Travel Mindfully
in the Badlands
This place has been telling stories for millions of years, and it deserves to keep telling them.
The Drumheller Valley does not just look ancient, it is ancient.
Wind, water, and time have been shaping these canyons, hoodoos, and riverbanks for millions of years. Beneath your boots are layers of history, rare plants, fragile soils, and fossils that hold secrets older than humans themselves.
When you visit, you become part of that story, and how you travel here matters.
Fossils Are Stories, Not Souvenirs
So if you think you have found one, here is what to do instead of picking it up:
- Take a clear photo with something for scale, such as a coin, a hand, or a stick
- Note the location if you can
- Report it to the Royal Tyrrell Museum at tyrrell.fossilreport@gov.ab.ca
Every sizable mining camp had at least one hotel. New miners often stayed at the Rosedeer Hotel in Wayne, the Newcastle Hotel, or the Rosedale Hotel until securing space in a company bunkhouse or shack.
That way, your discovery can help science and not disappear into someone’s pocket.
Did You Know?
Alberta is one of the most important fossil regions on the planet. New discoveries are still being made every year, sometimes by everyday visitors just like you.
Please Do Not Build Inukshuks or Cairns
Stacked stones might look peaceful, but in the Badlands, they do real harm. Moving rocks can:
- Destroy insect and animal habitats
- Alter how water flows through the soil
- Confuse hikers by creating false trail markers
- Disturb the archaeological and scientific context
This landscape already knows how to be beautiful. It does not need rearranging.
Leave No Trace
The most respectful thing you can do is leave rocks exactly where they are
The Hoodoos: Iconic and Incredibly Fragile
Those towering stone spires rising out of the valley are not just dramatic, they are delicate. Hoodoos form when a hard “cap rock” protects softer sandstone underneath. Over thousands of years, wind, rain, and freezing temperatures carve them into the shapes you see today. They look tough, but even a single footprint or handhold off-trail can speed up their erosion.
That is why there are designated pathways and viewing areas at the Hoodoos site. This is not to limit your experience, but to protect something that cannot be replaced.
Slow Down and Look Back
The best hoodoo photos come from stepping back, not climbing closer. Let the landscape do the work
Hoodoo Photo Tips That Protect the Landscape
Do This
- Use wide shots to capture scale and drama
- Shoot from the trails or viewing platforms
- Let the light and shadows do the storytelling
- Zoom in, do not step off the trail
Please Do Not
- Climb, sit on, or lean against hoodoos
- Move rocks for a better angle
Why the Badlands Are So Delicate
The Badlands may look rugged, but they are incredibly sensitive:
- Thin soil supports rare plant life
- Small habitats shelter insects, birds, and animals
- Bentonite erodes quickly when disturbed
- Trails take decades to recover once damaged
So when you stay on marked paths, you are not just following rules, you are protecting an ecosystem that took thousands of years to form.
Badlands Etiquette: The Quick Guide
Do This
- Stay on trails
- Photograph fossils, do not take them
- Leave rocks and plants untouched
- Support local businesses and museums
- Respect wildlife and cultural sites
Please Do Not
- Stack stones
- Dig or collect fossils
- Wander off fragile ground
- Feed wildlife
- Leave garbage behind
Think of the Badlands Like a Library
Every rock, fossil, and layer of soil is a page in a story. Taking one is like tearing it out.
Travel That Gives Back
One of the best things about visiting Drumheller is that your trip actually supports the community. When you:
See a show at the theatre
Grab a drink at a local brewery
Visit museums and cultural sites
Support local businesses
Take a guided tour
A Place Worth Protecting
Drumheller does not hide its heart. It invites you into it through art, history, culture, and wide-open landscapes that make you feel small in the best possible way.
When you travel here thoughtfully, you do not just visit. You help protect something extraordinary, and that is the kind of souvenir that actually lasts.