- See 588 traveller reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Drumheller, Canada, at Tripadvisor. [3] Horses being smuggled illegally between the United States and Alberta were supposedly hidden in this canyon, but the true origin of the name is not clear. By the sounds of it, we climbed the same hill as you, only to find an old road leading to a fenced field which we skirted all the way back to the car. The paths are not as developed and are better for more experienced hikers. Visited on a trip to Drumheller, after seeing the Royal Tyrrell and Horsethief Canyon. We didn't notice until the end that there was a trail that seems to go down to the bottom; if we'd noticed earlier we might have taken it. In the past, smugglers allegedly hid stolen horses here; today, you can observe the dramatic rock formations formed over the millennia. Driving time is roughly 2.5 hours from Moab or 1.5 hours from Green River. The name "Horsethief" was given to this area because of an illegal horse trade network used in the last century. Beautiful view of Horsethief Canyon near Drumheller, Alberta. Horseshoe Canyon Master Plan. Although the two canyons look similar, they are separated by several kilometres and were created by different tributaries of the Red Deer River. Beautiful view of Horsethief Canyon near Drumheller, Alberta. Hundreds of years after the prehistoric artists left the area, European Americans arrived. Both Horsethief Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon are distinctive features of the surrounding badlands of central Alberta. Horseshoe Canyon is different than Horsethief Canyon in it’s location and popularity. Scenery is more varied and beautiful and the area is not as touristy as the one around Drumheller. Horsethief Canyon, Drumheller: See 588 reviews, articles, and 340 photos of Horsethief Canyon, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 18 attractions in Drumheller. Mosquitoes were out in force, especially at the bottom of the canyon. Horseshoe Canyon’s prime location, rugged terrain, and natural beauty draw in thousands of visitors every year. Horseshoe Canyon: Horseshoe Canyon - See 220 traveler reviews, 135 candid photos, and great deals for Drumheller, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Horse Theif is … Both Horsethief Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon are distinctive features of the surrounding badlands of central Alberta. Thanks for the links guys. Beautiful view of Horsethief Canyon near Drumheller, Alberta. Horsethief Canyon. Cantilever, there weren't many. Trails lead down from the parking lot (take care, they are steep and slippery) and we set off to see if we could find the end of the canyon. Avg 25-30 mph. No shade but beautiful views of the canyon from the campsite. Although it is only a small patch in comparison to the rest of Canada’s lush landscape, the Canadian Badlands has its own selling point —it is an area steeped in history. Horsethief Canyon. There is another popular canyon in the area: the Horseshoe Canyon. I might just plan a trip there. Nice to see you enjoying the badlands. Glen Canyon starts at Lee’s Ferry (Just downstream of Horseshoe Bend), and encompasses Horseshoe Bend, Lake Powell, Antelope Point, and many other marinas, lookouts, and scenic spots. Though by the time we got to Horsethief Canyon, the weather was quite nice. We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and so that ads you see online can be tailored to your online browsing interests. Two-wheel-drive vehicles can usually travel the 30-mile graded dirt road from UT 24 (near Goblin Valley State Park), or the 47-mile dirt road traveling south from Green River. [1][2]. Great spot to camp near the Horseshoe Canyon trailhead. Don't let the oddly similar names confuse you, though. Great pictures. For the best viewing experience please update your browser to. Horseshoe Canyon is located on Hiway 9 south of Drumheller. Horsethief Canyon: Grandeur - See 588 traveller reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Drumheller, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Horsethief is every bit as beautiful and worthwhile as its neighbour Horseshoe, and both are formed by different tributaries of the Red Deer River. Horsethief Canyon: Horsethief Canyon - See 588 traveler reviews, 340 candid photos, and great deals for Drumheller, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Horsethief Canyon: Breathtaking views. Take in the spectacular scenery at Horsethief Canyon, near the Red Deer River in the Alberta badlands. About 35 miles of hard pack gravel. Horseshoe Canyon. A few ruts and washboards but in great shape. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}51°32′17.6″N 112°52′13.2″W / 51.538222°N 112.870333°W / 51.538222; -112.870333, Horsethief Canyon is found 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of the town of Drumheller, in Starland County in the province of Alberta, Canada. Horseshoe is on the way from Calgary if you are taking route 9, and it would take no time to do so you could probably visit both. Visitors should be prepared for unpredictable weather (such as rain or sand-shifting wind) that can quic… However, a trip to the Horsethief Canyon wouldn't be complete without a hike. , Drumheller. Horsethief Canyon, Drumheller: See 588 reviews, articles, and 340 photos of Horsethief Canyon, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 18 attractions in Drumheller. A four-wheel-drive road leads to the east rim of Horseshoe Canyon from the Hans Flat Ranger Station. If you drive from Calgary, through Beiseker, and along highway 9 toward Drumheller, Horseshoe Canyon will be on your left but it’s easy to miss from the highway so watch for signs and definitely stop here for a great photo and maybe a hike down into the canyon and back. We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. The Horsethief Canyon looked much prettier than Horseshoe Canyon. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of data and cookies. The Horseshoe Canyon Formation is a stratigraphic unit of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin in southwestern Alberta. There are great walking and hiking paths that are easy for kids. Horseshoe Canyon. Located on the Dinosaur Trail, just 16 km (10 mi) northwest of Drumheller on the east bank of the Red Deer River, Horsethief Canyon is a must see while exploring the Canadian Badlands. Horsethief Canyon is covered by the Alberhill, CA US Topo Map quadrant. Horse Theif is past the town of Drumheller. The USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) publishes a set of topographic maps of the U.S. commonly known as US Topo Maps. Four others there 9/21/20 with at least 100 feet apart. Horseshoe Canyon: Trek into the canyon - See 220 traveller reviews, 135 candid photos, and great deals for Drumheller, Canada, at Tripadvisor. View of the popular Horseshoe Canyon in late spring, Canadian Badlands in summer, Drumheller, Alberta, Canada It had more interesting formations and it was next to the Red Deer River, making it a little more green. It is on the east bank of the Red Deer River, along Highway 838. British Columbia - Vancouver Island Hiking, Park Closures, Avalanche Advisories, Road Reports, Hiking with man's best friend (Dog trails & talk), http://markostavric.fotki.com/2011/20110604/, http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/573131765ZGTpDI. Most visitors access Horseshoe Canyon from the west. Having recently opened summer 2018, Horseshoe Canyon Campground provides guests with immediate access to the breathtaking views and scenic hiking trails offered by the rugged badlands of Horseshoe Canyon. Outlaws like Butch Cassidy made use of Horseshoe Canyon in the late 1800s, taking refuge in the confusing network of canyons, especially those around Robbers Roost to the southwest. Horseshoe Canyon. Both Horsethief Canyon and Horseshoe Canyon are distinctive features of the surrounding badlands of central Alberta. This Southern Alberta location article is a stub. Even without venturing into the canyon, the south rim of the Horseshoe Canyon offers stunning views of the rugged badlands, and it's worth a visit when touring area around Drumheller. Although the two canyons look similar, they are separated by several kilometres and were created by different tributaries of the Red Deer River. The Horseshoe Canyon Formation is part of the Edmonton Group and is up to 230 metres (750 ft) thick. Horsethief Canyon is a bit more rustic and off the beaten path. Save Comp. We found the hiking at Horseshoe Canyon much better; the views there are gorgeous, so if hiking is high on your list, I would recommend Horseshoe Canyon over Horsethief Canyon. Great pictures Marko; the badlands are such an interesting part of Alberta. Horsethief Canyon is found 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) northwest of the town of Drumheller, in Starland County in the province of Alberta, Canada. Stand on the edge for spectacular views of the valley below. We saw two car loads at Horsethief Canyon. More stock photos from this artist See All. Saw a Prius make it fine. The views at DPP are better though, in my opinion -- a bigger expanse of badlands. Too bad about Whifs, you missed some good eats. It got pretty hot and we left our water in the car. Horsethief Canyon Filed under Cleveland National Forest , Dog Friendly , East County , Trail Write-Ups , Under 5 miles Like its name implies, Horsethief Canyon was once used by thieves to corral stolen horses before heading for the Mexican border. The first impression is quite overwhelming, as the Horsethief Canyon appears to be much bigger than the Horseshoe Canyon, and we enjoyed the views from the lookout even more. I agree that Horsethief is nicer, and it is less visited too. We didn't spend a whole lot of time hiking.