A Guide to Visiting Elk Island National Park in the Spring
Canada is a nature lover’s paradise, and the province of Alberta is full of amazing landscapes ready to discover. With pristine woodland, beautiful grasslands and wetlands teaming with life, there is no shortage of beautiful landscapes to explore. Located only a 35-minute drive from Edmonton, Elk Island National Park is an ideal location to bask in nature, get an up close view of majestic wildlife and enjoy the great outdoors. While the park is open year-round, visiting Elk Island in the spring is a unique experience which allows you to explore the park on un-crowded hiking trails, while spring buds blooms, and baby animals emerge.
Wildlife Viewing
The Majestic Bison Herds
The highlight of any visit to Elk Island National Park is the majestic bison herds which roam the 194 square kilometers of rolling forests and peaceful meadows. During the spring, newborn baby calves can been seen sheltering behind protective mothers, and large herds can be spotted roaming over the wide expanses of grassland. When visiting in the spring you'll also be able to witness the interesting ritual of the bison molting their winter coats. A unique sight to see, this process involves them slowly rubbing against nearby trees and stumps to remove layers of winter fur. Most bison you'll encounter in the park in the spring will have a patchwork of thick winter fur mixed with short summer fuzz.
Elk Island National Park has played an important role in the rescue and survival of bison in Canada, and has been a significant contributor to the populations of plains and wood bison across North America. After years of over-hunting in the 1800's, the population of bison was reduced from several million to just less than a thousand, and the species was near the brink of extinction. From 1907-1912 the government of Canada purchased one of the last bison herds on the continent and shipped them by train to Elk Island National Park, which was established in 1913. The bison thrived in the park, and their numbers began to slowly increase. Since then the park has been a protected sanctuary for these amazing animals, and their rescue from near-extinction is one of Parks Canada’s greatest success stories, allowing generations of Canadians to appreciate these gentle giants in their natural environment.
To learn more about bison, as well as other wildlife in the park, we highly recommend stopping by the Wahkotowin Visitor Information Centre at the south entrance. There you can learn more about the history of bison in the park, and get some educational tips on how to distinguish between plains and wood bison - a handy resource before heading out exploring. Interpretive and interactive displays allow you to touch bison fur up close - which is surprisingly softer than it looks, and a selection bison souvenirs are also available to take home.
Other Wildlife in the Park
While most people travel to Elk Island National Park to look for bison, the forests, meadows, ponds, lakes and wetlands are full of other wildlife both big and small.
For those visiting at dawn or sunset - the ideal time for wildlife viewing, you'll see the park's ponds teeming with wildlife. Expect to see beavers busy fixing their dams and snacking on fresh grass shoots covered in morning dew, and muskrats happily diving deep at the murky water's edge. Frogs are plentiful in wetland areas, and the chorus of croaking can often be heard long before you spot them along the shoreline.
Located in a transitional zone between boreal forest and aspen parkland, the park has several distinct habitats, and is home to over 250 species of birds. Grab your binoculars or camera and head to Astotin Lake and watch for a variety of beautiful water birds, and keep your eyes peeled for spring migratory birds. Spring is the prime time for nesting, so watch for nests on the shorelines of the lake, or from tree cover above.
If you opt for a longer hike in the park, you may encounter other land animals like rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks foraging in grassy and wooded areas in search of fresh greenery, nuts and seeds. Some larger animals species can also be spotted like elk, moose and white-tailed deer. While wolves, foxes, cougars and black bears also inhabit the park, they are rare to see as they're most often active at sunrise.
Hiking Trails
Hiking is one of the best ways to take in the natural landscape of the Elk Island National Park. With 11 trails of various difficulty, each has its own unique characteristics, and allows you to explore the different habitats and topography of the park. Below are our recommendations for hiking trails in the park, all of which we hiked during our visit.
Living Waters Boardwalk - 400m
This trail is conveniently located only a short walk from the Astotin Lake Campground, and has a beautiful boardwalk that snakes along the edge of Astotin Lake. From the trail you can get an up close view of a variety of water birds, beavers and other aquatic creatures.
Shoreline Trail - 6km
Located only a short drive from the Astotin Lake Recreational area, this paved trail follows Astotin lake with offshoots to lookout points overlooking the lake. From there you’ll be able to spot a variety of water birds like ducks, Canada geese and American white pelicans. You'll also find a pair of the iconic red Parks Canada chairs overlooking a scenic view over the lake; the perfect spot for a quick snack, water break or picnic lunch.
Hayburger Trail- 11.6km
This trail takes you through kilometers of towering aspen forests, beautiful wetlands and open meadows, where you can spot bison, elk and variety of birds. We did this hike just after sunrise and even spotted a wolf, a rare but very cool sight to see!
Shirley Lake 10.9km
This Shirley Lake circuit is a moderate to easy trail which provides great views of Shirley Lake, Oster Lake, and travels through mixed forest and patches of grassland. You'll likely notice giant bison crop circles of compressed grass in the clearings, and don't be surprised if you round a corner to a group of bison grazing peacefully.
Amisk Wuche Trail - 2.7km
This easy trail with a picturesque boardwalk takes you through some of the most beautiful wetland in the park. Stroll the trail at a leisurely pace and keep your eyes peeled for animals like muskrats, beavers, and plenty of water birds.
Check out the full list of hiking trails at Elk Island National Park here.
Paddle Astotin Lake
Paddling is a great way to explore the Astonin Lake area and allows you to get an up-close look at water birds, beavers and even larger animals like bison and elk watering themselves at the shoreline. With no motor boats permitted on the lake, paddling Astonin Lake is perfect for those with less experience on the water, and also allows for a tranquil paddle among nature. Bring your own canoe or kayak or rent a canoe, kayak or stand up paddle board at the Astotin Lake Recreation area.
Where to Stay
Camping at Elk Island National Park
Parks Canada has some great options for camping right in the middle of the park. Astotin Lake campground is open mid-May to early October with un-serviced tent and RV camping options available. The campground is located steps away from Asotin lake, with great hiking and paddling opportunities available only a short walk from your campsite. Located away from the glow of city lights, the beautiful dark skies surrounding the park provide a great place to star gaze or to enjoy a campfire at twilight.
If you're looking for a little more comfort in nature, the Astotin Lake campground also offers five ready-to-camp oTENTik tents; a unique combination of an A-frame tent and cabin. Each oTENTik tent can sleep up to six people and comes with a dining table and chairs, a BBQ, fire pit, picnic table, and baseboard heaters for a comfy night's sleep on chilly spring nights.
For those craving a little more adventure, the newly created Oster Lake backcountry campground is perfect for more experienced campers. Nestled on the west shore of Oster Lake, the 6 campsites are accessible via a 6km well marked trail, and firewood is available onsite.
Fort Saskatchewan
Another great location for a home base is nearby Fort Saskatchewan. Only a 25-min drive from the north entrance of the Park, the town with a population of 26,000 has many comfortable hotels, several well stocked grocery stores (perfect for assembling a picnic lunch), and a large selection of restaurants to refuel after a day of exploring. For multi-day trips to Elk Island National Park, Fort Saskatchewan is the perfect place to begin your adventure, especially for those looking to explore the northern sections of the park.
Edmonton
With its close proximity to Elk Island National Park, Edmonton is a great jumping off point for a day trip to the park. With numerous hotels ranging in price, as well as small quaint BnBs and Inns to choose from, Alberta's capital city is a great home base for those who like the comforts of a city.
Handy tips to maximize your experience
Purchase your Parks Canada Pass online
Come prepared and order your passes online before your visit and avoid queues to purchase a pass at the gate. If you're visiting for a few days consider an annual pass, the equivalent of 4 days in the park, which will allow you numerous visits over a year. If you're planning on visiting other Parks Canada locations during the year, consider a Parks Canada Discovery Pass which provides you access to 80 national parks and historic sites for 12 months.
Bring a picnic lunch and snacks
There are no restaurants or stores to purchase food within the park, so we recommend packing a picnic lunch and snacks if you're spending a full day in the park. There are some beautiful spots to stop for a picnic in the park including the Astotin Lake Recreation Area which offers picnic shelters, picnic tables, drinking water and washrooms. There are also various other picnic spots scattered throughout the park, many offering scenic views while you grab a bite.
Fill up on gas
There are no gas stations located in the park, so be sure to fill up before you enter. The closest place to fill up if you're entering from the north gate are is the small town of Lamont, and there is one gas station 10 minutes from the south entrance if you're driving in from Edmonton.
Drive slowly
Drive slowly and keep your distance from the bison, especially on the road. While bison are gentle animals, their animal instincts kick in when they feel threatened, and they can cause some serious damage to cars. You'll also get a better chance of spotting bison if you approach with as little sound as possible. We spotted baby bison early morning by parking in an open area and waiting silently for the herd to approach.
Arrive early morning or before dusk
Arriving early morning or a few hours before dusk are the best times to visit to spot wildlife, especially beavers which are most active at dawn and dusk. Some ponds that appear empty during the day are filled with activity at the beginning and end of each day. The park is quite empty early morning, so wildlife is undisturbed by passing cars, making it our preferred time to explore.
To plan your spring visit to Elk Island National Park, visit Parks Canada.
