Travel Tips & Stories
Off The Beaten Track Adventures

Off The Beaten Track Adventures

So, you’ve been to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. What next? Maybe you want to get off the beaten track.

Oddities and Curiosities

There’s a lot to do downtown, and it’s a fantastic place to walk around and breathe in the heart of the badlands. From the wellness items to be discovered in Dinosaur Valley Massage and Wellness to the newly arrived Lois Ani  there are lots of businesses to explore. Take a piece of the Badlands home with the beautifully designed work at Jungling Works . Deb Jungling the artist behind the store sells scarves, home decor, and other great gifts for your friends and family back home. If you enjoy spending an hour getting lost in shelves of curiosities and oddities, there’s no better place to go.  Dry Canyon Collectables  is your place for beautiful Indigenous art.

Why not cycle or drive over 11 bridges on your way to Wayne, Alberta. Home to a population of 28 people and the must-visit Last Chance Saloon, this place is truly unique. Take a picture of the stylish saloon with the Badlands as your backdrop, then head inside where you’ll find more photo ops and a great selection of food and drink. Out on their patio, check out their bar, complete with saddle bar stools. Don’t forget to enjoy a game of disc golf at one of the most challenging disc golf courses around follow your game with an ice cream from the  Home Coulee Shoppe  while you browse all their great giftware.

The Sunny Spot is an outdoor eatery where you can also explore a corn maze and sunflower garden. Such a great place to spend an evening.

Check Out The Trails

The 18km of pathways going around Drumheller offer a great way to enjoy the outdoors and of course you just have to hike in the rugged Horseshoe Canyon  Before you head out grab a coffee and snack at, Café Olé  or Black Mountain Roasters  both offer fantastic locally roasted coffee and offers a variety of lunch  and snack options to tide you over before you head out.

Midland Provincial Park   is another great hiking spot and it is the home to the remnants of the old Midland Mine so you experience some of the Drumheller areas coal mining heritage.

View The Vistas

The Badlands are one of the best vistas in Canada, and there are plenty of places around Drumheller to make the most of them. Orkney Viewpoint’s high red rock cliffs offer a splendid and romantic view of the Red Deer River’s twists and turns. Horsethief  Canyon offers a vista to the times when horses were stolen and hidden in the canyon. Viewing a sunset there is something not to be missed.

Fancy  a picnic, why not head over to Alberta-owned Freson Bros for local, quality ingredients. They employ Red Seal bakers, chefs, and butchers, so it’s easy to go and pick up something as good as homemade. Another option is  Bikes and Bites where you can order a picnic ahead of time and then head out on your adventures. The McMullen Island Day Use Area is a fabulous spot for a picnic. It’s right alongside the river and has plenty of picnic tables. Better yet, it’s a lush green environment full of trees, a unique sight in the Badlands. If you’re looking for something a bit more iconic though, head to the Badlands south of town. Get into a good spot, unfurl your picnic blanket, and watch the sun fall.