Dinosaur  Provincial Park
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Recreational Activities

Biking

  • Bicycles are restricted to the park's paved and gravel roads.  Bikes are not allowed on the interpretive trails or in the badlands.
  • Please secure your bike in the racks located near all trailheads.

Fishing

Hiking

  • There are 5 self-guided interpretive trails in the park.
  • The trails are for pedestrian use only. There are bike racks located near all trailheads.
  • Wear sturdy footwear and stay on the designated trails.  Follow our other safety tips, too.

Outdoor Displays

Two outdoor fossil displays along the public loop road are accessible year-round, road conditions permitting.

  • Display house #1 contains the nearly complete skeleton of a "duck-billed"dinosaur. These bones are "in-situ", still partially encased in the sediment that buried them 75 million years ago.
  • Display house #2 contains a re-creation of a palaeontological quarry or dig-site. This site is modeled on the "Centrosaurus Bone-Bed", an important quarry found in the park.

Drop by the John Ware Cabin and discover the legacy of Alberta's most famous black cowboy.

  • Open weekend afternoons during July and August.
  • Artifacts and displays tell the story of John Ware and other local ranching families at the turn of the century.

Paddling the Red Deer River

Get a new perspective on Dinosaur Provincial Park while floating or paddling down the Red Deer River. With a little planning, you can experience this little-seen part of the badlands from your canoe or kayak.

  • The closest upstream access to the Red Deer River is at the Steveville campground.  It is located just off Highway 876, on the west edge of Dinosaur Provincial Park.
  • Following the river, it is 13 kilometres from Steveville to the Dinosaur Provincial Park campground. This can take 2 ½ to 4 hours to paddle, depending on the water level and time of year.
  • While in Dinosaur Provincial Park, camping is ONLY allowed at the designated campground. If you are paddling and planning to camp on private land, ensure you have the landowner's permission.
  • There are no canoe rentals at Dinosaur Provincial Park.
  • Heading downstream starting from the park campground, the first river access point is 35 km away.  This is well past the park's east boundary, where Highway 884 crosses the Red Deer River. It can take over 6 to 7 hours to paddle this stretch.
  • Download our map of canoe access in the Red Deer River corridor north of Dinosaur Provincial Park.
  • Alberta Environment & Water has information on river flows and levels on Alberta's River Basins.
  • Paddle Alberta provides information for paddlers.
Tips
  • Always tell someone where you're going.
  • Wear a lifejacket and take all required safety equipment.
  • The boat launch in the day use area is recommended for hand-launch only. Boat trailers and vehicles may get stuck in the river sediment and silt.

Photography

Public Tours

Scrambling

  • Explore in the public "scramble zone" which is located inside the public loop road. This area is located east of the campground.  It's a great place to explore the badlands on your own.

Nearby Attractions