National Parks

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.

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.

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.

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