Trip Tips

Tip #1: Decide your priorities.

• Research activities and tour programs schedules first - BEFORE booking travel and accommodation.

Tip #2: Allow two full days for an in-depth experience.

• Most of Dinosaur Provincial Park is a natural preserve. Access to this area is restricted to protect the sensitive landscapes and for public safety. Entry to the natural preserve is ONLY by guided tour programs.
• Interpretive bus tours and hikes take place in the natural preserve (unless wet weather or road conditions exist). See spectacular badlands, fossils and sometimes wildlife. 
• There is limited room in these tour programs. There can be a high demand, especially in July and August. Please be flexible.  Allow extra time in case your first choice is sold out.
• Some interpretive programs have age restrictions. These are strictly adhered to for the safety and enjoyment of park visitors.

Tip #3: Make reservations for interpretive programs.

• We strongly recommend that you make tour program reservations.  
• All interpretive programs (except Family Theatre programs) are ticketed events. 
• Make reservations online or by phoning 403-378-4344.

Tip #4: Reserve your campsite in advance.

• Dinosaur Provincial Park camping info
• We strongly recommend that you make camping reservations.   Weekends in May and June and all of July and August are especially busy.
• Campsite reservations can be made online.  Or phone the Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca Contact Centre at 1-877-537-2757 (toll-free in North America).
• Dinosaur Provincial Park has no overflow area for camping. There are two provincial campgrounds nearby to consider when Dinosaur is full.
  
  • Kinbrook Island Provincial Park
  • Tillebrook Provincial Park

Tip #5: Participate in one of our NEW enriched learning programs.

• Experience the park at a deeper level by participating in one of our enriched learning programs.  These programs feature in-depth experiences and small group sizes.
• Please note any age restirctions on these programs.
• For your own safety and for the sake of the park, follow our rules and safety tips.

Tip #6: If you can't join our interpreter-led programs, there is still plenty to do!

• Experience the park through the exhibit galleries, theatre and gift shop at our Visitor Centre.
• Visit the outdoor fossil displays and try the self-guided interpretive hiking trails.
• The fossil displays and two of five trails are "barrier-free" for physically challenged visitors.
• Check with the Visitor Centre for the latest information on trail conditions, flowers in bloom and wildlife sightings.

Tip #7: Check out other activities and attractions in the area.

• There are many interesting nearby attractions to visit.

Tip #8: Follow safety tips.

• For your own safety and for the sake of the park, please follow our rules and safety tips.

Tip #9: Take a full day to enjoy the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology.

• Drumheller is about 200 kilometres or a 2.5-hour drive from Dinosaur Provincial Park.
• The Royal Tyrrell Museum is a large facility. You'll need a full day to appreciate it.  It's not possible to see Dinosaur Provincial Park (located northeast of Brooks) and the Royal Tyrrell Museum (near Drumheller) in one day.
• Allow at least 2.5 days for a combined visit of the Royal Tyrrell Museum and Dinosaur Provincial Park.

Tip #10: Build in some quiet time during your visit.

• With lots of activities, it's easy to get caught up in a hectic schedule on your visit. Make time to enjoy the lesser-known treasures of Dinosaur Provincial Park.
  • Paddle your canoe down the Red Deer River.
• • Walk through the badlands in the evening.
  • Explore the cottonwood groves at dawn.
  • Witness a prairie sunrise or sunset at the entrance viewpoint.