The stone caps
Protecting the pillars from erosion.
Willem van Valkenburg from Delft, Netherlands — CC BY 2.0 · Mack Male from Edmonton, AB, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Willem van Valkenburg from Delft, Netherlands — CC BY 2.0 · larsjuh — CC BY 2.0 · Mack Male from Edmonton, AB, Canada — CC BY-SA 2.0
The Drumheller Hoodoos are rock formations at Willow Creek, east of the town of Drumheller, in the Alberta badlands. Tall sandy pillars stand under broad stone caps, with banded grey and brown slopes behind them, looking like a scene from another world. A hoodoo is a thin spire of rock formed by erosion, usually made of soft rock topped by a harder layer that protects it from the weather. They typically form in sedimentary rock, and disappear over time when the cap falls and the softer rock below wears away quickly. So they are fragile, despite their solid look. A platform and a short developed path look out on a group of pillars of varying height, against hills striped with layer upon layer. The colour changes a great deal with the light, turning orange at sunset. Just steps away the badlands themselves spread out, with their winding forms and fine layers. It is 15 km in a straight line from Drumheller and 21 km from the Royal Tyrrell Museum, so both fit one day. Do not climb or touch the pillars, which are fragile, and keep to the path. Bring a hat and water, as there is no shade, and the ground turns slippery and muddy after rain, so wear suitable shoes.
Protecting the pillars from erosion.
Grey and brown layers.
Turning the rock orange.
Willow Creek, east of Drumheller, Alberta
No, they are fragile, so keep to the path and do not touch them.
Yes, they are in the same area, 21 km apart in a straight line.