Drumheller – in the footsteps of Dinosaurs

Drumheller – in the footsteps of Dinosaurs   

Southern Alberta is world renowned for its natural beauty.  Wide open prairies, big skies, badlands and ghost towns await. All of this natural beauty makes for plenty of opportunities for a holiday photographer.  Drumheller may be your best bet as a base for exploring this part of southern Alberta.  And it’s right in the centre of the badlands at the start of the Dinosaur Trail so there are plenty of attractions for you and your family when you’re not behind the lens.  

Top Drumheller Attractions


Royal Tyrrell Museum

Nobody with kids visits Drumheller without going to the world famous Royal Tyrrell Museum.  The Royal Tyrrell Museum is one of the few world class museums in Alberta -think Jurassic Park but without the risk of being eaten.   There are outstanding photography opportunities inside of theRoyal Tyrrell with its showcase of fossils, dinosaur skeletons and paleontology exhibits. You will need to shot at a higher ISO to get steady shots since some parts of the museum are quite dark. After visiting the museum make sure you hit the hiking paths in the surrounding hills. Arrive early as parking can be limited and expect to spend a half day here.




Atlas Coal Mine

The old Atlas Coal Mine is one of the coolest and photogenic attractions you will find in southern Alberta.  With Canada’s last wooden tipple (a coal-loading facility), the Atlas Coal Mine couldn’t look more perfectly placed in its badlands environment amongst the hills, tumbleweeds and howling coyotes. Photographing this location at sunset or night is literally unforgettable.  As it turns out, this year (2017) marks 100 years of the Atlas Coal Mine and so there will be a number of unique activities this summer during the day as well.   Why not do your photography scouting by taking the family during the day to enjoy a climb up the tipple, coal train ride, and underground tunnel exploration. Come back at sunset for some stunning landscape photography.  PS. Bug spray and water.  The Atlas Coal Mine is located at 110 Century Dr. W., East Coulee, but google map it before you head out.




Hoodoos

In this midst of mind-blowing badlands scenery, the Drumheller hoodoos are an iconic location for visitors to this area. The hoodoos consist of sand and clay and were formed over thousands of years from erosion by wind, water and that cold Canadian winter.  While there is set of stairs and paths, most visitors scramble all over the rock formations so be sure to bring your hiking or running shoes.  The Hoodoos are a fantastic sunrise or sunset shooting location and provide a wonderful foreground for astrophotography if you can stay up late   The Hoodoos are close to the Atlas Coal Mine so I recommend shooting at the Atlas Coal Mine as the sun sets, and then coming back towards the hoodoos for blue hour and night time / milky way photography.



World’s Largest Dinosaur

This 25 meter (86 ft) Tyrannosaurs Rex was built as a millennium project here in the heart of dinosaur country. I usually find these oversize mascot attractions to be more than a little hokey, but the 106 stair climb to the top provides for a great view of Drumheller through the dinosaurs teeth! It’s a point of view that you won’t expire often.  Obviously. this attraction won’t be the high point of any photograph’s trip to Drumheller, but the kids love this attraction and it only takes a little time.  So when the lights not great for photography and its time to enjoy that family time, this is one of those spots that will put a smile on your face.  And isn’t that what it’s all about?


Badlands and Ghost Towns

There are some fantastic landscape photography locations in through the badlands around Drumheller. Horsethief Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon both offer fantastic options when the light is brilliant, but other lesser known locations such as the ghost towns of Rowley and Wayne are also great locations for the photographic part of the adventure. If you can only photograph one ghost town make sure to go to Rowley, Alberta.  Rowley is a favoured location and a true hidden gem for photographers.


Where to Stay

When we visit Drumheller, we always stay at the Drumheller Ramada Inn & Suites.  My daughter loves the indoor pool, waterslide and hot tub. After a day out in the badlands hunting for dinorause bones, you’ll like the pool as well! Trust me. The hotel also includes  free breakfast, a fitness centre and other must have amenities.

Where to Eat

When you have small children who refuse to eat anything by chicken finders and fires, you tend to go to restaurants that serve chicken fingers and fries. If that’s not for you then stop reading now.  And anyway, Drumheller is not the place to travel if you’re looking for a foodie experience.  Drumheller is all about the dinosaurs.  That’s why you may end up at the Boston Pizza when staying or traveling in Drumheller.  Conveniently located next to the Ramada Inn & Suites, Boston Pizza is a serviceable family friendly location which will also sell you a good pint of domestic Canadian beer.  And that can’t be a bad thing.

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