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Dinosaur Provincial Park protects a stretch of badlands along the Red Deer River in southeastern Alberta, near the town of Brooks. Erosion has carved the land into hoodoos, coulees and layered hillsides, exposing one of the richest deposits of Late Cretaceous dinosaur fossils anywhere in the world. Its significance earned it recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and scientific excavations continue in the area.
The Dinosaur Provincial Park Visitor Centre introduces the park's fossils and geology through exhibits and specimens. Along the Public Loop Road, Display House One and Display House Two protect fossil bones left in place where they were found, giving a sense of how discoveries look in the ground. Short trails lead through the badlands and past interpretive signs. Much of the park is a restricted natural preserve, accessible only on guided badlands tours, which range from easy walks to fossil-focused hikes and should be booked ahead. John Ware's Cabin recalls a notable Black rancher of early Alberta. The Red Deer River is bordered by cottonwood groves, while the surrounding prairie supports cactus, birds and other wildlife adapted to the dry climate. Many visitors also make the drive to the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller.
The park suits families and anyone curious about paleontology. Summers are hot, so water, sun protection and early starts help.
WiserMap travel guideDinosaur Provincial Park Alberta Badlands and Fossil BedsPlan Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta: UNESCO badlands, fossil display houses, guided tours, John Ware Cabin, camping, Brooks and how to get there.Read the guide
The visitor centre has exhibits on the park's dinosaurs and the ancient coastal environment they lived in, with fossil displays, a viewing window into the field station lab, a gift shop and a café. It is the place to book guided tours and get trail maps. Arrive early in summer, since tours fill quickly.
One of the two fossil display buildings on the Public Loop Road, this shelter protects dinosaur bones left in place in the rock exactly as palaeontologists found them, with signs explaining the species. It is a short walk from a parking pullout. It shows what a real dig site looks like without needing a guided tour.
The second fossil house on the Public Loop Road displays another partially excavated dinosaur skeleton in its original sediment, with interpretive panels on how fossils formed here about 75 million years ago. It takes only a few minutes to visit. Combine both houses with the short trails along the loop for a self-guided morning.
This restored log cabin belonged to John Ware, a famous Black cowboy and rancher who moved to the Red Deer River valley in 1900. It sits near the campground and has panels on his life and ranching in early Alberta. Ware Creek and other local names honour him. It is free and takes a few minutes.
Under an hour's drive from the park near the town of Brooks, this concrete aqueduct built between 1912 and 1914 carried irrigation water over a shallow valley for more than three kilometres. It is a national and provincial historic site with a small interpretive centre open in summer. Walk beneath the long span for the best view.
The Public Loop Road is a 3 km drive through the badlands that you can also walk or cycle, with pullouts for the fossil display houses and short trails. Hoodoos, coulees and layered cliffs line the route. Much of the park is a restricted natural preserve, so this loop is the main way to explore on your own.
Because most of the park is a protected preserve, the best way into the deep badlands is on a guided tour. Options include bus tours into the restricted zone, hikes to fossil beds, and family dig experiences in summer. Book online well before your visit, and bring water, a hat and sunscreen, as it gets very hot.
A short loop of about 1 km climbs from near the visitor centre to a high viewpoint over the badlands and Red Deer River valley. It has some steep, uneven sections on bare clay. The trail is lovely early in the morning or at sunset when the rock layers glow, but avoid it after rain when the clay is slick.
An easy loop of about 1.3 km off the Public Loop Road leads through hoodoos and eroded hills, with signs about the geology, plants and fossils of the area. It is a good introduction to the landscape for families. Stay on the path, never collect fossils, and watch for rattlesnakes in the warmer months.
This flat 1.4 km trail winds through a grove of old plains cottonwood trees beside the Red Deer River, a contrast to the bare badlands above. It is a top spot for birds such as orioles, woodpeckers and owls. It starts near the campground; go early or late in the day and bring insect repellent in early summer.
The Red Deer River carved the valley that exposed the park's fossils, and its banks are lined with cottonwoods and willows. Paddlers sometimes float this stretch on multi day trips, and the river is a backdrop to the campground. Swimming is not advised because of currents; enjoy it from the shore or the trails.
Despite the dry look, the park supports mule deer, pronghorn, coyotes, prairie rattlesnakes, golden eagles and many songbirds, plus prickly pear cactus that blooms yellow in June. Early morning and evening are best for seeing animals. Keep your distance from snakes and check boots and gear when hiking in tall grass.
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