If you are interested in fossils, you should put Dinosaur Provincial Park in Canada, which is around a two and a half hour drive east of Calgary, on the top of your bucket list.
The fact that the location contains the fossils of more than 44 different dinosaur species and 10 different dinosaur families that date back 75 million years is the primary reason why it has been designated as a World Heritage Site.
You can only access the restricted portions of Dinosaur Provincial Park on a guided tour due to the fact that the majority of the park is designated as a natural preserve. It is recommended to plan your tour well in advance to prevent being disappointed if you go during the months of May, June, September, or October. These are the busier times of the year for tours.
There are also interpretive bus tours and walks that can be taken within the natural preserve. These tours will teach you more about the significance of the site in relation to the history of dinosaurs, give you the opportunity to view the more rare specimens, and reveal more information about the area’s fascinating topography.
In terms of topography, the park is also recognized as a heritage site due to the fact that it is home to the most extensive badlands in all of Canada. Badlands are characterized by a lack of moisture and are composed of softer sedimentary rocks and clay-rich soils. It is imperative that you participate in the action of discovering the twisting Canyons, bright colors, and layers of sandstone.
Given that Dinosaur Provincial Park is mainly comprised of three distinctly different landscapes—the dry mixed grass prairie, the badlands, and the riparian—it can take a couple of days to adequately explore the park to its full potential. The third riparian area is a river edge habitat that is endangered and is located along the Red Deer River.
It is home to cottonwood trees, shrubs, and a diverse collection of flora and fauna. Be careful to print off a checklist and guide of plant species (as well as dinosaur fossils) from the Alberta Parks website to carry with you while you explore the park if you are going to be there with children or even adults who still act like children.
Nearly two hundred different campsites are available at this destination, providing guests with the chance to spend the night and fully appreciate additional natural sights after the majority of other tourists have left.
May through June is the ideal period for bird watching (there have been recorded sightings of over 165 species), the middle of June is the best time to see flowering cacti, and September is the best time to see spectacular autumn foliage.
Dinosaur Provincial Park may appear to be a harsh desert environment at first glance; nonetheless, the park is home to a diverse population of species as well as more intact dinosaur skeletons than any other location in the world.
Consider exploring the Canadian Rocky Mountains while you are adventuring in this beautiful area.