Horseshoe Canyon
Drumheller, Alberta, Canada


Information

Horseshoe Canyon is an amazing and picturesque tourist attraction in Southern Alberta, the westernmost of the Prairies in Canada. This little pocket of the Alberta Badlands is not far from Drumheller, and along with the Royal Tyrrell Museum, is one of the main attractions of the small town.

The complex maze of trails among the hoodoos is all that's left of what was once an ancient river delta. At one time, Horseshoe Canyon was an archaeological dig where myriads of dinosaur fossils from the Late Cretaceous period were found, including both marine and coastal prairie specimens.

Although it is unlikely that any significant finds will be made now, the beauty of the 200-hectare site remains, and is breathtakingly unique. The Canyon is approximately 3 kilometers long, and is named for its horseshoe shape. Within the Canyon, there are small creeks, hills, plateaus, and a great variety of flora and fauna.

The walls of the hoodoos display the sedimentary layers that have resulted from the long evolutionary progression. The variation in colours, shapes, and shadows throughout the Canyon make this a prime trek destination for photographers, or even those who simply enjoy the beauty of nature.

Rattlesnakes, garter snakes, porcupines, and other animals make their homes in the tiny caves and burrows throughout the canyon. It is always possible to find wild roses, Alberta's Provincial Flower, and the oh-so-vicious prickly pear cacti.

Entry to the Canyon basin is currently permitted and free, though many guess that this is a limited time offer.



Location

The closest major city to Horseshoe Canyon is Calgary, the largest city in Alberta, and the urban centre of Southern Alberta. The Canyon is roughly 90 minutes northwest of Calgary, by car.

Directions from Calgary
- Leave Calgary on the #1 Highway, heading east.
- Turn north on the #9 Highway.
- When you reach Beiseker, continue on the #9, being sure to turn west where the signs say. Alberta highways do not always maintain a single direction, nor are they always continuous.
- You will see a sign for the Horseshoe Canyon Viewpoint. Turn north here, and park when you find the lot.

Directions from Drumheller
- Leave Drumheller on the #9 Highway, heading west.
- Continue for roughly 17 kilometers, and turn north at the Horseshoe Canyon Viewpoint.
- Park.


Site Information

The immediate facilities at Horseshoe Canyon are a bit lacking. There are outhouses, picnic tables, and several information plaques. There is a shack that I believe used to be an Interpretive Centre, but in all the times I've been to the Canyon, I've never seen it open. Also, there has occasionally been a temporary refreshment and souvenir stand that will sell ice cream on particularly hot days.

At one time, there were tours through the Canyon, but in an effort to preserve the Canyon's unique ecological condition, these tours have been discontinued, and essentially all staffing in and around the Canyon has been eliminated. After years of uncaring tourists trekking through the basin, there has been a significant amount of erosion, especially on the slope entering and exiting the Canyon. During wet conditions, this slope is muddy, and treacherous. There are sections of the Canyon that are restricted, cautioning visitors against entering. I expect that at some point in the future, all entry to the Canyon will be prohibited. Although this will leave the long, flat trails around the rim of the basin, from which you can see amazing things, I will still miss being in the Canyon.


When To Go

If this is the kind of attraction you enjoy, give yourself an afternoon or even a day to enjoy Horseshoe Canyon. Due to the proximity of Drumheller, you could enjoy both the Canyon and the Tyrrell Museum in a day.

Horseshoe Canyon is borderline desert conditions. This means that if the weather is hot and dry, as it occasionally is in Southern Alberta, the Canyon will be hotter and drier.

If the weather forecast calls for anything remotely resembling rain, save your trip for another day. Or if you intend to hike in the basin in the wet, you should count on being very wet and very muddy when you leave.

I have never been to the Canyon in the winter, so I am afraid that I cannot provide any advice as to the potential conditions for your day.

If you are planning to go on a Bank Holiday, you should plan on arriving at the Canyon significantly before noon. The parking lot can get quite crowded, and in my opinion, the experience is less enjoyable when surrounded by scores of other tourists all crowding around the South end of the Canyon, where the parking lot and most-used basin entries are.


My Experiences

I have been to the Horseshoe Canyon on quite a number of occasions, partially because I live somewhat between Calgary and Drumheller. Most of the visits have been with family while I was growing up, and several have been with close friends. I have always gone hiking, and I can't imagine seeing the canyon without hiking. I've developed a number of favorite locations, including a certain hoodoo wall that makes for very difficult scaling, a winding creek surrounded by bees, and a certain cave and hollow system in the mid-southwest area that makes for a very cool, if cozy, rest in the middle of the day. Next time I go I should really explore more to the East and North.

I keep telling myself that I really ought to bring my camera to capture some of the scenery. I always forget, however, and I find that I am probably better off anyways, because keeping track of a fragile piece of equipment would mean that my explorations would be more restricted.

Four or five years ago, I accompanied a large group of friends and acquaintances on a day-trip to the Canyon. We spent several hours playing Capture the Flag throughout all of the non-restricted areas in the basin. It made for a very enjoyable day, and I would very much like to attend an event like that again.

The last time I was able to make the trip to the Canyon was July 2001. The entire day was worth it, and I am looking forward to going again this coming summer.