The Hoodoos of Drumheller Valley

Hoodoos, naturally eroded land formations, stand 20 feet tall in the Canadian badlands

Category Geological Oddities

Geological Oddities http://atlasobscura.com/category/natural-wonders/geological-oddities

In the badlands of Alberta, Canada, one may come across oddly shaped rock-formations which stand up to 20 feet tall. Blackfoot and Cree traditions hold that these rocks are petrified giants who come alive at night to protect the land around them by hurling stones at intruders.

Today we know the rocks were created by erosion - perhaps as amazing a force as giant-petrification. Naturally shaped by wind and water, these hoodoos (also known as fairy chimneys) have been carved over millions of years into pillar-like shapes.

Made of soft sandstone, the hoodoos are generally topped with a harder rock "cap," slowing the process of complete disintegration. Climbing is not permitted, for the sandstone structures are quite fragile. Eventually these hoodoos will be eroded so thin that they'll break, and the harder top rock will come crashing down.

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  • Address Drumheller, Alberta, Canada
Map/Directions

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Directions from Calgary, Alberta to Drumheller Calgary International Airport (YYC) to Drumheller, AB Distance: 120 km Driving Directions: 1. Turn right at Airport Rd NE (0.3 km) 2. Turn left at Barlow Trail NE/HWY-2A N (2.2 km) 3. Turn right at Country Hills Blvd NE/HWY-564 (6.3 km) 4. Continue on HWY-564 (16.2 km) 5. Turn left at HWY-9 (32.3 km) 6. Turn right to stay on HWY-9 at Beiseker (62.9 km) 7. Arrive in Drumheller, Alberta

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Comments

  • & Anonymous October 22, 2009
    HOODOOS ARE AWESOME!! :)
  • & Anonymous October 22, 2009
    Drumheller is quite the place to visit and i have to say my favorite part about travelling there was the hoodoos!
  • yiggs& yiggs July 28, 2009
    While in Drumheller I also suggest checking out the town, which is dotted with roughly sculpted concrete dinosaur figures (one of which is several stories tall, from whose mouth one can look out over the town.) Also, there is a restaurant called "Bernie and the Boys", which has a massive "brontosaurus burger" and ostrich egg omelets on the menu.