The Solo Scale:

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When people think of travelling to Alberta, usually the first destinations that come to mind are Calgary, Banff, Jasper, and likely Lake Louise. While those locations are absolutely gorgeous, there’s one much further south that’s a hidden gem that deserves its own visit.

If you love geological features, are a paleontological connoisseur, or want to see some incredible unique natural sights Drumheller is for you. I spent nearly two weeks in the town for work and that meant getting to explore a few of the more unique and interesting parts of town. It also meant getting to stay in the iconic Jurassic Hotel, which was appropriately themed throughout. While I was there for nearly two weeks, you’ll likely only need two full days to get a great taste of this hidden Albertan gem.

Top 3 Sights:

Horse Thief Canyon

The first destination for top sights will make you think that maybe you took a wrong turn and wound up somehow close to the Grand Canyon. True, it’s not as vast, but the canyon will make you look at a map and then realize that the same conditions that made the Grand Canyon did similar to Horse Thief Canyon, further north in the Canadian Badlands. It’s not necessarily a singular place, but there are multiple places you can stop to observe the seeming cousin to the Grand Canyon.

Royal Tyrrell Museum

If dinosaurs are your specialty subject, then you’re in luck. Drumheller has got dinosaurs to spare. There’s a gigantic one in town, there are hotels themed to the Jurassic era, and just outside of town is the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Here, you’ll find exhibits on the various periods in history when dinosaurs roamed the earth, fossils, recreations of the environments, and more! If you or the people you’re with love dinosaurs, then Drumheller won’t let you down.

Hoodoos

Nature did an incredible job with the hoodoos. Like mushrooms popping out of the ground, these sandstone & clay formations sitting atop marine shale are created via erosion. Plus you don’t have to go very far to see them. There’s a collection of them just outside Drumheller. While you won’t be able to get close enough to touch (because they’re quite delicate), the view of these nature-made wonders is still top-notch.

If you’re headed to Alberta and want to add a unique stop to your journey, consider Drumheller. It’s a few hours outside of Calgary, so if you’re headed to the Rockies, this might be a fun detour that the whole family can enjoy — but even if you’re a solo traveller, that won’t stop you from finding something amazing!

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