Badlands Basecamp:
Adventure Starts Here
There are places you visit… and then there are places you base yourself in.
Drumheller is the latter.
Think of the Badlands as a wild, cinematic landscape where every direction leads to a different story: ghost towns, canyon lookouts, prairie gardens, live music in grain towns, alpaca farms, wine tastings in orchards, dinosaur bones in the dirt, and long tables under prairie skies.
Drumheller isn’t just a destination. It’s your basecamp for adventure.
You wake up here. You explore from here. You come back dusty, happy, hungry, and full of stories. And you do it again tomorrow.
Day One: Set Up Camp in Drumheller
Your first day is all about landing in the heart of it.
You roll into Drumheller through winding coulees and hoodoos, the land opening up like something straight out of a movie. The World’s Largest Dinosaur greets you because Drumheller has never been shy about being a little extra. You grab a selfie. You grin. You already know this trip is going to be ridiculous in the best way.
You wander downtown. Coffee at Café Ole or sip some tea at teaindeed. A wander through Dry Canyon Collectables and The Fossil Shop. Lunch at Heller Good Sandwiches, Yavis Restaurant, Sam’s Kitchen, or Happy Belly.
Then you step back in time at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, where the bones beneath your feet tell stories millions of years old, a reminder that this landscape has always been dramatic.
In the afternoon, you stretch your legs:
- Walk the Star Mine Suspension Bridge
- Try disc golf
- Bike the Rails to Trails
Or chase golden light at the Willow Creek Hoodoos
As evening rolls in, you grab a local brew at Valley Brewing or a cocktail at The Distillery, maybe dinner at the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne (where the 11 bridges feel like a portal to another time).
And if it’s a festival weekend?
You might find yourself at:
- Summer at the Plaza
- Roots, Blues & BBQ
- Great Big Weekend
- Waynestock
- Loud As Hell
- SpringFest
- Or under the lights at the Badlands Amphitheatre
You fall asleep at Bridgeviews Retreat & Glamping, Tyrannosaurus Rest, Dino RV Park, or one of Drumheller’s hotels, already planning tomorrow.
Day Two: The Prairie Unfolds
This is where Drumheller earns its title as the Badlands Basecamp.
You grab breakfast, hop in the car, and in under 30 minutes, you’re in a completely different world.
By the time you roll back into Drumheller, the sun is setting, and you’re glowing in that prairie-happy way that only comes from a really good day.
Day Three: Culture, Art & Prairie Soul
You head south-west to Rosebud, one of Alberta’s most beloved arts villages:
- A matinee at Rosebud Theatre
- Lunch at the Rosebud Country Inn Café
- A wander through artisan studios
- Camping at High Eagle RV Park
- Or a stay at the Rosebud Country Inn
Depending on the season, you might catch:
- Plein Air painting
- The 15 Minutes of Fame music festival
- Or just the quiet magic of a town built on creativity
Special Areas & Siksika
You explore the haunting beauty of Dorothy – with its schoolhouse, churches, pioneer homes, and grain elevator still standing like a prairie time capsule.
Blackfoot Crossing offers one of the most meaningful stops in the region. Set along the Bow River on Siksika Nation land, this is where Treaty 7 was signed and where the stories of the Blackfoot Confederacy continue to be shared today.
Through immersive exhibits, art, and storytelling, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the land, the people, and the powerful connection between culture and place. Walking the grounds, with prairie grass and riverbanks stretching out around you, adds a quiet sense of perspective that stays with you long after you leave.
This Is Why It’s Called Basecamp
Dinosaurs
Canyons
Craft beer and spirits
Festivals
Museums
Weird, wonderful dinosaur charm
Welcome to Badlands Basecamp.
You don’t have to move hotels. You don’t have to repack. You just… go.
Three days barely scratches the surface – but it’s the perfect way to fall in love with this place.
Set your bags down. Let the stories find you.