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| Dinosaur
Provincial Park1 |
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With a captivating landscape composed of canyons, cliffs, gulches and oddly-shaped
buttes, Dinosaur
Provincial Park boasts some of the most impressive scenery the Badlands
have to offer. But as the site of one of the most important fossil beds
in the world, the park offers much more than spectacular scenery. Over 35
species of dinosaurs have been unearthed at Dinosaur Provincial Park, including
specimens representing every known family of dinosaurs that lived during
the Cretaceous Period. What makes the fossil bed at Dinosaur Provincial
Park so significant is that it contains not only a high volume of fossils,
but also a wide diversity of species. In addition to dinosaur skeletons,
fossils of turtles, lizards, fish, crocodiles and flying reptiles have been
culled from the area. Given the park's paleontological eminence and truly
unique landscape, it's no wonder Dinosaur Provincial Park attracts thousands
of tourists each year. Visitors have the exciting opportunity to explore
the history and natural wonder of Dinosaur Provincial Park through bus tours,
guided and self-guided hiking trips, interpretive programs and educational
exhibits.
ORIENTATION &
ACCESS
Situated in south-central
Alberta, Dinosaur Provincial
Park is 48 km (30 mi) northeast of Brooks,
100 km (62 mi) southeast of Drumheller,
and roughly 200 km (124 mi) east of Calgary.
For visitors flying into the area, the closest airport is Calgary
International Airport, which is served by several major airlines and
offers on-site car rentals. From Calgary, Dinosaur Provincial Park is
roughly a two hour's drive and can be asseced via Trans
Canada Highway 1 through to a series of secondary roads.
CLIMATE
The summer season,
generally warm and sunny, is the best time to visit Dinosaur Provincial
Park, as temperatures average around 18 °C (64 °F) and conditions
are usually good for outdoor activities and exploration. However, temperatures
have been known to reach up to 35 °C (95°C) in July and August,
so visitors are advised to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and a hat
when spending time outdoors. Weather in the spring and fall can be very
unpredictable, often characterized by sun-filled days and much cooler
evening temperatures. Even on short trips, visitors are advised to bring
clothing for warm or cool weather. In winter, snowfall is common and temperatures
can get rather cold, normally ranging between -8 °C and -25 °C
(18° F to -13° F). Although temperates can drop below -25 °C
(-13 °F) with the wind chill, these frigid conditions are sometimes
tempered by warm Chinook winds. Like most of Alberta, the Badlands area
is quite dry, experiencing low levels of rainfall and humidity, although
an umbrella is good to have just in case.
ATTRACTIONS
Dinosaur Provincial
Park Visitor Centre - Field Station of the Royal Tyrrell Museum
A great first stop for visitors arriving in the park, Dinosaur
Provincial Park Visitor Centre features a 3-D map outlining the area's
physical features and facilities, including walking trails, roads, campgrounds
and day-use areas. For an overview of the park, catch the film entitled
The Magic Valley, playing at the centre's Sternberg-Anderson
Theatre. The venue also features afternoon family programming in July
and August. Educational materials pertaining to the park, including books,
videos, posters and field guides, are available at the bookstore.
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Dinosaur
Provincial Park Visitor Centre2 |
Also on display are a
wide variety of exhibits and displays, including many dinosaur fossils.
The wet environments and land environments displays feature a range of exhibits,
from flying pterosaurs to the sea-faring champsosaurs. The prehistoric struggle
for survival is brought to life at the Prey and Predators exhibit, which
depicts a dramatic skeleton-model attack made by two dromaeosaurs raptors
on a duck-billed lambeosaur. Visitors also have the opportunity to see a
massive and extremely rare ornithopod footprint and learn about Charles
M. Sternberg, known for his prolific collection of fossils and work describing
new species of dinosaurs; and Dr. Winfred George Anderson, a vehement park
advocate who worked with Mr. Sternberg to found Dinosaur Provincial Park
and ensure the preservation of its invaluable paleontological resources.
A popular activity
at the centre is watching technicians and volunteers prepare fossils for
public display and scientific analysis in the 145-sq-m (1560-sq-ft) prep
lab. The lab sees the most excitement during the summer months, and lab
talks uncovering the inner workings of fossil preparation and display
are offered daily in July and August, and on weekends in June.
Geology enthusiasts
appreciate the Geology Display, which sheds light on the time periods
that correspond to the three distinct rock formations found in Dinosaur
Park. Expanding on this theme, the centre's A Sense of Time Panel compresses
major events from the Earth's origin into a relative calendar year, allowing
visitors to grasp the relative age of the park's rocks.
Outdoor Amphitheatre
Programs
Free to the public, outdoor amphitheatre programs take place Wednesday
through Sunday evenings from the beginning of July to early September.
The Deadlodge
Canyon Amphitheatre plays host to interactive performances that recount
the park's cultural and natural heritage. Props, costumes and scripts
are supplied for audience members of all ages interested in joining the
fun through cameo roles.
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| John
Ware's Cabin3 |
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John Ware's Cabin
An eminent
figure in Canada's ranching history, John Ware has achieved legend status
with his excellent equestrian skills and honest, affable demeanor. In 1882,
John left Idaho on a cattle drive to western Canada, where he married, reared
five children, and eventually settled along the Red Deer River. Unfortunately
John was killed in 1905 when his horse lost his footing and fell on him.
When his funeral was held in Calgary, it was the largest the city had seen
since its inception, underlining the rancher's importance to the community.
Today, visitors can
learn about this Canadian folklore hero at John
Ware's Cabin Historic Site. In 2002, a ceremony unveiled the newly
restored splendor of John's early 20th-century cabin, complete with new
interpretive displays. The cabin, centrally located inside the park close
to the visitor centre, is open to visitors on selected days during the
summer months.
ACTIVITIES
Self-Guided Hiking
Trails
Dinosaur Provincial Park features five interpretive trails that journey
into three different habitats, offering visitors an up-close encounter
with the park's unique features and unforgettable scenery. Although all
trails are restricted to pedestrian use only, cyclists can explore the
area using the park's paved and gravel roads.
Beginning at the park
entrance, the 300-m (984-ft) Prairie
Trail is a short 15- to 20-minute walk that tours the prairie habitat
on the outskirts of the park's boundaries. The 0.9-km (0.6-mi) Coulee
Viewpoint Trail, a great trail for viewing the park's erosional features,
departs from the field station and treks uphill to an observation point
showcasing views of Little Sandhill Coulee. The
Badlands Trail is accessed from the public loop road and covers 1.3
km (0.8 mi), winding amidst hoodoos and other impressive rock formations.
Beginning next to Fossil Display #2, Trail
of the Fossil Hunters is a 0.9-km (0.6 mi) hike that charts the path
of the pioneering palaeontologists during the Great Canadian Dinosaur
Rush. Cottonwood
Flats Trail begins on the public loop road by the Red Deer River and
covers 1.4 km (0.9 mi), venturing through a lush riverside habitat that
has become a popular spot for bird watching.
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Dinosaur
Provincial Park Bus Tour4 |
Guided Tours and
Hikes
Guided hikes,
bus tours and other interpretive programs are provided from early May to
early September. Visitors are advised to make reservations for these events
in advance to assure a ticket. However, rush tickets for tours and hikes
are available on the day of the event at the Park Visitor Centre.
Bus Tours
Led by a park interpreter, Badlands
Bus Tour is a two-hour ride that explores the diverse landscape and
unique features of the park. Learn about park wildlife, landforms and
dinosaurs on a great general overview of the area.
Heritage
of the Hoodoos Bus Tour is an early-evening escapade that explains
why so many people have been drawn to the badlands through history, from
the First Nations peoples and pioneers to fossil hunters and artists.
Be prepared for short walks at several stops.
Guided Hikes
For visitors wishing to expand their knowledge of the park and enjoy the
outdoors at the same time, several guided hikes led by experienced docents
are available, including the Centrosaurus
Bone Bed Hike, which explores a massive dinosaur excavation site from
the 1980s; the Fossil
Safari Hike, which visits a fossil site in the Natural Preserve; Camel's
End Coulee Hike, which charts competition for survival dating back
75 million years; and the Great
Badlands Hike, an extended backcountry hike through rugged badlands
terrain.
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| Camping
at Dinosaur Park5 |
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ACCOMMODATIONS
AND FACILITIES
Convenient on-site camping is offered at Dinosaur
Provincial Park Campground, which features over 125 campsites, 59 of
which are powered. Camping is permitted year round, although no water is
available in winter. Campers can buy firewood at the campground office.
The park also features
a 10-unit group camp area complete with toilets, a picnic pavilion, a
fire ring and a water tap in season. The facility must be booked in advance,
and a security deposit is required.
Dinosaur Provincial
Park's convenience store usually closes for the season in September and
re-opens in May. Washrooms, showers and laundry facilities are open from
roughly mid-May to early October, and the sani-dump station is closed
for the winter.
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| Dinosaur
Provincial Park6 |
PHOTO COURTESY
- Travel Alberta; Dinosaur Provincial Park; Alberta, Canada
- Travel Alberta; Dinosaur Provincial Park Visitor Centre; Alberta,
Canada
- Travel Alberta; John Ware's Cabin; Alberta, Canada
- Travel Alberta; Dinosaur Provincial Park Bus Tour; Alberta, Canada
- Travel Alberta; Camping at Dinosaur Provincial Park; Alberta, Canada
- Travel Alberta: Dinosaur Provincial Park; Alberta, Canada
