Experience in Drumheller
Hoodoos Badlands Hike
Drumheller's hoodoos are some of the most otherworldly landforms in Canada. These tall, narrow spires of sandstone and siltstone were carved by millions of years of wind and water erosion, protected from above by harder caprock that erodes more slowly than the softer material beneath. The result is a field of mushroom-shaped pillars, some topping 7 metres, rising from the valley floor in silence. The loop trail is short (2.8km) and flat, meaning almost anyone can do it — but the landscape rewards slow, curious exploration. Morning and evening light transforms the formations: at golden hour, the hoodoos glow warm amber against an impossibly blue Alberta sky. The trail is fully exposed with no shade, so sun protection is essential. For photographers, an overcast day softens the harsh midday shadows and reveals more colour in the rock.
- Category
- Nature
- Location
- Drumheller
- Duration
- 1–2 hours