Travel Article: Layers of Intrigue in Drumheller

Untitled Document


Dinosaurs Walk the Streets ofDrumheller¹	�

The past, present and future come together in Drumheller to create a fantastic playground where children and adults alike marvel at ancient dinosaur fossils and the cutting-edge technology used to study and preserve these precious mementos of an era long passed. Visitors not only have the chance to exercise their minds with history, culture and science at one of the many museums but also have ample opportunity to exercise the body while exploring and hiking the area's local trails, ancient geological formations such as the stunning Horseshoe Canyon and provincial parks, including Dinosaur Provincial Park. After a long day of exploration and adventure, visitors can find rest in a variety of local accommodations, including hotels, bed and breakfasts and cabins or at one of the numerous campgrounds and RV parks.

HISTORY & GEOGRAPHY

Drumheller and its surrounding area are rich in history stretching back millions of years. Its past is filled not only with the presence of gigantic dinosaurs but also of land-altering glaciers, First Nations settlements, copious coal mining and finally the avid, ongoing search for fossils left by the area's first inhabitants.

Located within Alberta's Badlands, Drumheller was once a tropical home to all manner of ancient plants and dinosaurs some 70 million years ago. Then, during the ice age, glaciers ruled the land and reached up to a kilometre (0.6 mi) thick. As the ice age ended, melt waters from the glaciers created numerous geological formations in the area such as coulees (steep-sided ravines), knob-and-kettle formations (sections of ground covered by extensive mounds or small hills), hoodoos (sandstone pillars shaped by wind and water erosion), canyons and the Red Deer River Valley.

�
�	Hoodoos Sculptured by Wind, Water and Time²

As plants and animals started to repopulate this valley 11,000 years ago, First Nations people soon followed, marking their existence in the area with their many buffalo jumps, ceremonial sites and campsites. It wasn't until the late 1800s that explorer J.B. Tyrrell, while looking for coal deposits, found the skull of an Albertasaurus and set the stage for the role Drumheller was to play in the world of palaeontology.

Coal mining in the area flourished from the early to mid 1900s and Drumheller became a booming town. It was in fact named after a resident of the time, Sam Drumheller, who started the coal rush. As oil became the fuel of choice, mining activity in the area greatly diminished until oil deposits were found, infusing new life into the community. Today Drumheller thrives as thousands of tourists visit each year.

CLIMATE

With an average of 109 frost-free days, very low levels of precipitation and almost no humidity, Drumheller usually enjoys sunny, warm days during summer. Temperatures at this time average around 20�C (68�F) but can hit highs of 38�C (100�F). For this reason it is important to travel with water, sunscreen, a hat, insect repellent and sturdy footwear with a closed toe and heel, especially when out enjoying any of the numerous guided sightseeing tours or activities such as hiking or paddling down the Red Deer River.

Spring and fall are often short and unpredictable seasons with average temperatures of 4�C (39�F) in the spring and 5�C (41�F) in the fall. Temperatures can fluctuate from quite warm to quite cold throughout the day so visitors should be prepared for both during these seasons.

Dinosaur Vacation Packages
With such an array of attractions in and around Drumheller, it may be hard to know where to start and what to bring. Make planning the trip easy by using one of these exceptional vacation package providers:

Wild West Badland Tours
Half-day and full-day guided tours are offered with pick-up services available.

Anderson Vacations
Choose from single-day, multi-day, self-guided corporate and custom trips. Tours may include transportation, accommodations, dining, tour guides, admissions and travel insurance.

Time Out For Touring Inc.
Their selection of single-day or multi-day trips often includes transportation, accommodations, dining, tour guides and admissions. Custom packages are available.

Winter in the Badlands usually falls between October and April but can come earlier and leave later. The average winter temperature for Drumheller is approximately -15�C (5�F) but the area can experience cold extremes reaching -44�C (-48�F). Like most of southern Alberta, Drumheller experiences chinooks, which are very warm, dry winds that cause sudden, drastic temperature increases throughout the winter months. As well as moderating the temperature, chinooks can cause large amounts of snow to melt, which later refreezes as ice on roads and sidewalks. Visitors should dress in layers and be sure to travel with extra blankets and warm footwear (with good traction) in their vehicle.

Regardless of the season, it is always a good idea to be prepared for extreme or inclement weather in the Drumheller area.

TRANSPORTATION

Drumheller is located in south-eastern Alberta in the Red Deer River Valley. It is 140 km (87 mi) northeast of Calgary and 353 km (219 mi) southeast of Edmonton travelling on Highway 2 (Alberta Queen Elizabeth II Highway) then turning east at Crossfield and travelling on Highway 9.

Those flying in from out of province or abroad can fly to either the Calgary International Airport or the Edmonton International Airport. From Calgary or Edmonton, visitors can reach Drumheller by choosing from services such as car rentals, coaches, airport shuttle services or tours.

�
�	Emerging from the Rock like a Fossil, the Royal Tyrrell Museum Sign Welcomes Visitors³

FEATURED ATTRACTIONS

With over 50 attractions in the area, there is an adventure for every preference. The following are but a few of the world-class sites that draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the town each year.

Royal Tyrrell Museum
Located 6 km (4 mi) west of Drumheller on North Dinosaur Trail (Highway 838), the Royal Tyrrell Museum is famous not only for its numerous exhibits featuring dinosaur skeletons and fossils but also as a centre of palaeontological research and learning. Open year round, the museum offers a number of programs for children and families, as well as amenities such as free parking, a cafeteria, gift shop and an outdoor playground and picnic area.

The Hoodoos Site
Thought to be petrified giants in the Blackfoot and Cree traditions, hoodoos are fragile sandstone pillars set on a thick base of shale and capped by a large stone. These rock formations are 5 to 7 m (16 to 23 ft) high and are the product of millions of years of wind and water erosion. While located throughout the Red Deer River Valley, they are best viewed at the Hoodoo Site 16 km (10 mi) south of Drumheller on the Hoodoo Trail (Highway 10). Climbing the hoodoos is not permitted due to their fragile nature.

Other-worldly rock formations can also be explored in Horseshoe and Horsethief canyons. Stand on the brink to get an awe-inspiring overview of these intricately carved valleys, or venture down into the depths of either canyon for a unique hiking experience. While interpretive trails exist throughout Horseshoe Canyon, Horsethief Canyon remains unmarked so it's easy to get lost.


The World's Largest Dinosaur⁴	�

World's Largest Dinosaur
Located beside the Drumheller Visitor Information Centre in downtown Drumheller, the World's Largest Dinosaur is a 26-m-tall (86 ft) and 46-m-long (151 ft) Tyrannosaurus replica. Open year round, visitors can climb the 106 stairs for a small fee to peer out of the T-rex's mouth at the stunning, surrounding river valley.

Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site
Located 24 km (15 mi) east of Drumheller along the Hoodoo Trail (Highway 10), the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site offers visitors one of the most comprehensive looks at coal mining in the early and mid 1900s. Visitors can explore re-timbered tunnels, ride in a mine locomotive and climb Canada's last wooden tipple as part of an interpretive tour or explore the surface buildings at their own pace. This site is open to the public in the summer and for group bookings in winter. Amenities on site include washrooms, picnic tables and a gift shop.

If you enjoyed this feature, take a look at these great WorldWeb.com articles:
� Dinosaur Provincial Park
� Welcome to Red Deer: The Friendly River City

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

Dana Kwak; Dinosaur on the Street; Drumheller, AB, Canada

Germ�n Rodr�guez Pazo; Hoodoos; Drumheller, AB, Canada

Germ�n Rodr�guez Pazo; Royal Tyrrell Museum Sign; Drumheller, AB, Canada

Dana Kwak; The World's Largest Dinosaur; Drumheller, AB, Canada

Hotel Reservations

Airline Reservations

Car Rental Reservations

Last Minute Deals

Drumheller Travel Directory

Business Owners

Layers of Intrigue in Drumheller