Family Friendly Hikes in Drumheller

I recently returned from a weekend getaway in Drumheller, Alberta, with my family. We explored museums, ate delicious food and of course laced up our hiking boots. In terms of weather, May can be an unpredictable month in Alberta. Mountain passes are still covered with snow, so we headed east towards the prairies and Badlands. This region is typically warmer in the spring and trails are more accessible. Here are some recommendations on easy family friendly hikes in Drumheller and surrounding areas.

Horseshoe Canyon Trail

• Location: Township Rd 284, AB T0M 2A0
• Distance: 4.3km roundtrip
• Trail Map: Here
• Washrooms: At trailhead parking lot

Located 17km from Drumheller, Horseshoe Canyon Trail is a great introduction to the beautiful and unique landscapes of the Badlands in Alberta. Situated across from Horseshoe Canyon Campground, this area was once home to many dinosaur fossil discoveries, including the Albertosaurus.

There are several easy trails to take within the canyon, although none of which are clearly defined. I highly recommend a GPS or AllTrails App to help with navigation. At no point were we ever lost, but it did feel like we weren’t on the official loop.

The trail began down a set of stairs that ventured into the heart of the canyon. Once the paved path disappeared, we veered off onto the smaller undefined trails, climbing north into the canyon. We walked along dried river beds, through hills and rocks and eventually looped back to the top of the canyon.

It’s surreal to see the canyon. Nothing but flat farm fields with long grass stand in your way, before there is a sudden death defying drop into sedimentary rock.

• Difficulty rating: 4/10
  • While this hike wasn’t difficult, the trail wasn’t clearly marked, making it hard to navigate.

Hoodoos Trail

• Location: Coulee Way, Drumheller, AB T0J 1B0
• Distance: 1.1km roundtrip
• Trail Map: Here
• Washrooms: Seasonal port a-potties (Absent during May)

Located just outside of Drumheller, the Hoodoos Trail is a unique walk/climb through rock spires.

There are signs around the Hoodoos advising people to stay off the rocks. That being said, tourists still walk through the trails close to the spirals. In all honesty, I feel like this path will be restricted in the near future, so enjoy it while is lasts and respect the protected areas.

The difficulty of the walk will be dependent on which route you take. My daughter usually ends up climbing or trekking through somewhat questionable terrain or up steep cliffs. So perhaps straight up the rocks is not the best approach for everyone.

The views are amazing if you can make it to the top, via the rock path. Alternatively and probably the safer route, would be on the right hand side of the parking lot. The path loops behind the mountain and up towards the ridge.

Difficulty rating: 6/10

I would have ranked this a 3, however, we ended up taking the “difficult” way up. The loose gravel and death drops onto rock are perhaps not the safest options for a child, but with two parents it was manageable. Stick to the left hand side of the rock path, as it is less steep.

Badlands Interpretive Trail

• Location: 1500 N Dinosaur Trail, Drumheller, AB T0J 0Y0
• Across from the Royal Tyrell Museum
• Distance: 1.6km roundtrip
• Trail Map: Here
• Washrooms: In the museum

This walk is a perfect add-on if you are visiting the Royal Tyrell Museum. It’s located across from the museum and is short enough for even the most fussy individuals. The area is quite exposed, so appropriate sun protection is needed during the summer months.

The small loop showcases some of the beautiful rolling hills and rock formations around the museum perimeter. The path is clearly marked, so there is no need for a map or GPS. If you are looking to extend this walk, this trail meets up with the Royal Tyrell Museum Trail (3.4km) and into Midland Provincial Park.

Trail details here.

Difficulty rating: 4/10

While this hike wasn’t difficult, the trail wasn’t clearly marked, making it hard to navigate

Precautions in the Badlands

The landscape in the Badlands is unique and beautiful, however precautions should be made while visiting. As with many areas in Alberta, wildlife and terrain are two things to consider before venturing out on your own.

Wildlife:

• Rattlesnakes emerge from their hibernation around late April and stick around until October. Do not try to provoke or approach any snakes
• Take extra precautions when travelling with pets or small children, especially near low lying brush

Terrain:

• Very rocky ground which can become incredibly slippery when wet
• Exposed barren landscapes lack shade coverage during the summer
• Pack extra water and sunscreen

For further exploring, check out my Weekend in Drumheller guide.