We travel northeast of Calgary to the town of Drumheller. Located in the Badlands of the Red Deer Valley, Drumheller was once a booming coal town with over 100 active coal mines in the region. Now, it is best known as the home of the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. Before arriving at Drumheller, we will make a stop at the Horseshoe Canyon viewpoint. Stand on the edge of this huge U-shaped canyon and survey the beauty and mystery of the badlands and hoodoos. The two arms of the canyon extend approximately 5 km each and the platforms at the top provide amazing vistas for picture-perfect photos. The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the study of ancient life. In addition to featuring one of the world’s largest displays of dinosaurs, it offers a wide variety of creative, fun, and educational programs that bring the prehistoric past to life. Upon arrival, we will enjoy a commentary moderate adult hike. Discover the amazing fossils, rocks, plants, animals, and history of the badlands. Following the hike, enjoy a guided tour through the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

This morning, we’re off to visit the hoodoos. Hoodoos take millions of years to form and stand 5 to 7 meters tall. Each hoodoo is a sandstone pillar resting on a thick base of shale capped by a large stone. Hoodoos are very fragile and can erode completely if the capstone is dislodged. The protected hoodoo site is a guaranteed spot to see hoodoos, but smaller versions of these sandstone giants can be found throughout the Badlands. Enjoy a moderate hike on the famous Hoodoos Trail, followed by a picnic lunch. Next, enjoy a guided tour of the Atlas Coal Mine. Ascend the last wooden tipple in Canada. Witness the inner mechanical workings of this nationally designated historic icon. View the massive shaker plants. Hear harrowing stories of the men and boys who worked in the dangerous tipples of Drumheller Valley. Transfer back to Calgary.