The southern Alberta badlands have revealed hundreds of dinosaur bones and fossils. While Drumheller is often the first place to come to mind when you think of dinosaurs and museums in Alberta, there is a second place you need to visit, especially if you have an interest in paleontology.
Head deep into southern Alberta’s badlands, south of Lethbridge, to find the Devil Coulee’s Dinosaur Museum & Heritage Site.
The heritage site was only established in 1987 after a young girl, Wendy Sloboda, found evidence of dinosaurs in these badlands. She was out for a walk and came across what we now know to be fossilized dinosaur eggs, believed to have come from a Hadrosaur.
Today, the museum serves as a reminder of the dinosaur nesting site. Plus, you’ll get to see a display of other paleontological findings and a showcase of the history of Warner.
Visiting the Devil Coulee’s Museum
Visit the museum to view awesome displays of bones and fossils. The smaller museum will not take much time to view. But you can still extend your visit.
Embark on a guided site tour with the museum staff before or after you check out the displays. The tours involve a lead vehicle guiding guests to the site in their own cars. Once there, the guides will bring you to the site of the dinosaur egg discovery. Along the way, you’ll learn more facts about the land around you and about Warner. Tours are an additional cost to museum admission.
If you have ten or more people in your group, you can save with a group discount on the site tours.
The Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park is a short drive away (60km) from town and offers unique badlands views, hiking, camping, and activities on the Milk River.
Camping around Warner
The Warner RV Park is less than two blocks from the Museum. Each RV site offers power and water services. The small campground is reservable by contact on Facebook.
15-minutes south of Warner is the town of Milk River. Here you can camp at the local 8 Flags Campground, which offers power and water sites, or tent sites with no services.
The Gold Springs Park Campground is south of Milk River on the unique and beautiful Gold Springs Lake and Milk River on the otherside. The campground has tent and RV sites, cabins, swimming, water slides, playgrounds, and boat rentals (37 km from Warner).
Plan Your Trip – Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur Museum
What: Dubbed the first official dinosaur nesting site discovered in Canada, this museum is dedicated to paleontology and then some. The Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur Museum & Heritage Site was built in honour of a young girl’s dinosaur egg discovery in 1987. Today, you can visit the Warner Museum and take a guided tour of the discovery site.
Location and how to get there: 300 County Rd, Warner (70km southeast of Lethbridge)
Use Highway Ab-4 to access the town of Warner and 4th Avenue in Warner to access Country Road
Best time to go: Open from Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day Weekend
How much: $5-$35 for Museum admission and site tours
For more information:
Devil’s Coulee Dinosaur & Heritage Museum