Last updated on August 30th, 2024 at 02:25 pm
There are a number of hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park and these are all easily accessed from the day use parking and campground or from the scenic drive within the park. Many of the trails are well maintained and flat, some with interpretative panels offering information about what you will encounter on the hike.
Most of the hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park are incredibly family friendly and suitable for all abilities. There are some harder trails, these are signposted when you are out and some aren’t recommended when they are wet. I will say, it wasn’t wet when we visited but there were still some wet patches on the trail and I quickly understood why it was not recommended in wet weather as it was very slippery in spots.
The visitor center is a great first stop before heading out on any of the hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park, you can find information about trail conditions and pick up a trail map to navigate the park. If you want to prepare ahead of time you can find the map online.
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Table of Contents
5 Hikes In Dinosaur Provincial Park
1) Badland Trail
The Badland Trail starts from just inside the scenic drive loop, it is a great interpretive loop with lots of information signs. The start and the end are the same and then a loop offshoots the main trail.
2) Cottonwood Flats
The Cottonwood Flats trail is one of the most relaxing hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park, it is almost completely flat and fully gravelled. You can start from the campground or from the parking area along the scenic drive loop. The trail winds through the cottonwoods and marshlands, giving great views of the Red Deer River. This trail is a perfect evening stroll.
3) Trail Of The Fossil Hunter
This fun interpretive trail starts from either of the two fossil displays on the scenic drive loop. Follow the gravel covered trail up to a bench looking out over a great view. You can extend this trail by taking any of the other off shoot trails and these end up joining into the larger trail system.
4) Coulee View Loop
The Coulee View loop starts beside the visitor centre, it was one of my favorite hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The hoodoos and rock formations were stunning and as the trail headed up there were some great views of the valley below. It then loops back around. Short and easy but with impressive views. There are some stairs on this trail.
5) Explore The Trails Inside The Scenic Drive Loop
There are a lot of different trails in the centre of the scenic drive loop and once you start on one, it is rather a, pick your own adventure kind of hike. There are regular signs telling you which trails are easy, moderate or difficult. Some involve steps, there are also wooden rope ladders on some sections of the most difficult trail sections. Don’t miss the bench looking out over the Red Deer River, a perfect spot to watch the sun set in the evening and just a ten minute walk from the campground.
Want More To Explore?
Alberta Parks has a number of amazing guided hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park, so if you want to escape the crowds and see a different area of the park, sign up to one of these. It is recommended that you book online in advance, however you can also make a reservation at the visitor center in the park.
If hiking isn’t your thing, they also offer guided bus tours, which allows you to see different parts of the park without having to hike anywhere!
Items You Might Need
If you are heading out for some hikes in Dinosaur Provincial Park, you’ll want some good shoes. I wore my On Running shoes which were perfect. Lightweight, comfortable and breathable. If it was wet on the trails, a hiking boot might be preferable as the trails get very muddy, my go to is the La Sportiva Raptor 2 boot.
It gets really hot and there is minimal shade on the trails in Dinosaur Provincial Park, you’ll need a sun hat, sunglasses and sunscreen if you are heading out hiking in the peak summer months.
Talking of hiking in the sun, I can’t recommend investing in a sun hoody enough, these lightweight, soft to the touch tops are perfect for hiking in the sun and offer protection from the sun. I love the Outdoor Research Echo hoodie.
Places To Stay
I can’t recommend camping in Dinosaur Provincial Park enough, we had such a great, relaxing time staying here. The sites were so clean, the washrooms amazing and the sunsets we got to see were amazing!
If camping isn’t your thing, there are lots of hotel options in the closest big town, Brooks, which is around a 40 minute drive away. Check out the Days Inn Hotel and Suites for an included breakfast, as well as access to their hot tub and pool for a relax after a day on the trails. The Canalta Brooks is also an excellent option, and again comes with an included breakfast.
