully most of the Drumheller hikes are short, offering a quick body break before moving onto something else!

1. Horseshoe Canyon Loop Trail - This short 3.9km family-friendly trail is located in Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Park, which is just 16km outside of Drumheller. If you’re in Drumheller, you won’t want to miss out on this wildly popular hike as it curves around the canyon, unveiling burgundy striped walls that hark back to Cretaceous times. This area is famous for archaeological findings!
2. Dry Island Buffalo Jump Trail - The Dry Island Buffalo Jump Trail sits one hour from Drumheller, making it a better destination if you’re a local or someone passing through on a road trip. However, like most other routes in the area, the 7.2km Dry Island Buffalo Jump Trail boasts an archaeological site that contained Albertosaurus bones. On another note, this area features a landmark where Indigenous people used to drive buffalo over the cliffs to create food for their community and families.
3. Horsethief Canyon Trail - The Horsethief Canyon Trail is the ultimate bang-for-buck wild west experience and is definitely worth a slight detour from Drumheller or the Royal Tyrrell Museum. This family-friendly out-and-back route may only be 800m long, but after 400m of walking, you’ll reach the canyon where outlaws hid their stolen livestock over a century ago. After relishing in the outlandish vibes, you’ll turn around and head back the way you came.
4. Drumheller Pedestrian Trail - Revel in Drumheller on this 24.1km trail that starts from the Royal Tyrrell Museum! However, if you aren’t in the mood to finish the entire route, you can always pick and choose your start and endpoint. If you take on the whole trail, you’ll walk along Badlands Interpretive Trail and the Drumheller Pedestrian Trail before following the banks of the Red Deer River and into Midland Provincial Park.

When Is The Best Time To Hike in Drumheller?

Weather-wise, the best time to hike in Drumheller is from June to September, but hikes around the Royal Tyrrell Museum may get congested during the summer months, so you can always opt to hike on a warmer day during one of the shoulder seasons. However, you can do most hikes in Drumheller year-round!

Best Regions for Hiking in Drumheller

Since Drumheller is a small town, it’s hard to pick the best region for hiking here! Yet, some nearby provincial parks are worth noting, such as Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Park and Midland Provincial Park. If you don’t mind driving an hour or so from town, consider checking out Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park or Dinosaur Provincial Park. You’ll find more of a selection for hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park!

Other Outdoor Activities in Drumheller

Some other outdoor activities in Drumheller include revelling in an incredible starry night sky while tenting out at Horseshoe Canyon Campground or mountain biking through Drumheller’s tremendous Land Before Time-like setting. Most road and mountain biking are multi-use trails!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Drumheller in the Badlands?

Drumheller is located within the Red Deer River Valley in the badlands of Alberta.

How far is Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Park from Drumheller?

Horseshoe Canyon Provincial Park is around 16km from Drumheller.

Can I camp in Drumheller?

Yes! Check out Horseshoe Canyon Campground for available campsites.

Find other amazing hiking regions in Alberta:

• Jasper National Park
• Banff National Park
• Dinosaur Provincial Park
• David Thompson Country
• Kananaskis Country

Get the 10Adventures Trail App

If you want to navigate the trails of Drumheller without the help of a guide, a good idea would be to get the 10Adventures trail app. This nifty tool allows you to access route guides offline to ensure that you don't go off trail on your hiking adventure in Drumheller.