To start this year's Thanksgiving long weekend right, the kiddos and I wandered out to Elk Island National Park for some fresh air and the beautiful changing colours that come with fall.
According to Travel Alberta, this national park is “basically Jurassic Park, except the creatures outside your vehicle are slightly more cuddly: bison, elk, moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer.” Elk Island National Park is a sanctuary, a refuge for the conservation of the Plains bison. Established in 1906 as a game preserve, it is one of Canada’s smaller national parks, with an area of 75 square miles (or 194 square km). The park is mostly forested but has facilities for day use and overnight camping.
We spent the afternoon picnicking at Astotin Lake, the main resort area before hiking the Astotin Lake Shoreline Trail. I was quite impressed with Jordan and Evelyn completing the entire 6.4km trail. They loved seeing the ducks swimming in the lake and squirrels scurrying through the woods.
On our way out, I drove the Bison Loop Road twice to see if we could catch a bison or two, but no such luck.
The park is also part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, meaning it is an exquisite location for stargazing and to catch the northern lights. I am trying to convince Radwin to give glamping a try at the new Geo Domes at Elk Island Retreat but I don’t think he’s convinced.
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