You’ll know when you’re about to enter Dinosaur Provincial Park because of the random dinosaurs that start to appear in the landscape. After you start seeing dinosaurs in the horizon, the landscape will completely change and you’ll enter the badlands, from the prairies you’ve experienced over the past four hours worth of driving from Edmonton.

It’s one of those campgrounds you’ve got to experience at least a handful of times during those summer adventures from Edmonton, a landscape where you’re camping in the hoodoos, with plenty to do and see while you’re spending the weekend in the badlands.

Camping at Dinosaur Provincial Park

You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to staying at Dinosaur Provincial Park. You can camp among the humungous trees, in a tent, or stay literally, at the bottom of hoodoos. Not into camping? You can head to the nearby town of Brooks, to find a hotel.

What to Do at Dinosaur Provincial Park

You don’t have to go far to experience the badlands, there are hoodoo paths straight from the campground, and hikes a short drive away from the campground. You could also explore the UNESCO world heritage site, by car, driving around the loop of the campground exploring the different interpretive displays through the park.

The interpretive centre at the top of the campground is a fantastic place to explore, to watch a summer storm, grab a snack from the concession and learn more about the park. There are more than 20 types of tour and interpretive experiences that will give you access to the preserve, only entered with a guide.
You can find the 2022 programming, here.

Dinosaur Provincial Park Trails to Discover

There are five main trails to explore at Dinosaur Provincial Park. Here, we’re sharing the trails from shortest to longest, you can discover while you’re exploring the park (in addddition to wandering around the incredible wide open space, adjacent to the campground).

Prairie Trail - 0.3km
The Prairie Trail at Dinosaur Provincial Park is stroller-friendly. It’s an easy pathway loops through the often overlooked prairie grassland surrounding the park. On the trail, you can explore how animals and plants survive and thrive in their dry and windy home, with the interpretive signs throughout.

Coulee Viewpoint - 0.9km
The Coulee Viewpoint Trail at Dinosaur Provincial Park is easily one of our favourite trails in the whole park. Short enough for even the youngest of adventurers, you’ll want to be aware of the drop-offs near the viewpoint near the end of the trail. This one is exciting because there are pipes and tunnels, and lots of nooks and crannies to explore.

Trail of the Fossil Hunters - 0.9km
This trail leads to the 1913 quarry site near the park, and is short enough for young adventurers to complete with ease. On the trail, you can relive the excitement of the early fossil hunters, as you follow along in their footsteps.

Badlands Trail - 1.3km
The Badlands Trail at Dinosaur Provincial Park is the first trail on the scenic loop road. It’s where you’ll venture to if you’re taking many of the guided tours to the off-limits areas. On the trail, you’ll learn about the creation of the badlands and the dinosaur bones found in the area. You’ll venture past hoodoos, pinnacles, ridges and clay for incredible views.

Cottonwood Flats - 1.4km
The Cottonwood Flats Trail at Dinosaur Provincial Park will take you through a different landscape, near the river, at Dinosaur Provincial Park.

John Ware Cabin - n/a
Explore the last home John Ware, a larger then life personality in the ranching history, lived. This cabin is right in the campground, near the playground - and is a fun place to discover near your campsite.

Side Trips from Dinosaur Provincial Park

Kinbrook Island Provincial Park is a refreshing dip in the lake, forty-five minutes from Dinosaur Provincial Park. The popular spot for swimming features an enormous, clear lake, and a place to camp at the campground adjacent to the beach. Book early for this popoular campground though, if you’re planning to visit in peak months.

The lakeshore is pebbles, and crushed shells. Bring water shoes for small feet. The lake is close enough to Dinosaur Provincial Park to drive out, cool off, and head back to the campground for dinnner.

Make Dinosaur Provincial Park a part of your summer - every year, it’ the most anticipated camping trip in our house!