The rugged terrain of Alberta’s Badlands, just 130 km northeast of Calgary are created from soft sedimentary rocks and clay soils that have been eroded by wind and water to form canyons, ravines and gullies. We were struck by the vast landscape of this spectacular barren area and will spend many years continuing to discover new trails that cover the 700 acres of barren terrain.
The badlands area is home to two canyons. Horsethief Canyon which is 16 km from Drumheller on the North Dinosaur Trail and Horseshoe Canyon, found 17 km southwest of Drumheller on Highway 9.
Horsethief Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon Provide Hours of Hiking
Horsethief Canyon got its name from old west history, when American horse thieves used the deep ravines and canyons to hide stolen horses on their way to a very strong Alberta buyer markets.
Horseshoe Canyon, which got its name from its shape, is the busiest of Drumheller’s two canyons because it is very close to Highway 9, which runs between Calgary and Drumheller.
While Horseshoe Canyon provided the more spectacular sunrise view, our favourite of the two is Horsethief Canyon because the area is full of coulees that resemble the surface of the moon.
Bleriot Ferry is Last Remaining Cable-Operated Ferry
Just 14 km past Horsethief Canyon is Bleriot Ferry, the last remaining cable-operated ferry across the Red Deer River to Highway 837 or Dinosaur Trail where a short drive south provides this breathtaking view of the Drumheller River Valley on the way into the town of Drumheller.
In Drumheller, the Royal Tyrell Museum offers programs to suite any age and allowed us to stand in the mouth of the World's Largest Dinosaur. We walked through the museum’s galleries and marveled at the amazing displays and exhibits that highlight millions of years of our Earth's history.
Once you have been through all the galleries there are still a lot of things to do including the Badlands Trail Self-Guided Tour and many other opportunities for hands on experiences with our ancient history.
Hoodoos Are Sandstone Giants That Take Millions of Years to Evolve
We left Drumheller to the east in search of Hoodoos which are pillars of sandstone that are built on top of a thick base of shale and rise to their height before they are capped by a large stone. These scenes can be found just a short 16 km drive east from town to Hwy 10, also known as Hoodoo Trail because of the great number of hoodoos that can be spotted on the scenic road that led us back to Calgary.
The largest hoodoos stand about 7 meters tall but varying sizes of this sandstone giant can be found all over the Badlands. They take millions of years to evolve and are, by nature of the way they are created, very fragile and can erode complete if their cap is dislodged. For this reason it is very important to respect these historic landmarks and keep your distance. The name Hoodoo originated from the word voodoo, the name given to the sandstone formations by the Europeans.
In the Blackfoot and Cree traditions the Hoodoos are said to be petrified giants who come alive at night to protect the area from intruders.
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