Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Central Asia yurt night stars
Uzbekistan • 15 days, 14 nights
Central Asia Road Trip: Backroads & Bazaars
from
Caucasus - Geghard Monastery, Armenia
Armenia • 15 days, 14 nights
Caucasus Road Trip: Azerbaijan, Georgia & Armenia
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Midas Tümülüsü (Tumulus MM)
The Devil's Column
Weightlifting Hall of Fame
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Customize your bowl with sliced pork, pork balls, fish cake, and offal.
Rung Rueang
Pasties are an Upper Michigan tradition dating back to mining days.
Lehto’s Pasties
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
2 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
3 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
4 days ago
Cely’s map is not only accurate, but captures the unique characteristics of Congaree’s trees and waterways.
How One Biologist Drew a Hyper-Accurate, Ranger-Approved Map of Congaree National Park
5 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Canada Alberta Drumheller The Hoodoos of Drumheller Valley

The Hoodoos of Drumheller Valley

Hoodoos, naturally eroded land formations, stand 20 feet tall in the Canadian badlands.

Drumheller, Alberta

Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradybouchard...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradybouchard...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradybouchard...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/15193764@N07/...
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/15193764@N07/...
Hoodoos of Drumheller, Sign   astrohans / Atlas Obscura User
Hoodoos of Drumheller   astrohans / Atlas Obscura User
Hoodoos of Drumheller   astrohans / Atlas Obscura User
  Shadowmistris / Atlas Obscura User
  avabee / Atlas Obscura User
  PlanetCaravannn / Atlas Obscura User
  PlanetCaravannn / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

In the badlands of Alberta, Canada, one may come across oddly shaped rock formations that stand up to 20 feet tall. Blackfoot and Cree traditions hold that these rocks are petrified giants who come alive at night to protect the land around them by hurling stones at intruders.

Today we know the rocks were created by erosion – perhaps as amazing a force as giant-petrification. Naturally shaped by wind and water, these hoodoos (also known as fairy chimneys) have been carved over millions of years into pillar-like shapes.

Made of soft sandstone, the hoodoos are generally topped with a harder rock "cap," slowing the process of complete disintegration. Climbing is not permitted, for the sandstone structures are quite fragile. Eventually these hoodoos will be eroded so thin that they'll break, and the harder top rock will come crashing down.

Related Tags

Geological Oddities Geology

Community Contributors

Edited By

kostas1964ath, Katecrimson, mbison, astrohans...

  • kostas1964ath
  • Katecrimson
  • mbison
  • astrohans
  • becki547
  • Shadowmistris
  • avabee
  • PlanetCaravannn

Published

July 28, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.traveldrumheller.com/hoodoos.html
  • http://www.canadacool.com/COOLFACTS/ALBERTA/HooDoos.html
The Hoodoos of Drumheller Valley
AB-10
Drumheller, Alberta, T0J 1B0
Canada
51.38064, -112.534239
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Atlas Coal Mine

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

The 11 Bridges of Wayne

Wayne, Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Drumheller

Drumheller

Alberta

Places 6

Nearby Places

Atlas Coal Mine

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

Star Mine Suspension Bridge

Drumheller, Alberta

miles away

The 11 Bridges of Wayne

Wayne, Alberta

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Drumheller

Drumheller

Alberta

Places 6

Related Places

  • Russia

    Ulakhan-Sis Range

    A remote Arctic mountain range is home to "granite cities" found almost nowhere else.

  • A beach on the island with distinctive rock formations.

    Malpe, India

    Thonsepar

    These four small islands contain unique hexagonal rock formations.

  • The winding curves of Ybykty Canyon.

    Koyulus, Kazakhstan

    Ybykty Canyon

    This small canyon is home to a treasure trove of geological oddities.

  • Healy, Alaska

    Suntrana Canyon

    This often-overlooked canyon dazzles and intrigues with its many layers of colors, shapes and odd formations.

  • Looking down at the water-carved tunnels

    Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

    Trümmelbach Falls

    Visit Europe's largest subterranean waterfall, carved by water from the glaciers of the towering peaks surrounding the valley.

  • A view of the perfectly round Lac Pavin.

    Besse-et-Saint-Anastaise, France

    Lac Pavin

    This volcanic crater lake is renowned for its perfectly round shape, stunning blue-green waters, and unique geological properties.

  • Pyramids of Euseigne

    Hérémence, Switzerland

    Pyramides d'Euseigne

    These spindly, stone-capped formations are the product of glacial deposits and thousands of years of erosion.

  • Colorful sandstone cliff just west of the Colorock Quarry.

    Moapa Valley, Nevada

    Buffington Pockets

    The rocks exposed at Valley of Fire State Park also occur in a much less known but equally spectacular area a few miles to the southwest.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.