Nodwell Property, Alberta

Most places under NCC's care welcome visitors. Please check site-specific pages on this website for access information and any special restrictions.

Take a step back in time and explore some of Alberta’s unique geological features rarely seen in other parts of the country. Some of these geological layers were laid down some 70 million years ago during the Cretaceous period! The Nodwell Property, located in the Horseshoe Canyon in Alberta’s Badlands near Drumheller features prairies,wooded coulee slopes and badlands. Visitors have a chance to get a panoramic view of the five-kilometre-long, crater-like formation that looks otherworldly.

Trail length: 3.5 kilometres
Hike difficulty: Moderate, though there are some hills and tricky spots

Amenities on-site

Public parking lot
Nearest washroom is at the first access to Horseshoe Canyon, operated by Kneehill County

Points of interest

Viewpoint overlooking the canyon located northeast of the parking lot
The upper loop of the Canyon which features educational signage

Species to look out for

mountain bluebirds
prickly pear and pincushion cactus
Great Plains garter snake
prairie crocus

Directions

From Calgary:

Travel on Highway 2 north.
Take Highway 72 east through Beiseker. The road becomes Highway 9.
After 43 kilometres, the highway turns north.
Watch for the Horseshoe Canyon signs and turn west (left) onto Township Road 284.
Continue past the first parking lot, then turn north (right) past the helicopter pad, and follow the road into the parking lot of the NCC's Nodwell-Horseshoe Canyon property.

Contact information

alberta@natureconservancy.ca
403-262-1253 (Calgary)
1-877-231-3552 (toll-free in AB)

Visitor information

When visiting the property, please:

Respect the wildlife and other visitors.
Travel on designated paths as much as possible.
Ensure that all dogs are accompanied by their owner and controlled on a leash at all times.
Refrain from lighting fires or smoking.
Remove your own garbage, and please pick up after your pets.
Respect that the property does not permit the removal of any plants, animals or fossils.

All visitors to NCC properties do so at their own risk.