Drumheller - Dinosaur Trail

The Dinosaur Trail along Highway 838, a tour 48 km (30 mi.) long to the west of the town along Red Deer River which cuts its way more than 120 m (400 ft) deep into the prairie, takes in the area of steep and barren rocky slopes, from which wind and rain have carved the mushroom-shaped pillars known as "hoodoos" and revealed whole dinosaur skeletons. Ancient river-courses have carved up the prairie here into rocky tablelands on which grass struggles to grow where the soil has not been completely eroded. In the Badlands will be found sagebrush and greasewood bushes, so typical of arid regions in America, as well as cacti. At the bridge where Highway 9 crosses Red Deer River tyrannosaurus rex, a much photographed replica of a mighty dinosaur, greets the passer-by.

Also of interest, just to the west of Drumheller is Horseshoe Canyon, and large chasm resembling a mini Grand Canyon.