Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located near Brooks, Alberta. Explore the badlands, go on a dinosaur dig, camp near the hoodoos, and more!
No matter how many times you visit Dinosaur Provincial Park, when the prairie gives way to badlands, it’s absolutely breathtaking. The landscape suddenly changes from flatland to a world of whimsical hoodoos, striped hills, and sculpted coulees that looks straight out of a Dr. Seuss book! Take a walk at sunset and the hills come alive with vibrant shades of red. Between the spectacular scenery, epic dinosaur tours (participate in a guided excavation!), and warm weather, it’s easy to see why Dinosaur Provincial Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the top places to camp in Alberta.
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Things to Do in Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Camping: There’s year round camping at Dinosaur Provincial Park! (Note that water is shut off and showers are closed after Thanksgiving long weekend.) More details below.
- Comfort camping: Each Wall Tent sleeps 3-4 people.
- Fishing: Fishing is permitted in the Red Deer River. See Alberta Fishing Regulations for more information.
- Geocaching: The park currently has 3 geocaches and 1 Earthcache.
- Hiking: There are 5 self-guided hiking trails in the park as of 2023 but more are being built! See details below.
- Interpretive programs and tours:
- Guided hikes & tours including photography tours ($) include: Centrosaurus Quarry Hike, Explorer’s Bus Tour, Fossil Safari, Sunset Tour, Fossil Prospecting, Great Badlands Hike, Guided Excavations (1, 2 or 3 days)
- Children’s & Family Programs ($) include: Palaeo Lab Program, Palaeo Puzzlers
- Dinosaur Digs ($)
- Paddling on the Red Deer River: bring your own boat – no rentals available
- Presentations: There are free amphitheatre programs on the weekends!
Hiking in Dinosaur Provincial Park
There are five self-guided interpretive trails in the park. Our children (3 & 5 at the time) had no difficulty with any of them! Here’s a trail summary:
- Stroller-friendly / wheelchair accessible trails: Cottonwood Flats (1.4 km), Prairie (0.3 km), and Trail of the Fossil Hunters (0.9 km)
- Easy trails: Badlands (1.3 km), Cottonwood Flats, Prairie, and Trail of the Fossil Hunters
- More challenging: Coulee Viewpoint (0.9 km)
- Best trail for a hot day: Cottonwood Flats. Huge cottonwoods provide shade and wildlife viewing opportunities.
If you only have time to do one hike in the park, I would recommend the Badlands Trail (easy) or Coulee Viewpoint (moderate). Both are particularly beautiful at sunset.
Please note that bikes are not allowed on the interpretive trails. You can, however, bike on the 3 km ring road. Bike racks are available at each trailhead if you would like to bike from camp.
To explore other parts of the park, sign up for a guided tour! Reservations required.
Camping in Dinosaur Provincial Park
At Dinosaur Provincial Park, most tent & RV campsites are large and shaded by cottonwood trees. There is a power loop as well as an unserviced area for tents and many amenities (see below) including showers, a nice playground, and boat launch. The campground is open year round, but power and water are shut off after Thanskgiving.
Campground Amenities
- Dinosaur Visitor Centre: Visitor Information, Gift shop, washrooms, ticket pick-up and pick-up/drop off location for tours, Exhibit Gallery ($) – admission includes free family theatre programs, Free wifi
- Free amphitheater presentations
- Campground Office
- Cretaceous Cafe
- Camp Store
- Playground
- Showers – take $1 coins
- Laundry
- Pay phone
Know Before You Go
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Sun and Heat
It can be 10-15 degrees hotter in the badlands and there isn’t any shade, so plan to hike in the cooler times of the day. Bring lots of water in an insulated water bottle (to keep it cold), sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and bug spray.
Mosquitoes
In summer, the mosquitoes can be really bad. Here are some tips on dealing with biting bugs:
- Bring strong bug spray (the stuff for kids/families is not strong enough) & mosquito head nets.
- Cover up as much as you can.
- Bring a bug screen shelter.
- Consider Comfort Camping if you do not have a bug screen shelter so you can have more space to relax away from the bugs. The wall tents have bug nets over the beds.
- Visit the park earlier or later in the season when there are no bugs. May long weekend and late September are lovely!
- Check trail reports to see what the bugs are like before you go.
Rattlesnakes
There are prairie rattlesnakes in the park. They are usually not active during the day, but keep your little ones close and don’t let them poke sticks (or hands or feet) in holes!
Guided Tours and Family/Children’s Programs
The tours and programs at Dinosaur Provincial Park are amazing so they get booked up quickly! Reserve your tour/program early to ensure you get spots. Over the years, we have enjoyed the Fossil Safari program, fossil casting, Explorers Bus Tour, and Dino Stomp Tour. We’ve heard the Centrosaurus Guided Hike and guided excavations are great too! Read about our experience on the Dino Stomp Tour here: Fall Fun in Dinosaur Provincial Park.
Insider Tip
Allow at least two days so you have time to explore the park and take a tour.
What to Bring
Our Camping Pack List has everything you need for a wonderful weekend away! If you forgot anything, the camp store has essentials like bug spray and sunscreen, and the concession has lots of yummy treats (we like the pie and ice cream).
Where Is It?
Dinosaur Provincial Park is located 220 km south-east of Calgary, about 50 km from the town of Brooks. The park is NOT IN DRUMHELLER!
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