8 Things To Do In Drumheller That May Or May Not Include Dinosaurs
Drumheller is the dinosaur capital of the world. The Badlands are home to plenty of fearsome rock formations, gorgeous canyons, and fossil beds belonging to lumbering beasts who will never again roam the earth. There is plenty in Drumheller for the dinosaur-inclined, but once you’ve had your fill of our prehistoric friends, fear not: Drumheller has plenty of non-dinosaur fun to get up to. We jotted down a few examples of what a visit to Drumheller can bring.
Fossil Gift Shops
Drumheller is home to a great array of gift shops specializing in fossils. The Fossil Shop, Fossil World Jurassic Store, the Royal Tyrrell Museum Gift Shop, and the World’s Largest Dinosaur Gift Shop feature a huge selection of souvenirs and gifts for the fossil enthusiast at heart. Looking for a new wall adornment? Or some dinosaur swag to impress your friends? You’ll be in good hands at any of the fossil gift shops, and the best part is you don’t even have to buy dinosaur fossils – most shops stock plenty of non-dinosaur bones for your enjoyment.
Walk or bike the trails
Take a walk on Drumheller’s wild side: that is all 18 kilometres of it. These pathways run through downtown, stretch past the Royal Tyrrell Museum, and alongside the Red Deer River, giving you the scenic jaunt you didn’t realize you needed. If you fancy riding a bike rather than hiking why not talk to Bikes and Bites about their ebike rentals.
Go on a dinosaur hunt
Do a dino scavenger hunt. There are so many dinosaur statues to be discovered in Drumheller, how many can you find? Follow the Dino Map and see if you can find them all. Did you know some of our dinosaurs are around 50 years old?! The first dinosaur, “Dinnie” was installed in 1960 for Dominion Day (Canada Day) and can be found in the Rotary Park, by the fountain.
Don’t forget to share your great dino shots using the hashtag #dinoarts.
Horseshoe Canyon
The rugged terrain, and natural beauty this canyon is the perfect hangout for adventurers and would-be hikers. Get a group together and tackle the trails that run throughout the canyon. It’s known for rarely looking the same twice; the season changes have a way of making the dazzling rock formations and badlands take on a second or third life.
Attempt to Conquer the Mammoth Burger
If you’re feeling competitive, why not challenge yourself to finish the Mammoth Burger at Bernie & the Boys Bistro? The word mammoth does not do this burger justice — if you could combine behemoth and mammoth, the result would be this burger. The Mammoth Burger was featured on The Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here for its incredible size and delicious taste. The burger itself is 24oz of homemade beef patty, topped with an 8 inch custom bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato and pickles. The current record for finishing the burger is 10 minutes and 11 seconds, so we understand if you want to split it with a friend (or two) and just enjoy some friendly competition.
Unearth Drumheller’s Coal Mining Heritage
Dig up something different at the Atlas Coal Mine Discover the important coal mining history of the Drumheller region choose from a variety tours including the underground tour and the train tour. Also don’t forget your camera/phone, the Atlas is one of the most photogenic historic sites in the nation!
Enjoy a locally roasted coffee
Black Mountain Roasters is a local coffee shop serving delicious coffees, amazing cinnamon rolls and tasty sandwiches to refuel after a morning of dinosaur hunting. Whilst you are there grab a bag of their Raptor, Albertosaurus or Stegosaurus coffee beans roasted in house as a great souvenir of your visit to the Dinosaur Capital of the World.
The World’s Largest Dinosaur
How could we not mention this? It’s not like you can just find a gargantuan T-Rex – more than four and a half times larger than the real deal – in every small town you visit. For $4, you can take a trip up to the top and be rewarded with an unparalleled view of Drumheller and the surrounding Badlands, making it one of the few times you can truly snatch a kind of victory from the jaws of a giant steel dinosaur.
The best time awaits you in Drumheller! Whether you’re there to discover more about the town’s dinosaur reputation or you’re looking for a charming night out in the scenic Badlands, there’s plenty to do. You can have it both ways in the dinosaur capital.
The best time awaits you in Drumheller! Whether you’re there to discover more about the town’s dinosaur reputation or you’re looking for a charming night out in the scenic Badlands, there’s plenty to do. You can have it both ways in the dinosaur capital.
2022 Travel Guide
Explore our Exploration Guide and be inspired for your Drumheller Region adventure. View the Drumheller Valley map, plan your Drumheller spring and fall road trips, discover new Drumheller experiences, decide which events you want to see and more.