A Guide to Horsethief Canyon in Drumheller, Alberta
Horsethief Canyon is a top natural attraction near Drumheller and one of the most beautiful places in the Canadian Badlands, Alberta. Learn more about things to do, what to expect, hiking trails, and how to get there. Our Horsethief Canyon hiking guide has got you covered.
Visiting Horsethief Canyon is often an unexpected highlight for the visitors of the Drumheller area and the Badlands. Think of a deep canyon eroded by million years of harsh weather conditions, barren landscape, multicolored hills, soft rock formations, and minimal vegetation.
Horsethief Canyon is a unique place that will surround you with a feeling of adventure and serenity at the same time.
There are many natural gems in the Canadian Badlands. Especially the area around Drumheller features many must-visit places. But without any doubt, Horsethief Canyon is one of those places that shine more than others.
From Calgary, drive for 90 minutes to the west, and you will arrive in the mountainous town of Banff, a starting point of your road trip across the Canadian Rockies. Drive for 90 minutes towards the east, and the flat prairies abruptly open up and reveal deep canyons and ancient dinosaur history.
The contrast between these two places couldn't be more striking. Yet, they share something in common. Both locations are fabulous natural wonders of Alberta and offer some of the most fascinating natural sites that can be found in this Canadian province.
Despite the uninviting name, the badlands are worth a visit. Easily accessible on a day trip from Calgary or Drumheller, Horsethief Canyon offers beautiful scenery, superb views, and many hiking trails.
There are actually two canyons near Drumheller with a very similar name. If you are looking for more hiking opportunities in Drumheller, check out this post Hiking in Horseshoe Canyon. But today we will visit its bigger counterpart.
If you plan your trip, read this travel guide and find out more about our hiking experience in the Horsethief Canyon in Drumheller. Hopefully, you'll find it helpful.
HORSETHIEF CANYON
The name of the Horsethief Canyon is still somewhat of a mystery. It's believed that the canyon was used in the 19th century by horse thieves and cattle smugglers to hide the livestock.
As ranching was the main industry during the early settler years, smuggling between the US and Canada was quite common thing at this period. Sometimes horses would just disappear, only to be found rebranded a few days later on the other side of the valley.
This is a fascinating tale, although if it's true is not yet certain.
What's absolutely certain is that many significant fossil discoveries were made around this area.
In fact, Canadian Badlands has one of the richest fossil beds in the world, dating back seventy million years, and about thirty-five species of dinosaurs were discovered there.
If you are craving for more information about badlands and dinosaurs or want to see one of the finest examples of fossils, head to Royal Tyrrell Museum, which is one of the best museums we've ever visited.
If you have a telephoto lens with good reach or binoculars, you can actually see on the other side of the valley another popular lookout in the area, the Orkney Viewpoint, that you can also include in the itinerary if you decide to follow the Dinosaur Trail.
HIKING IN HORSETHIEF CANYON
As we were driving along the Dinosaur Trail once again, we passed the building of the Royal Tyrrell Museum we had visited the day before and slowly drove north of Drumheller.
Dinosaur Trail is a quiet countryside road that will take you along one of the most stunning places in the badlands, such as Orkney Viewpoint, Bleriot Ferry, and the Horsethief Canyon itself.
Finally, we arrived at the parking lot. There were only a few cars on that day, and two families were taking pictures together at the rim of the canyon.
As we haven't probably mentioned yet, the Horsethief Canyon is mostly a pretty large viewing area that offers one of the best views along the Dinosaur Trail.
And honestly, the best views are from the top.
Even if you are not planning any hikes there, make sure you visit this lookout area. It's totally worth it.
The first impression is quite overwhelming, as the Horsethief Canyon appears to be much bigger than the Horseshoe Canyon, and we enjoyed the views from the lookout even more.
However, a trip to the Horsethief Canyon wouldn't be complete without a hike.
Before journeying towards the valley floor, we packed a couple of energy bars and took a water bottle with plenty of water (reusable water bottle helps to lower plastic footprint).
Staying hydrated is so important in the badlands. The day before, the temperature was exceeding 35 Celsius, and it felt like today was not going to be any different.
A weak breeze out of the south made this morning a little bit more enjoyable, but we knew that it's not going to last too long.
We made our descent from the parking lot on a trail that was dusty and quite steep. Watch your step when hiking down because it's a little bit slippery even when the path is dry.
As we were gradually climbing down, we immediately noticed the difference in the weather. The wind stopped blowing. It was even hotter than at the parking lot.
As we arrived in the badlands in summer, the days were so hot, and the hiking was a bit challenging.
When the sun is high in the sky, there is nowhere to hide, so make sure you bring something to cover your head and reapply sunscreen often.
Arrive there early; not only will you beat the crowds, but you will also avoid the annoying heat.
Of course, arriving in Horsethief Canyon in winter would be a totally different story.
Winter brings into badland super cold temperatures and snow, and you should come adequately prepared for these weather conditions.
There are many trails in Horsethief Canyon, but none of them is marked. It would be really great if the park management marked some trails in the future to prevent any further damage to this unique area. Until then, use common sense and enjoy the freedom these trails give you.
If you are an inexperienced hiker, keep track of your direction and time to prevent getting lost.
Hiking in the Horsethief Canyon gives you the opportunity to explore the badlands without the crowds, as the majority of the visitors make a quick stop and enjoy the views from the top.
And that's also one of the best reasons to hike around the Horsethief Canyon.
We explored this breathtaking canyon for a couple of hours, but after some time, we started to feel tired from the heat. Unfortunately, it was still a long way back to the top.
At last, we scrambled back to the parking lot, where we encountered a lot more visitors.
In total, we spent about two hours in the Horsethief Canyon, but if time allows, feel free to enjoy the scenery even for a longer period.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
HOW TO GET TO HORSETHIEF CANYON
Horsethief Canyon is located on the Dinosaur Trail, about 20 minutes northeast of Drumheller.
In Drumheller, cross the Red Deer River, and turn left onto a Dinosaur Trail. Drive north and follow the main road until you arrive at an inconspicuous junction (watch for the signs), turn left, and immediately turn left once again (you will make almost a u-turn).
Drive along the road for about one minute until you reach the parking lot.
Horsethief Canyon parking lot is free, and you shouldn't have a problem getting a spot.
The best way to get from Calgary to Horsethief Canyon is by car. If you don't have your own car, there are many rental companies in Calgary.
Consider renting a car after your arrival directly at the Calgary Airport for your next road trip.
Leave Calgary via the northeast road (SH2) and drive to Airdrie, then turn right and follow the road to Beiseker and then continue to Drumheller.
In fact, that's the only way how to get there independently. Although some tour agencies might include Horsethief Canyon in their badlands tour itinerary, you will have only a limited time for this area.
WHERE TO STAY
Even though you can visit the badlands on a day trip from Calgary, we would highly recommend you to add an extra day to your itinerary to get the most of this unique destination.
Drumheller is the best place to stay overnight in this area, a small local town 135 kilometers northeast of Calgary. There is just so much to do and see in badlands around Drumheller, and a two-day road trip across the badlands is really worth your time.
If you are short on time and heading, for example, to the Rockies the next day, then consider staying in Calgary near the airport and avoid driving around downtown.
You should make a reservation in advance when visiting this area in high season.
Check out our favorite picks for the best hotels in Drumheller and Calgary.
Drumheller | Canalta Jurassic - Hotel Jurassic Canalta offers a large indoor hot tub, spacious rooms, sauna, fitness room, free Wi-Fi, complimentary hot breakfast, and a great location right off the SH 9.
Drumheller | Badlands Motel - A very classic motel features air-conditioned rooms, an on-site restaurant, and basic rooms for an affordable price. Badlands Motel has an excellent location on the Dinosaur Trail road close to the Royal Tyrrell Museum.
Calgary | Wingate by Wyndham Calgary Airport - This hotel has a great location for guests who want to catch an early flight or visit Drumheller the next day. Wingate by Wyndham Calgary Airport offers an indoor hot tub and pool, complimentary hot breakfast, a free 24-hour shuttle service, and free parking.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
