Badlands tour from Calgary: Drumheller dinosaurs & hoodoos

Seventy-five million years of geology in one day, without driving yourself

A full-day guided Badlands tour from Calgary reaches Drumheller's fossil sites, canyon formations and dinosaur landmarks in a small group with a live English-speaking guide. The Royal Tyrrell Museum entry is included, along with stops at the 86-foot Tyrannosaurus rex statue, Horseshoe Canyon's layered walls, the Rosedale Suspension Bridge crossing the Red Deer River Valley, and a scenic drive through the ghost town of Wayne crossing 11 historic bridges. You choose between a 2-hour museum visit plus three additional stops, or a full 3-hour museum exploration. Bottled water and an air-conditioned vehicle are provided; the drive from Calgary takes 90 minutes each way.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day Badlands guided tour

• Depart Calgary for Badlands
• Stop at Welcome to Drumheller sign
• Marvel at 86-foot Tyrannosaurus rex statue
• Visit Royal Tyrrell Museum and lunch
• Take photos at World's Largest Little Church
• View panorama at Horsethief Canyon
• Walk among hoodoos on interpretive trail
• Cross Rosedale Suspension Bridge
• Drive through ghost town of Wayne crossing 11 bridges
• Explore Horseshoe Canyon's layered badlands
• Return to Calgary

The Experience

How do you see 75 million years of Earth's history in a single day without renting a car? The tour leaves Calgary and reaches Drumheller in 90 minutes, trading the city for badlands carved by ancient seas and wind. Your guide is there to answer questions and time the stops so you're not rushed — small groups mean real conversation instead of a crowded bus. The Royal Tyrrell Museum entry is included, and you decide at the start whether to spend 2 hours there and hit three other stops, or take the full 3 hours inside the museum's paleontology collection, the richest fossil displays anywhere.

The day moves through named places, each one a different chapter. You stand at the 86-foot Tyrannosaurus rex statue for the iconic Drumheller photo. The Little Church seats 10,000 people but only 6 at a time — it's a one-room building that became famous for that absurd fact. Horse Thief Canyon puts you at the edge of deeply carved badlands with vibrant earth-toned layers and sweeping views. The Rosedale Suspension Bridge is 117 meters long and sways as you cross it, with the Red Deer River Valley and abandoned coal mining ruins below. Then comes a scenic drive through Wayne, a ghost town, crossing all 11 historic bridges along the Rosebud River while your guide explains the geology and the mining history. Horseshoe Canyon closes the day — striped badlands rise in curves around you, each sedimentary layer a record of millions of years.

The hoodoos — those towering mushroom-shaped rock formations — sit on an accessible interpretive trail where you can touch the ancient sedimentary layers and climb steel staircases for views. Bottled water is provided throughout, and the vehicle is air-conditioned. If you're traveling with infants or small children, specialized infant seats and booster seats are available, and strollers work on the accessible sections. The tour runs 8 to 10 hours total, including the drive time from Calgary.

What’s included

• Royal Tyrrell Museum admission ticket.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• specialized infant seats and booster seats for families with small children.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by View Rockies Charters

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Calgary without a car—hotel pickup and the 90-minute drive are included, letting you reach the badlands directly; small groups also mean your guide can pause at photo spots or answer questions without rushing through the geology.

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Top questions

How long is the drive from Calgary to Drumheller?

The drive takes 90 minutes each way, so you spend about three hours on the road total. The tour itself lasts 8 to 10 hours including that travel time.

What's inside the Royal Tyrrell Museum?

The Royal Tyrrell Museum holds the richest fossil displays anywhere — paleontology exhibits that bring prehistoric eras to life. You have the option to spend 2 hours there and move on to three other stops, or take the full 3 hours to explore the museum thoroughly, including time for lunch at the cafeteria.

Can I walk the Rosedale Suspension Bridge if I'm afraid of heights?

The Rosedale Suspension Bridge is 117 meters long and does sway as you cross it — that's part of the experience. The crossing is on a pedestrian walkway with views of the Red Deer River Valley below. If heights are a concern, you can skip the bridge itself, though most travelers find the sway manageable and the views worth it.

What are the hoodoos and can I get close to them?

Hoodoos are towering mushroom-shaped rock formations made of ancient sedimentary layers. The tour includes an accessible interpretive trail where you can touch the layers and climb steel staircases for views. The trail is designed for all fitness levels, so you don't need special experience to explore them.

Is lunch included in the tour?

Lunch is not included as part of the tour package. However, the Royal Tyrrell Museum has a cafeteria where you can buy food during your museum stop, and that's built into the schedule so you have time to eat.

What makes Wayne worth visiting on the drive?

Wayne is a ghost town in the Badlands, and the tour route crosses all 11 historic bridges along the Rosebud River that connect to it. Your guide explains the history of this once-mining town and the geology of the surrounding badlands as you drive through, so you understand the landscape and the human story together.