About a 45-minute drive from downtown Edmonton you will find Elk Island National Park. This national park is known for the many wild animals you will encounter here. In the summer, this park is an absolute highlight. Just put on your hiking boots and hike along the many trails, there is a chance you will encounter bison and moose.
Elk Island National Park is a great place to take a long hike and chances are you will encounter wildlife. You can hike here on the many trails throughout the park. Beaver Pond Trail is already about 3.5 kilometers of hiking, summers this trail is great for spotting birds and large grazers such as bison and elk. All the trails are beautifully landscaped, well maintained and take you past some of the most beautiful scenery.
The bison population in North America has dropped from about 30 million to less than a thousand in a relatively short period of time. It is, of course, shocking that such a thing could have happened. At Elk Island National Park, they are working hard to get the number of bison growing again. When you visit the Bison Conservation at Elk Island National Park, you’ll learn all about how the bison are now being treated and conserved during a one-hour guided walking tour.
Whether you’re new to camping or just want to avoid the hassle of buying and setting up your own gear, Elk Island National Park offers you the luxury of staying in one of its tipis, cabins or oTENTiks. You also have the option of parking your RV at one of three camping sites around the park.
At Ridge Wilderness next to Astotin Lake, you can rent canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to have your adventure on the water. It is open starting May 20 on weekends and starting the last weekend in June, Ridge Wilderness is open Wednesday through Sunday throughout the summer until Sept. 3.
Elk Island National Park is part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve and the Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve. This means the park is a prime location for star and planet watching. The area is known for seasonal meteor showers, and the northern lights are also regularly visible. The park is open all day every day, so visitors can also enter the park at night.
What else you can expect from this city
Find your dream vacation