from Edmonton Destination Planner
Jasper & Elk Island
Edmonton is nestled between two of Canada's national parks. Just a four-hour
drive away is Jasper National Park and all the splendor of the Canadian
Rockies. Also nearby is Elk Island National Park, a verdant nature preserve
that is home to abundant wildlife.
JASPER
Canyon crawling in Maligne Canyon, Jasper National Park.
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The Trans-Canada Yellowhead Highway route from Edmonton to Jasper, has
several interesting stops.For adventure
enthusiasts, the Hinton and Edson areas offer horseback trips, quad
excursions, dogsledding, helicopter sightseeing and hiking. Ample
accommodation is available in both Edson and Hinton.
The possibilities for adventure are endless in Jasper. From hiking,
skiing and white water rafting to exploring pristine lakes and mountain
vistas, there is something for everyone.
Spare the time to go beyond Jasper, towards the Icefields Parkway and
into Lake Louise to view even more of the most spectacular scenery in the
world. The Parkway winds past sparkling mountain lakes and alpine forests to
give way to massive icefields, the largest of which is the Columbia Icefield
covering 325 square kilometres.
Elk Island National Park
Elk at Elk Island National Park.
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Located east of Edmonton on Highway 16, Elk Island National Park is
Canada's first federal wildlife sanctuary and one of Canada's smallest
national parks at 194 square kilometres. Renowned for its wildlife and bird
watching opportunities, Elk Island is home to over 40 species of mammals,
including over 1,000 plains and wood bison, elk, moose, deer, beaver, and
coyote. In fact, Elk Island is the only place in Alberta where all the
grazing species of Canada's aspen parkland ecosystem still co-exist.
Open year round, Elk Island features over 100 km of nature trails,
perfect for hiking or cross-country skiing. Other outdoor activities you can
enjoy include picnics, camping, and canoeing. Watch for the rare trumpeter
swan, one of the 250 species of birds, or, if time permits, play a round of
golf at the nine-hole Elk Island National Park Golf Course.
© 2001 Copyright Tanner Young Marketing Ltd. This article can not be reproduced in whole or in part without the expressed written permission.
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