Alberta Badlands

Travel North of the border with Dinosaur Ridge to the Canadian Badlands, to explore the unique landscape carved by water and wind that is famous for its many dinosaur fossils. Our destination is Dinosaur Valley and the town of Drumheller to visit the world-renowned Royal Tyrrell Museum---Canada's only museum dedicated exclusively to the science of paleontology. We’ll get a behind-the scenes tour of their collections and immerse ourselves in the region’s fascinating geology as we stop at scenic vistas, hike through colorful hills and canyons, and explore the magical sandstone spires called hoodoos or fairy chimneys.

From there we will travel two hours south to visit Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where five percent of the entire planet’s dinosaur bones have been discovered.  The park – the largest continuous swath of the Badlands in Alberta – is a rich area of dinosaur fossils. Nearly 60 species have been uncovered here. We’ll spend two nights in nearby Brooks giving us the opportunity for a half-day fossil finders hike at the park and to visit their impressive visitor center.

Study Leader

Denver-based geologist Bob Raynolds will be our interpretive guide. Bob has a long history of traveling and teaching at various institutions including Peshawar University in Pakistan, Dartmouth College, the Colorado School of Mines to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Bob is currently a Research Associate at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science studying sediments in the Denver Basin that record the uplift of the Rocky Mountains.  He is past president of the Friends of Dinosaur Ridge and of the Colorado Scientific Society and previously worked for the US Geological Survey, Exxon, and Amoco.

Location & Transportation

Fly to Calgary on Wednesday, July 31st and meet the group in the late afternoon/evening at the Calgary International Airport. Transportation via a comfortable 12-passenger van will be provided for the duration of our trip. For the return, plan to depart Calgary International Airport in the late afternoon/evening on Monday, August 5th.

Physical Exertion Level/Accessibility

This trip will include several hours at multiple museums and two or more 1–3-mile hikes on rugged dirt hiking trails. There is also a possibility that we may explore off-trail sites. Summers in the Badlands can be either very hot and sunny or rainy and chilly. Depending on weather conditions, the trails may be rocky, sandy, muddy, or slippery and will require sturdy hiking shoes.  The planned hiking trails are not wheel-chair accessible and our rented van does not have a wheel-chair lift.

Program Fee

$1,200 per person ($200 discount with member code)
Includes transportation to and from Calgary, all museum entrance fees, guided activities, lectures, study guide, one or two group lunches or dinners, and snacks.  Fee does not include airfare, lodging, or meals not mentioned above.

Accommodations

A room block for our group has been reserved for 3 nights in Drumheller at $200 CD per night and 2 nights in Brooks at $119 CD per night. The rates are for standard, 2-Queen rooms in comfortable 3-star hotels and include a daily breakfast buffet.

Note: Lodging must be reserved and paid for individually after registering with Dinosaur Ridge.

Trip Cancellation Policy

The Alberta Badlands trip is contingent on a minimum of 6 registered participants and will be cancelled by June 30th if the minimum is not met.

  • If the trip is cancelled by Dinosaur Ridge, participants will receive a full refund of program fees paid.
  • All cancellations must be received in writing.
  • Cancellations received 121 or more calendar days prior to departure qualify for a full refund.
  • Cancellations received 91 or more calendar days prior to departure qualify for an 80% refund.
  • Cancellations received 61 or more calendar days prior to departure qualify for a 50% refund of program fees.
  • Cancellations received 60 calendar days or less prior to departure are assessed a cancellation fee of 100% of the program fees. You may transfer your registration to another attendee or forfeit your payment.

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