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. Even in the winter months, this park is an absolute highlight during your ski vacation. Put on your snowshoes and hike the trails, scanning the horizon for a shadow of a giant bison or peering through the trees for moose. Just make sure you’re dressed warmly.
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.
Have you ever seen the Northern Lights? This magical green light must be experienced once in a lifetime. In Elk Island National Park an area has been cleared where you can see this perfectly. In fact, no lights are allowed in the Dark Sky Preserve because the Northern Lights and the beautiful sea of stars are best admired when it is completely dark. A ticket for this 1-hour program costs $12.36/ €8.50.
Elk Island National Park is also a great place to hike. Take it all the way and strap on a pair of snowshoes! Go on a 1 to 2 hour guided exploration and follow some of the more than 80 kilometers of trails through the park. Don’t forget to bring your camera, too, because who knows, you might spot wildlife along the way!
Experience Edmonton’s geology like never before. Talking Rock Tours offers interactive experiences that tell the story of the creation of the earth, rocks and other natural phenomena with a Métis guide and geologist who combines his culture and knowledge of geology. He currently offers tours of Edmonton’s historic River Valley, Elk Island National Park and more. So come and experience the geological wonders of Alberta and be inspired by the indigenous stories of our past.
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