The Best Small Town In The Prairies For A 3-Day Weekend
Drumheller sits in Alberta’s Canadian Badlands along the Red Deer River, surrounded by eroded cliffs and fossil-rich desert terrain unlike anywhere else in the Prairies. The town’s prehistoric legacy is on full display at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology and through the giant dinosaur statues scattered across downtown, including the towering World’s Largest Dinosaur. With nearby landmarks like the Willow Creek Hoodoos and the preserved Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site just outside town, Drumheller offers far more than just striking badlands scenery for a three-day Prairie getaway.
Boutique Hotels
The Tyrannosaurus Rest Bed and Breakfast was originally constructed in 1912 as a home for the owner of the Newcastle Mine, the first coal mine in the Valley. It was owned by the family for 27 years, then as a private residence for another 54 years before it was turned into a bed and breakfast in the early 1990s.
The Tyrannosaurus Rest Bed and Breakfast is centrally located in downtown Drumheller and within walking distance to some of the town’s main attractions. The World’s Largest Dinosaur is just up the road from the bed and breakfast, outside of the Visitor Information Center. Tyra, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, can be seen from all over town and even miles away. Visitors can climb up 106 mural-lined stairs to Tyra’s gaping jaws, where the Canadian Badlands open up on the horizon.
The accommodation at the Tyrannosaurus Rest Bed and Breakfast is versatile, with four different rooms available for solo travelers, couples, or the whole family. On-site amenities include a library, parlor, dining room where breakfast is served, a porch, and a yard.
The Heartwood Inn is a quieter option on the edge of downtown Drumheller. All ten of their rooms have their own signature style. Some rooms have jetted tubs for two, oversized showers, and even a fireplace. Each room varies in size and number of beds, making it suitable for family vacations or romantic honeymoons.
Hoodoos and Mines
Hoodoos are found throughout the Badlands, but the Willow Creek Hoodoos are only 15 minutes east of Drumheller and are regarded as some of the most iconic. Designated pathways allow for up close observation of the Hoodoos, which vary in size between 16 and 23 feet. Hoodoos are sandstone columns topped with a capstone that protects them from erosion. However, they are delicate structures that have taken millions of years to form, so it is important to remain on the designated walkways when visiting this site. There are informative signs along the walkways detailing information on the area, history, and local geography.
The Hoodoos are suitable for viewing year-round. There is a designated parking lot equipped with pit toilets and a picnic shelter.
The Willow Creek Hoodoos are a fun stop on the way to the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site, which preserves the last of 139 coal mines in Drumheller, making it the most complete historic coal mine in Canada. The mine was in operation between 1936 and 1984. The site runs seasonally from May to October.
The site is located 14 miles (23 kilometers) southeast of Drumheller, including both underground and surface workings from the Atlas coal mines. Visitors can explore residential builds, view the last wooden tipple in the country, and join guided tours, which should be booked up to two weeks in advance. For additional fees, you may ride the train or visit the processing plant.
Dinosaur Heritage
Dinosaur Provincial Park, although a must-visit when in Drumheller for the weekend, is roughly a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Drumheller, or about 105 miles away. The Royal Tyrrell Museum, on the other hand, is much closer to town, only four miles northwest of Drumheller. It is the only museum in Canada solely dedicated to studying ancient life. Additionally, it contains one of the largest displays of dinosaurs in the world, including five specimens that are Guinness World Record holders, three of which are on display permanently. This includes the largest marine reptile, the most complete tyrannosaurid skeleton, and the best-preserved armored dinosaur in the world.
The museum is open year-round; its hours vary with the seasons, so be sure to check ahead of time. Due to the popularity of the museum, visitors are advised to purchase pre-booked timed tickets to guarantee entry and avoid waiting in queues.
Downtown Drumheller
Despite being a hub for exploring the region’s rich dinosaur history and the Canadian Badlands Prairie landscape, downtown Drumheller is a day of its own. Go on a self-guided Drumheller Dino Walk through town to see some of over 30 dinosaur statues placed across town. The dinosaurs are, first and foremost, art pieces, and not scientifically accurate. Therefore, some of them are cartoonish and comical, but delightful nonetheless.
Gourmet burgers and a selection of over 75 different milkshake flavors go hand-in-hand at Bernie and the Boys Bistro, one of the top-rated restaurants in town. The bistro stands out for the large size of its burgers and generous portions.
Make your way to Riverside Park to relax after your meal. There are benches and tables, both hidden in the shade and exposed to sunlight, sprawling grassy areas for recreational use, and a nature trail that connects to other areas in Drumheller.
Whether you have just gotten back to town after a day of exploring mines and hoodoos or have been walking around town spotting dinosaur-inspired art pieces, stop in at Valley Brewing. Their tap room and patio are both equally relaxing settings for sampling one of their 14 taps.
Drumheller offers Dinosaur experiences in the best way possible. From a downtown full of dinosaur art sculptures on every corner, to access to Dinosaur Provincial Park, which is responsible for crowning the town with its title as dinosaur capital of the world, and geographical wonders like hoodoos just outside of town, there is enough to see and do in Drumheller for a varied 3-day weekend on the prairies. Drumheller is an experience that will remain with you long after you return home.
