As usual, I’m months behind on my posts. I seem to get busy taking photos then post-processing them. Somehow, writing about my trips seems to fall lower on the to-do list.

Last Fall, a photographer friend and I spent a few days camping and exploring a part of Alberta that included Dinosaur Provincial Park. David Buzzeo (buzzeophotography.com/ ) is an amazing photographer and we always have a great time on our trips. We have a great arrangement: Dave plans where we go to shoot and I plan the menu. Somehow we end up coming home well fed and with some great shots.

First, a bit of geographical clarification. Drumheller, Alberta is not part of, nor anywhere near, Dinosaur Provincial Park. In fact, they are a couple of hours apart. I know this confuses a lot of people as, until a few years ago, I confused the two. Both areas have rich fields of dinosaur bones, and Drumheller has the Royal Tyrell Museum which is essentially a dinosaur museum. Dinosaur Provincial Park is further south.

Unfortunately, conditions on our trip were not pristine for photographic purposes. As has become typical in Alberta, and much of the western provinces, smoke from forest fires drifts through the atmosphere through summer and into the fall. We both agreed that this area would warrant a return visit sometime when there was less smoke. Nevertheless, I did manage to come away with some decent photos.

The first stop on our journey was Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park. The park, new to me, stretches along the Red Deer River near Trochu, Alberta and offers some great views.

Our next stop was the hamlet of Wayne, just outside of Drumheller. Once a thriving coal mining town, Wayne is now a veritable ghost town. It is home, though, to the Rosedeer Hotel, built in 1913. It’s Last Chance Saloon appeared to be a popular watering hole.

By late afternoon we arrived at the campground in Dinosaur Provincial Park. With dusk rapidly approaching we set up camp and had our evening meal. Over the next couple of days we explored several hiking trails within the park which were generally only a couple minutes drive from the campground.

As can be seen in the following images, the area can definitely be described as badlands with lots of interesting rock formations.

On one day, we visited the Blackfoot Crossing Historical Site, about an hour and a half drive from the campground. The museum was a great place to learn about the history and culture of the Siksika Nation. The museum and grounds were well worth the visit!

As I mentioned above, Dinosaur Provincial Park is definitely worth a return visit, preferably when the atmosphere is a little less hazy.