Elk Island National Park

One of the most underrated national parks! I had an incredible experience as the scenery here is incredible and you get to see plenty of wildlife while driving around! Make sure to visit during sunrise or sunset to see the bisons along the road or on the bison loop trail! Completely recommend visiting while in Edmonton!

Elk Island National Park was high on my list of places to visit on a recent trip to Alberta as I was staying nearby. Although I didn't have a lot of time to spend at the park, it did not disappoint. Seeing bison on the loop drive as well as along the road as we drove through made it all worth it. It is a lovely, scenic park and is really nice to drive through. I stopped at Astorin Lake and did the Living Waters Boardwalk trail which was easy and very nice and I also did a small portion of the Beaver Pond trail which was very peaceful. I would love to spend more time here and explore the park more.

We visited in mid September and were greeted to hundreds of bison minutes entering the park. We spotted them in the bison loop, it was genuinely really terrifying being surrounded by them, but also really amazing and I know we were super lucky to have this experience. We even saw a heard on the side of the Hwy outside of the park!

Elk Island National Park is a fantastic getaway just outside the city! The park offers beautiful lakes, perfect for canoeing and spotting wildlife. The trails are well-maintained and cater to all levels of hikers. We especially enjoyed the peaceful scenery around Astotin Lake, and the chance to see bison up close was amazing! Whether you're into bird watching, hiking, or simply relaxing by the water, this park has something for everyone. Highly recommend for a day trip or a weekend escape!

Just got back from Elk Island. This is a beautiful serene park perfect for when you are ready to disconnect. I was able to see some Bison as they were everywhere. They have lots of trails and serene views with multiple lakes. You will have to buy a pass. While they have no restaurants in the park you can get refreshments and gas in the nearby town of Lamont. Will be coming back here to try out their camping grounds.

Beautiful area and wildlife encounters may be guaranteed. We went in December and for the first 30 minutes we didn't see anything. Maybe beauce of snow, maybe because of cold. But then all of a sudden we saw a few bisons, one was right by the road eating. I took many pictures of him - keeping a safe distance. Later we saw an owl - funny! Highly recommended but be patient.

Visiting Stony Plains Alberta, told my two Uncles, 81 & 91 about the potential of seeing Bison at Elk Island, they were both keen to go. So we drove about an hour, visited the Visitor Center first, there is a few here, asked a bunch of questions and went on our way for a beautiful drive throughout the park. Saw lots of beaver houses and dams, birds, stepped out of the car and had a few nice strolls... We had asked a parks employee how many bison were here, and were surprised to here about a 1,000 roamed the lands. Surprising, because after driving for about an hour's, we'd seen shed fur, and poop, but no Bison. We were pleased with our visit, even though we hadn't seen a bison until we tried one last road. Then we found him... Both Uncle's were over the moon having been able to see this majestic boy. Memories that will stay with them, and me for the remainder of our lives. Lesson here was, don't give up!

**Elk Island National Park Review** Elk Island National Park, located just east of Edmonton, Alberta, is a hidden gem that offers a serene and immersive experience in nature. The park is renowned for its thriving wildlife, especially the free-roaming bison, elk, and other native species. One of the highlights is the opportunity to view these majestic animals up close, often right from the comfort of your car. The park offers a variety of well-maintained hiking trails that cater to all levels, from easy strolls along Astotin Lake to more challenging treks like the Wood Bison Trail. The scenery is beautiful, featuring dense forests, peaceful wetlands, and picturesque lakes that provide a perfect backdrop for photography, bird watching, and picnicking. Astotin Lake is a must-visit, with its stunning views, sandy beach, and opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. The sunset views from the lake are breathtaking, making it an ideal spot for evening relaxation. The park also features excellent stargazing opportunities, as it is a designated Dark Sky Preserve, allowing visitors to witness the wonders of the night sky. For those interested in camping, the park offers both front-country and backcountry options. The sites are well-maintained, and the facilities are clean and convenient, although they can get busy during peak seasons. One downside is that the mosquitoes can be quite persistent in summer, so bring insect repellent. Also, while the park is generally quiet and peaceful, it can get crowded on weekends, especially near popular spots like Astotin Lake. Overall, Elk Island National Park is an excellent destination for wildlife enthusiasts, families, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life for a day or weekend. Its close proximity to Edmonton makes it an accessible and worthwhile visit for locals and tourists alike.

Awesome place Great hikes Lots of wildlife... birds bears beavers elk bison etc Fun to ride bikes Quaint visitor center. Bring supplies. No provisions. Great for the day. Or you can camp. Would recommend!

A really cool national park. Good interpretative material and programs. Friendly staff. Clean and modern campgrounds. Scenery is good but not in the top tier of North American national parks. A place worth checking out.

Definitely worth a visit if you're in the Edmonton area! If you're lucky, you might be able to catch sight of bison!

What a nice park and it is so Cool to drive by and see all of the Buffalo sunning themselves and relaxing outside. They're MASSIVE and Gentle and GIGANTIC LOL. The first time I ever saw them, there were MANY and it was thrilling to see these beautiful Animals relaxing and taking in the Lazy day. It is very mellow and enjoyable to see the Huge Buffalo just laying out for the sun to warm their big bodies. I could never get tired of visiting this beautiful and natural park. My family and I definitely recommend a visit here. It's a hidden Gem!

Visiting from Sacramento. The Canadians know how to care for their National Parks. Open space, good trails, good for view wildlife. But our purpose was to view the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

This is a fantastic place! We saw so many bison and even some beavers. Tristan was our guide and did an amazing job! Please request him if you can.

Unexpected to have such modern facilities! Clean, accessible, unisex, baby change tables in clearly marked heated and running water facilities. Air hand dryers... very nice. The visitor centre itself was closed for renovations. We visited on Good Friday, but the iconic red Adirondack chairs, numerous picnic tables and reasonably sized parking lot were open and waiting for guests to have a seat. Bear proof garbage bins, blue bin bottle/can recycling and a smoking disposal. The pups had a great sniff about.

Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, Canada. Puny land space dedicated to Bison, Fish, Predatory Avians (Birds), and bunch of other animals that are best experienced from a distance. Wouldn't recommend petting animals that are larger than your car despite how cute they might appear. Elk Island is more habitat/refuge opposed to a national park. It does have endless hiking trails for all levels that are child, handicap and elderly friendly (this means paved and flat). There were some rough patches as I was meandering about heading to edges of the swamp (or pond/lake). Critters, smaller mammals looking to eat smaller animals, and bison were everywhere. Anytime you turn your head there was some animal doing their thang. I visited during Mid-September so the weather was stellar despite random rain. The colors were bit on the gloomy side as the greenery began to churn (turn brown) along with constant clouds however it was a spectacle to embrace with the wind, scents w/ occasional manure stench which just meant some big ole creatures marked their spot (good indicator to leave) & the birds chirping above. The pictures does not do it justice and my writing skills aren't good enough to explain it's shear beauty & magnificence. Access/Roads: C The park itself is paved and maintained w/ super slow speed limits (avg is 25-30 kph or 13-18 mph). The slow pace was annoying. Parking leading to trails are poorly marked and rough. There is high probability for 2WD cars of getting stuck when the mud or ice is in full swing. Parking: B The hot spots to picnic and tourist points is plentiful. Trail parking lots vary from five cars to 15. Parking on the main road sucks. This might also be my ignorance to Canadian road manners as I did some cars just park in the middle of the road. I don't know if that's allowed or acceptable behavior despite no parking signs. Turnouts are minimal that are big enough for two trucks. I saw many vacant vehicles and i couldn't park (unless i stopped on the road). Distance: F Stuff in Alberta is scattered. Things are just far outside of Calgary and Edmonton. Edmonton, Alberta (Capitol of Alberta Province/State) is appx 50 km (30 miles) and took appx 45 minutes. Calgary, Alberta is appx 350 km (210 miles). Los Angeles, CA is appx 1,750 miles. Costs: A Appx $20 USD. Fees are different so call to inquire. Some places charge per person opposed to per vehicle/size. Nearby Attractions: There are many things in a two hour radius (100-150 miles). I'll add these things to my blog when I update it within the next 15 years. I would love to return during middle summer & at night when it's cloud-less. Mostly for night watching as the Aurora Borealis (the colorful green lights) can be experienced here & cause it won't be so darn cold. We desert people aren't used to Canadian Autumn weather (it's freezing for us). Photo gallery: https://www.facebook.com/SiRTurbo/media_set?set=a.10157279535807324&type=3 IG: @cigarcpa Blog: www.cleeshyun.com

Wonderful national park with multiple trails to walk and lots of wildlife. We saw a deer, squirrels, a frog, lots of birds and lots of bison. Bison Loop was wonderful with bison within 15 feet of our car.

5 stars given for 5 reasons: 1 The wildlife - buffalo, elk, moose, beaver, birds! 2 The dark sky - this is the best place to view celestial happenings. I've seen meteor showers and northern lights in this pristine dark sky. 3 The hiking - easy wide trails everywhere. Perfect for all levels of hiking. Great for kids. I see lots of people biking the trails too. 4 Camping - who doesn't love camping? 5 Easy get away from Edmonton - anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to get to. Perfect for a quick visit or even a picnic. Trails are marked well. Bathrooms easy to find. Firewood ready to use. Picnic tables are plenty. And if you don't want to get out of the car you don't have to. The drive is great.

This was our first time stopping in at the Visitor Centre. It was undergoing renovations so we could t go in the main part. We did use the bathrooms though. They are nice and big and pretty clean. There is a huge lot here. I couldn't imagine it ever filling up completely. If you are looking to try a new hobby or just have some fun there is a geocache hidden here pretty much in plain sight. If you stumble across it there are instructions on what it is all about. You and your kids can download the Geocaching app and fun a bunch of geocaches hidden around the National Park. I'm looking forward to coming back and checking out the newly renovated aviator Centre. We are hoping to come out a lot this year so we bought a yearly National Park Pass!

Help centre is very good. Unfortunately, we did not see any buffalo this time. We usually see a lot on the loop road. Picnic tables, toilets all available.

Elk island park is such a beautiful place to escape the city. We go there all the time to walk and most Recently to do the starlight snowshoe tour. The park has many short trails perfect for a day hike and many beautiful spots to have a picnic after. I highly recommend the snowshoe tour. It's an hour walk around the lake with a guide with stops for information/facts about the park. After the walk you stop in a open air cabin for hot chocolate, maple taffy and Smore's. A Great way to do some stargazing and get away from noise pollution!

What a great day at the park with our boxer pup. He burnt tones of energy and enjoyed playing in the snow and sniffing the wild animal tracks. We saw a couple of bisons and a deer. We warmed up by the fire with the park staff who showed us a bison skull, fur and a bone from the hump. The moose fur and the antlers were impressive. We love this place. Hoping to do some snow shoeing next week. It is going to be so much fun

I was looking for a day trip in Edmonton and found this through Yelp. I love national parks and already been to Banff. So we made the trek to Elk Island to discover the area. As the other reviewers mentioned, there's plenty of wildlife around. We were looking forward to some day hiking but the rain cut that idea very short. Went to the visitor's center and the folks there were very helpful. For a national park, it gets 5 stars for its mission to increase the bison population. Overall it was a nice visit.

I can't believe this place has only 3 reviews... I guess Canadians can take nature for granted! Elk island national park has it all. Short trails on a day trip, picnic spots, a golf course (!?!), beautiful, beautiful field bisons on the north side and wood buffalos on the south. I think I might be able to identify the difference between the two. There's quite a lot of natural beauty at the Elk Island park and given that it's only 35 mins away from downtown Edmonton (and probably 15 mins from Sherwood Park) .. it's a perfect destination for a weekend picnic-with-family type thing. It also seems to be the preferred destination for star gazers at the University. Do visit it, if you are here for a bit and have the time. I remember spending two days in Yellowstone national park trying hard to find bisons in the wild, but never really got a chance to see them! And here I am, now, in Edmonton!

Elk Island is a small Canadian National Park a short drive east of Edmonton off the Yellowhead Highway (#16). This park is often overlooked in favour of it's Jasper counterpart further west in the mountains. Elk Island is one of four national parks that represent the Southern Boreal Plains and Plateau natural region. It protects a portion of the transitional grassland ecosystem, a landscape that once stretched across the central portion of the continent. In addition to wildlife that includes plains and wood bison, elk, moose, deer, coyote, and beaver, park is home to 250 of the 370 known bird species in Alberta. The park is open year-round, although many services are only available in the summer. I was here a few Octobers ago when there was snow on the ground and wood bison to be seen in several places. It was a relaxing and beautiful drive and well worth the visit.

Just because it's below zero doesn't mean you can't visit a park for wildlife viewing! Winter viewing tips: - A car with heated seats! - Hand warmers. - Hot tea. - Someone in your car with good eye sight to look for movement through loads of leafless brown trees - I was terrible at it! - Grab the map at one of the entry gates and drive slowly on all the possible driving routes. We hit the bison jackpot going north on the road towards the West Gate exit. - There's an elevated picnic area in the Astotin Lake Area and if you bring the right gear and dress warm enough you can watch the sunset over the lake.

A beautiful and peaceful escape from the city! We were there this past Sunday. The trails were pretty icy (which made things extra interesting here and there), but it was still great to enjoy some fresh air, get some exercise, and see some animals along the way. Bring hiking or climbing shoes, especially if you're planning on going during times of thaw/freeze weather. :)

This is a beautiful place. We saw one bison. The barn was pretty. I was on a tour so we had to follow their plan. Would love to have stayed longed and explored. Beautiful scenery.

Very nice park full of wildlife. Some tips: We came in the middle of the day and there was hardly anybody there. It was freezing cold and snowing and we saw 1 elk up ahead on the road and some birds. It's pretty but we were disappointed. We came back at midnight to see if we could catch a glimpse of the aurora borealis. It's not really dark enough out there at night because of the cities close by. However.. We parked in a deserted parking lot and turned the lights off. When the running lights were starting to dim I saw an eyeball looking at us from about 30 feet away and I saw a black figure hiding in the scrub. At first I thought it was a bear and we freaked a little but as our eyes adjusted to the darkness we could see 6 bison eating the grass under the snow. We had 2 labrador retrievers in the car and one was not happy and we were suddenly worried they would charge the car, but we managed to calm Charlie down and the bison just hung around. We freaked a little when a large bull walked within feet of the side of the car. As we drove out to the main road we could see that there was a herd of the bison. I counted 16 right in front of us. They like to walk down the road and we didn't want to scare them but it was 1 am the day we started for home (I'm driving 1500 miles) and because the forest was so dense they trotted in front of us for about 10 minutes. When they finally moved into the forest we continued on and saw several elk families out for a munch. There's a big lake with a large parking lot and a cool structure that overlooks the lake and has a fireplace!

This park is close to Edmonton and can be reached by car. It has numerous trails, wildlife and beautiful vegetation. Open in summer and winter you can visit anytime. The place to go to relax and recharge.

What a hidden treasure!! Alright... maybe not so hidden, but definitely under used. From the West End, it took us less than 45 minutes to get here. We had no idea what we would do once we arrived, but wanted to check it out. We got there around noon and our day pass was good until 4 pm the next day. I took a look at the map they provided us with and said "Astontin Lake looks like a good place to start", having no idea what would be there. Well... it was a great place to start! I thought we'd walk around for a bit, but once we saw the canoe and kayak rentals, we knew what our afternoon would consist of.. We paddled around the lake for a couple of hours, which cost $35 ($25 for the first hour and $10 for every extra hour). It was the most peaceful thing I've done that close to the city. Lots of wildlife to check out. I was surprised to see that the lake and beach were not packed. There was lots of room to float around as you like. Staff were really friendly and helpful. There are lots and lots of walking/hiking/biking trails in the park, and the visitors map gives you a good indication of which are really easy and which are more moderate (I don't think any of them are all that intense). There are lots of picnic tables and toilets around this area as well. I will definitely be heading back before the summer is over! And maybe a few times in the winter too.

Ah, the great outdoors, the beautiful Alberta countryside, the rare aspen parkland habitat.... Sacrificing regular contact with nature is one of the downsides of living in the middle of a sprawling concrete jungle. But due east of Edmonton, less than an hour down Highway 16, lies a true taste of the prairies as they once were and are meant to be. Elk Island National Park was established over 100 years ago and protects within its 194 square kilometers herds of both wood bison and plains bison, moose, elk, beaver, deer, coyote, and upwards of 250 species of birds. A number of trails circle through different types of terrain - making it through them all would probably take weeks of exploring. Although I love to drive out to Elk Island just for a breather and to peek at my favourite animal on earth, my most recent trip to the park showed me a new side of it - a dark side. It was the anniversary of Elk Island's designation as a dark sky preserve, and volunteer astronomers lugged their high-end telescopes out into the cool night air on the shores of Astotin Lake, training them on celestial objects so that the general public could come take a gander at the universe. It was incredible - I saw a binary star, part of Andromeda, a globular cluster and the highlight of it all, Jupiter at 65 times. In the city, I don't often think about the stars or what I'm missing by living in an area polluted by unnatural light but seeing the world in true darkness and witnessing what space is actually supposed to look like was totally eye-opening. There was also indoor programming at the Astotin Theatre that evening but I couldn't make it indoors ontime and found it all locked up for the show - too bad! Elk Island National Park really is a gorgeous, special place - more Edmontonians should make a point to visit and support its role in habitat conservation.

Holy moly is this ever a nice visitor's centre! I've come to expect varying levels of quality from our national parks, but this one at Elk Island is by far the nicest one I've ever been to. There's a large information desk with lots of maps and pamphlets, a moderately sized interpretive centre for kids to learn about local plants and wildlife. There's a little snack area with chilled drinks and trail appropriate snacks, and a water fountain to fill up reusable water bottles. To top it off, there's a fantastic selection of Parks Canada merchandise if you want a souvenir of your visit. We spent a while talking to the staff member, who helped us pick a hike that was suitable for our fitness and time available, and who was also able to answer all our questions about the park and animal safety. We were also able to pre-purchase our park admission to avoid waiting in a gate line and paying from our car. There's a huge bank of public washrooms outside that are clean, spacious and upgraded, as well as some picnic tables and a large parking lot. If you're visiting Elk Island, especially for the first time, definitely check out the visitor's centre.

I first came here a couple years ago during the fall. I enjoyed going for a long leisurely walk through the woods on a sunny fall day. There weren't a lot of people around but we saw plenty of bison and even a coyote. We came here last weekend and since it is summer it was very busy. We went kayaking, which was so much fun! I didn't see too many animals around. Honestly, I prefer Jasper and Banff. But I really like that EINP is so close, so we'll definitely come back to visit again before winter starts.

A great place to play in the snow or walk in the woods - but keep your eyes peeled for moose and buffalo! There are a few good trails for cross-country skiing and even more for hiking in the summer. We love making the short drive east of Edmonton to our closest national park.

The annual passes for the Canadian National Parks are a total bargain, if you are an outdoorsy person and plan on visiting a few parks or returning to the same one more than once. Elk Island is a short drive from Edmonton and I think people forget that they have this park right on their door step! It has a few nature trails to choose from, that are great to do in both summer and winter. In fact one of my favourite walks I did there was in December in the snow. You might not think this would be fun but there was lots to see including bison herds, cross country skiers, even winter bikers were out in force. In summer it's quite a different experience. There is lots to do from kayaking to golfing, cute picnic spots and a little man made beach to hang out at. When the Northern Lights are visible this is also a great place to head to for no light pollution - the visibility is perfect. All round a great Albertan tourist destination.

Hello Nature! How lovely it is to see you just a quick 40 minutes away from my home in the city! I have been to Elk Island in both the winter and the spring now, and I absolutely love it. For anyone who likes an easier hike, but isn't quite committed enough to drive all the way to Jasper for it, Elk Island is the place for you. Located about 40 ish kms east of Edmonton, Elk Island National Park is full of trails (easier, harder, shorter, longer... It's all laid out very well in the brochure at the info centre) and wildlife. It seems to be most popular for the bison, who roam the park at their leisure. There is a trail that you can drive around called the "Bison Loop" where you are more likely to see them (my batting average for this is 1/2 right now). In the winter time, it's quite fun to take your pups or your kids for a walk across the lake while its frozen. No worries once the ice melts though, as there are still several trails around the lake that are lovely to hike through. A day trip for a single adult is going to run you $7.80, and for a family/ group it is $19.60.

Took the kids last week. It was a beautiful day all the trails we used were well maintained. Only saw one bison though.

Elk Island Park is located about 45 minutes away from Edmonton, and I am sure that most outdoor enthusiasts know about its' existence. In the park, there are 10 walking trails totaling 84km in length. Three of the trails are 2.5, 3.5 and 6 km, and five trails are 10-16km long. These walking tracks are sure to challenge whoever embarks on the journey. I remember when my husband and I came here for the first time, and feeling particularly ambitious, chose the 10km trail...well, we barely made it out alive: ) Next day, sore muscles were guaranteed. Whatever trail you choose, you will love the surroundings: there are free roaming bison, elk and deer all around; and although the landscape is flat, you will appreciate the beauty of aspen parkland, especially if you come in spring and fall. Be warned that during your walk, you may encounter bison skulls and bones. Apparently, there are coyotes in the area. There is nothing pleasant about seeing bison remains. Other than that, Elk Island Park is great for weekend getaways.