Drumheller is one of the easiest badlands trips in Alberta to do with kids, and it doesn't look anything like the rest of the province. Instead of mountains and alpine lakes, you get hoodoos, coulees, and dry river valleys carved out over thousands of years — plus a genuine dinosaur museum to tie it all together.
Unlike Banff, Jasper, or Kananaskis, Drumheller and the surrounding badlands don't require a Parks Canada or Alberta Parks day pass for most of the trails on this list — most sit within the Town of Drumheller, Midland Provincial Park, or roadside pull-offs along the Dinosaur Trail loop. A couple of the farther-flung spots (like Dry Island Buffalo Jump) are their own provincial park, so it's worth double-checking current access notes before you go.
Summer is hot and shadeless out here — there's very little tree cover on the badlands trails themselves, so plan for morning or early-evening hikes, bring more water than you think you'll need, and pack sun protection for everyone.
Every hike on this list is rated Easy or Moderate — nothing harder made the cut. Distances, elevation gains, and durations below are researched from AllTrails, 10Adventures, and established Drumheller trail guides, so you can plan realistically around your kids' energy and attention span rather than guessing.
Camping Checklist for Complete BeginnersDownload our free field guide (PDF)Horseshoe Canyon Loop Trail
Horseshoe Canyon is the classic Drumheller badlands photo stop, and the loop trail down into the canyon floor makes it more than just a roadside viewpoint. Kids get to walk among the layered hoodoo formations up close rather than just looking down from the rim. There's no official maintained trail surface once you're down in the canyon — it's packed dirt and some loose scree — so sturdy shoes help, and it's worth keeping younger kids close on the steeper switchback sections near the rim.
The Hoodoo Trail
A short boardwalk trail leads to a fenced viewing area around Drumheller's famous hoodoos — tall, mushroom-capped rock spires that kids find genuinely strange and photo-worthy. Because the trail is short, well-marked, and mostly flat, it's an easy add-on to a drive along Highway 10 toward East Coulee, and the boardwalk protects the fragile hoodoo bases from foot traffic.
Badlands Interpretive Trail
Starting right from the Royal Tyrrell Museum parking lot, this loop winds through Midland Provincial Park's badlands with interpretive signage explaining the geology and fossil history along the way. It's a natural pairing with a museum visit — let the kids stretch their legs and see real badlands terrain right after looking at dinosaur skeletons inside. The trail has some short ups and downs but nothing steep or technical.
Riverside Park Trail
A flat, paved path along the Red Deer River right in town, Riverside Park is the easiest option on this list and works well for nap-schedule days or as a leg-stretcher between other stops. It connects into the town's wider paved trail system, so you can lengthen the walk toward the Royal Tyrrell Museum if everyone's still got energy to spare.
Bankview Badlands
This trail climbs the badlands slopes right above town, with several offshoot paths you can use to shorten or lengthen the walk depending on how your kids are doing. The payoff is a genuinely great view over the Red Deer River valley and the hoodoo formations below, without needing to drive out of town first. It's less signed and less busy than Horseshoe Canyon or the Hoodoo Trail, so it's a good pick if you want a quieter badlands walk.
Horsethief Canyon Trail
A short walk from the roadside pull-off along the Dinosaur Trail leads to a viewpoint over Horsethief Canyon's colourful, layered badlands. It's brief enough that even reluctant little walkers won't complain, and the view down into the canyon is dramatic enough to be worth the stop on its own. Families wanting more can continue onto the longer Horse Thief Canyon Full Loop below.
Horse Thief Canyon Full Loop
For families who want more than the short viewpoint walk, this fuller loop drops down into Horsethief Canyon itself rather than just looking at it from above. There's no single official trail here — paths braid across the canyon floor and slopes — so it suits kids who are steady on loose gravel and comfortable with a bit of route-finding alongside a parent. Save this one for older or more confident young hikers.
Star Mine Suspension Bridge
This isn't really a hike so much as a fun five-minute crossing — a 117-metre pedestrian suspension bridge over the Red Deer River, built so coal miners could reach the old Star Mine site. Kids generally love the gentle sway underfoot, and there are old mine-site paths to explore on the far side if everyone wants to keep going. It's an easy, high-payoff stop to pair with a visit to the nearby Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site.
Rosedale Suspension Bridge
Another quick, kid-friendly suspension bridge crossing, this one built in 1931 for workers at the Star Coal Mine to cross the Red Deer River. The path from the parking area to the bridge is short and flat, and most families spend more time taking photos than actually walking. It pairs naturally with a stop in the tiny historic hamlet of Wayne nearby, reached by a scenic drive across eleven one-lane bridges.
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Loop
The longest and most demanding hike on this list, Dry Island Buffalo Jump rewards families with sweeping views over the Red Deer River valley and a shallow, clear stretch of river at the bottom where kids can wade and cool off. The coulee sections have loose rock and unmarked braided paths, so it's best suited to older kids who can handle uneven footing — younger ones can stick to the flatter riverside sections near the boat launch instead. Roughly an hour's drive from Drumheller near Trochu, this is more of a half-day destination than a quick stop.
What to Pack for Family Hikes
Badlands hiking is a different kind of prep than mountain hiking. Shade is scarce to nonexistent on most of these trails, so sun hats, sunscreen, and more water than you'd normally pack are non-negotiable, especially in July and August. A pair of shoes with real grip helps on the loose gravel and clay sections, which can get slick if it's rained recently.
Check current conditions before heading to any of the trails outside town — badlands clay turns to a genuinely slippery mess after rain, and some unmarked routes like Horsethief Canyon and Dry Island Buffalo Jump are best avoided entirely in wet weather.
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