This Spot In Alberta Gives Desert Vibes & It Looks Like A Baby Grand Canyon

No need to fly to Arizona!

Someone stood at Horseshoe Canyon. Right: Stairs down into the Canyon.

Someone stood at Horseshoe Canyon. Right: Stairs down into the Canyon.

@jenlo_xo | Instagram, @katrindell | Instagram
Creator

Alberta might be famous for its stunning mountain scenery, lakes and waterfalls. But this place in Alberta will transport you to the desert and it looks like a mini Grand Canyon.

Horseshoe Canyon is just 15 minutes drive from Drumheller and less than an hour and 30 minutes from Calgary making it the perfect day trip from the city.

When you arrive at Horseshoe Canyon, you can gaze out over miles of Alberta's badlands and check out the layers of beige and red rocks that have been formed over thousands of years.

While it's not quite as big as the Grand Canyon, it's impressive to see a little slice of the desert heat in Alberta.

From this viewpoint, you can take the stairs down into the canyon floor where there are a few different trails, letting you explore the canyon up close.

The trails loop around the canyon base and there's pretty much going to be something to see whichever way you turn. Just don't forget to bring plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks as the canyon gets very hot and dry.

If you're visiting Drumheller, Horseshoe Canyon is definitely a must-see.

There are also a ton of other places to visit there, including the Hoodoo Trail, the famous Little Church and even a giant T-Rex.

Horseshoe Canyon

Price: Parking at Horseshoe Canyon is $2 per visit

Address: Highway 9, Drumheller, Alberta

Why You Need To Go: Horseshoe Canyon is like a mini Grand Canyon in Alberta. You can take in the incredible views from the top or head down and hike in the canyon base.

Website

From Your Site Articles
grand canyoncalgary day tripthings to do in alberta
CalgaryCanadaTravelTravel
  • Charlie Hart

    Creator

    Charlie Hart was a Calgary-based Creator for Narcity Media. Hailing from London, U.K., Charlie moved to Calgary with a passion for learning more about what Canada has to offer. She studied Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University and has over five years of experience for titles including Supply Management, Elle UK and InStyle UK.

Canada has a secret Grand Canyon with a majestic waterfall and it's a road trip from Ontario

You can skip the flight to Arizona!

Ontario is home to a mini Grand Canyon and it's a breathtaking spot to explore

You don't need to travel to Arizona for stunning canyon views.

You're not a true Ontarian unless you've seen at least 5 of these 10 iconic landmarks

How many can you check off the list?

This 1.3 km trail near Toronto takes you straight through a majestic canyon

It's a magical spot to explore.

GST/HST credit payments for April are going out early and here's when you'll get money

This credit offers hundreds of dollars!

Lotto Max winning numbers for Tuesday, March 31 are out and there's a $65 million jackpot

So many Maxmillions are available!

Canadian passport fees just went up but you could get your passport for free

The government is now offering refunds.

5 things to know about Canadian Jeremy Hansen's trip to the moon tomorrow

He'll be the first non-American to travel beyond low Earth orbit! 🚀

First Nations chiefs demand an apology after Carney said he could 'outlast' a protestor

"Shame on him for laughing at people who are sick and bullying a woman, and shame on those who laughed along with him."

Canada's new $2 coin is a light blue toonie celebrating the CN Tower and it glows in the dark

You could find it in your change soon!

Mark Carney reaffirmed his promise to bring back Canada's popular $5,000 home upgrade grant

Carney promised a bunch of green incentives during the Liberal leadership race over a year ago — but they still haven't materialized.

If you love Vancouver, you're definitely ignoring these 6 terrible things

Take it from me – a local who left.

The feds are spending a record $8B on an Air Force base in Labrador to 'defend Canada's North'

"At a time when the world is becoming more uncertain, our government is making the serious, long-term investments needed to ensure Canada is prepared, present and resilient in the North."