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Visit The Dinosaur Park In The Badlands Of Alberta

Alberta’s Badlands

If you are are visiting the province of Alberta in Canada, make sure you save time for Dinosaur Provincial Park.  Here is some information about this amazing place and a map of Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta.  Unlike the rich farmlands and grasslands of much of the prairies, the valleys of the Badlands plunge you into another world.  They consist of mile after mile of dry desert-like landscape, sagebrush, prickly pear, and ghostly hoodoos.  The badlands of Alberta contain some of the richest deposits of dinosaur fossils in the world.  In addition to the treasures that lie in and under its surface, this is an area of breathtaking beauty.

Children On Safe Walking Path

In 1979 the park was designated as a World Heritage site.  It is a place to be enjoyed by people of all ages.  Thirty-five species of dinosaur fossils have been found here so far and hundreds of complete skeletons from the area are exhibited by major museums throughout the world.

Dinosaur Fossil Found Complete In Alberta’s Dinosaur Park

The park is open all year, including part of the campground, gift shop, some outdoor displays, and the convenience store.  Be aware that winter can get bitterly cold in the prairies so plan well if this is the time you wish to visit.  Guided tours end at the beginning of November so you will be on largely on your own for exploring.  Trails are kept open as weather permits.

Hoodoos

From May to the end of October, all the facilities in the park are wide open.  There are one hundred and twenty-five camping sites complete with showers.  Guided bus, and walking tours, with knowledgeable guides, leave at regular intervals.  If you choose, you can arrange your own group tour or even your own private guide.  There is a complete information center, and open to the public, are the theater, interactive exhibits, all outdoor displays, and the fossil prep lab.

During the summer months, it is wise to reserve your camp site well ahead.  Be aware that only seeing eye dogs are allowed in the park.  It is easy to take a leisurely, self-guided, but unless you are very familiar with the area, it is wise to stay on the paths.  Paths are graded according to difficulty and if they specify no children, that is for a good reason.  Several trails are easily maneuverable for wheelchairs, both manual, and electric.  Carry water during the summer months as temperatures go well into the nineties.

Rattlesnake in Dinosaur Provincial Park

This is an area rich in wildlife, coyotes, bobcats, antelope, and deer, as well as birds, rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders.  You will be perfectly safe if you wear closed shoes and keep fingers out of small holes and crevices.  Use caution when the paths are wet.  They can become extremely slippery.

Dinosaur in the Royal Terrel Museum

Just a short drive from the park is the town of Drumheller.  Here you will find the usual tourist amenities as well as some fine restaurants and gift shops.  Drumheller’s greatest attraction is the Royal Terrell Museum, where you will find world class displays of dinosaurs found in the park.

Dinosaur Fossil Being Erected In The Royal Terrell Museum

In addition to the thousands of dinosaur fossils found in the park, there are also fossils of turtles, crocodiles, and even sharks, evidence of how the climate changed dramatically over the centuries.  If you have any interest in dinosaurs or the way the world once was, a visit to Alberta’s Dinosaur Park is an experience you will never forget.

If you wish to contact the park, go to the following site for information.

http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/index.aspx

Sunset In The Park

Below is a map of Dinosaur Provincial park in Alberta.