Content updated Aug 2024
Elk Island National Park, Alberta
A view of Astotin Lake at Elk Island National Park
Fun facts about Elk Island National Park
Home to the densest population of ungulates in Canada!
This is a pretty incredible statistic in our eyes and we are so happy Elk Island provides a place of peace for so many of our hoofed friends.
In case anyone is wondering, the scientific terminology for "hoofed mammals" is called "Ungulates" which are defined as a diverse group of placental mammals that are characterized as hoofed herbivorous quadrupeds. There are two categories of "ungulates" which are "odd-toe" (Perissodactyla) and "even-toed" (Artiodactyla) known all over the world.
Fun Fact - Elk Island is the only completely fenced National Park in Canada!
Elk Island's fencing was designed to protect the wood & plains bison, elk & moose from larger predators who could potentially harm and decrease their population. Not only was the fence put in place for predators, it was also designed to keep outside diseases away from these magnificent animals and to also protect them during hunting season.
Having the park fenced off also causes the area to potentially get over populated. When over population occurs, Elk Island supports bison, elk & moose conservation projects all over North America and the world to help reintroduce each species into their natural habitats.
The moose & elk populations inside Elk Island have had a steady increase over the years. So much so there was talk of opening up the park for elk & moose hunting to help maintain population control in the future. We hope this will not be the case and there will be an alternative solution to the population increase because we feel it will without a doubt change the dynamic of the park.
We are people who love our hooved friends and there is something magical when watching these beautiful animals roam worry and stress free from predators & trophy hunters.
Two bull elk wandering through Elk Island National Park
Photo credit: Animal Alliance of Canada
A herd of local bison along the Moss Lake Trail in Elk Island National Park
Has the first historic site ever dedicated to Ukrainian immigration in Canada!
The central Alberta prairies is known for a wonderful population of Ukrainian immigrants who started making their journey to Canada in the early 1890's.
As the years went on, many more of the new Ukrainian settlers made there way west to set up a colony northeast of Edmonton, Alberta. This colony predominately worked in the agricultural industry and also picked up seasonal jobs to fund their newly established farmsteads over the winter months.
Due to the importance of Ukrainian immigration to Canadian culture, a replica pioneer cabin was built inside Elk Island National Park in 1951. This replica, known as the "Ukrainian Pioneer Home," was the first museum or historic site ever dedicated to Ukrainian immigration in Canada. It was later declared a Classified Federal Heritage Building by the federal government in 1993.
This Ukrainian Pioneer Home was built as a single-story dwelling in a rectangular shape out of logs and has white plaster applied to the outside for aesthetic and climate protection purposes. The roof has a very steep pitch covered by thatch with a chimney located in the centre of the room to produce heat evenly through out the house. This is a very beautiful and distinct example of homes people would see around the Ukrainian colony back in the early 1900's.
Fun fact - The first recorded Ukrainian immigrant was a gentleman by the name of Iwan Pylypiw (aka. Ivan Pylypow) in 1891. Just think about how difficult that journey would have been travelling by ship across the Atlantic and then making his way west to Alberta...Well done Ivan, well done!
Another fun fact - Alberta and Saskatchewan were still apart of the Northwest Territories at the time of Ivan's arrival and officially became their own provinces in 1905 completing the map of western Canada we see today.
We are very excited the Ukrainian culture made its way to Canada because of how amazing the people are, what they did for our Canadian culture, the outstanding food, their celebrations and fun-loving traditions.
A large plains & wood bison conservation!
Elk Island has been an ungulate conservation since the the early 1900's. It was in 1907 when the Canadian government purchased one of the last and largest pure bred plains bison from the Pablo-Allard herd in Montana. There were also close to 400 plains bison translocated to Elk Island as a temporary waystation until the fence for the Buffalo National Park was built just outside of Wainwright, Alberta.
In 1909, the fence at Buffalo National Park was completed and 325 plains bison were shipped from Elk Island to their new home. Why only 325? Well, the remaining bison decided that they didn't want to be shipped and ended up evading the capture for the newly established Buffalo National Park. The estimated 40-70 rebellious bison are now the ancestors of the current bison roaming Elk Island today! After their first journey from Montana to Elk Island, who could blame them for not wanting to experience that again?
Where did the wood bison come from? Luckily, a herd of roughly 200 disease free and fairly pure bred wood bison were located by the Nyarling river in Wood Buffalo National Park (different from Buffalo National Park) in 1957. It wasn't until 1963 when 23 wood bison were shipped to the south end of Elk Island National Park where they remain the genetically purest breed of wood bison in the world.
Wondering why these bison conservations came to life? In the late 19th century, there were roughly 300 bison left in all of the world and is scary to think about. The bison population was at an all time low because of new settlers over hunting only for their hides and were also severely infected with diseases such as tuberculosis and brucellosis. It was predicted that if the they were not protected as an endangered species; bison could have been extinct by 1940.
Thankfully due to the extensive research and caring individuals, bison have been saved as a species in North America and are some of the most beautiful large ungulates in the world.
Fun fact - Elks Island continually manage roughly 400 pure bread/disease free plains bison and in the region of 300 wood bison. When the bison population exceeds those numbers, they are then sold around the world to other conservations and the proceeds go to funding National Parks in Canada!
Another fun fact - After years of careful planning and consideration, 16 bison (who were primarily pregnant 2-year old's) were translocated and reintroduced in a remote backcountry area of Banff National Park that saw little human use. In 2018, 39 bison were released into their new 1200 square-kilometer area on the eastern slopes of the park. Since then, the bison have flourished in the mountainous region and have increased to population of 65 as of 2021!
A herd of buffalo basking under the prairie sun in Elk Island National Park.
A buffalo calf and its mother at Elk Island National Park.
Hiking, snowshoeing, xc skiing & geocaching!
Elk Island National Park has a great trail system for people of all ages to enjoy. These trails offer options to walk on boardwalks, single track trails, double track and are open all year round for those who like to play in the snow!
There are different starting points throughout Elk Island as well as a driving loop option to view the wood & plains bison roaming the park.
For those who are planning summer visits, the best time to see the bison is in the morning or late afternoon/early evening because they tend to hide in the shade during the hot afternoons.
Our personal favorites are around Astotin Lake because they offer great lake views, boardwalks, and wildlife viewing areas people will remember. These trails tend to be a little busier during the peak season (summer months) because they are in the centre of the park and in the morning or late afternoon/early evening the trails tend to calm down.
- Astotin Lakeview Trail (Loop) - 3.7km with 47m of elevation gain and considered to be "easy/green" in difficulty. Great trail to get out on some single track for bird watching, lake views & wildlife.
- Astotin Lake Shorline Trail (Out & Back) - 6.4km with 85m of elevation gain and considered to be "easy/green" in difficulty. Experience viewing different islands along this trail and in the winter, people are able to cross the lake to Elk Island!
- Astotin Lake Living Waters Boardwalk (Loop) - 1.1km with 10m of elevation gain and considered to be "easy/green" in difficulty. It also has interpretive signs to make this short loop interactive and educational!
- Amisk Wuche Trail (Loop) - 2.9km with 52m of elevation gain and considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty. Located across from the main parking lot and is a trail with a boardwalk and a great option for bird watching and aquatic life.
- Beaver Pond Trail (Loop) - 3.5km with 46m of elevation gain and is considered to be "easy/green" in difficulty. This trail is located north down the Elk Island Parkway and has a parking lot at the entrance. A great trail to view the wood bison, beavers, birds and the beautiful landscape.
Looking for something a little more challenging with longer distances or XC skiing options? The trails listed below are longer in length and are located south of the Astotin Lake main parking lot.
- Hayburger Trail (Loop) - 11.9km with 141m of elevation gain and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty. This trail does not have a significant amount of tree coverage so make sure to plan accordingly with sunscreen, hats, water and snacks. We have had great luck on this trail viewing bison and moose.
- Tawayik Lake Trail (Loop) - 15.3km with 196m of elevation gain and considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
- Fun fact - Tawayik is the Cree word for halfway! A great challenging hike around the lake and please note dogs are NOT allowed on the southern leg of this trail.
- Shirly Lake, Paul Lake & Oster Lake Trail (Loop) - 11.7km with 155m of elevation gain and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty. A great trail to explore a few different lakes plus the opportunity to view bison, elk & moose.
- Wood Bison Trail (Loop) - 15.6km with 217m of elevation and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty. This trail is located south of HWY 16 and is another great location for viewing wood bison, moose, elk & plenty of birds.
Geocaching:
Elk Island has 8 geocaches located in the park along these trails and we have provided a few cache options below to help start a geocaching journey!
- Island on the Prairies - N 53° 40.674 W 112° 49.785
- Under Dark Skies - N 53° 40.668 W 112° 49.788
- Explore Amiskwaciy - N 53° 40.546 W 112° 48.896
**Please note**
Do not feed any of the wildlife in the park because they are not used to human food and could cause the animals to get sick or engage with humans in an unsafe way. There is a very hefty fine if anyone is caught feeding wildlife so please respect the National Park rules.
In need of an annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass?
For those who don't know, National Parks across Canada have a fee to enter. These fees help with maintaining the parks and thank everyone involved for their hard work!
2024 Day Use Fees:
Adult (18 - 64): - $9.00 each
Senior (65+): - $7.75 each
Youth (6 - 17): - FREE
Family/Group: - $17.50 per vehicle up to 7 people
2024 Parks Canada Discovery Pass:
Adult: - $75.25
Senior: - $64.50
Family/Group: - $151.25 per vehicle up to 7 people
The Parks Canada Discovery Pass is an annual pass which can be used at any Canadian National Park. We feel this is the best value for dollar option if anyone is planning on visiting multiple National Park destinations through the year.
A view from the Astotin Lake Shoreline Trail.
A single track trail in Elk Island National Park.
Kayaking & canoeing
There is always something surreal about being out on the water paddling around Elk Island. There are many small islands to explore, beautiful scenery and the feeling of calmness out on Astotin Lake.
A hand boat launch is available at the main parking lot of Astotin Lake and a very lovely beach as well.
The lake is a great place to cool off in the hot summer months and want to let people know there have been cases of swimmers' itch for those with sensitive skin. Not to worry though, Parks Canada has installed a fresh water shower near the main beach on Astotin Lake and is actually very refreshing after a swim to help with the swimmers' itch possibility. It's recommended to limit time spent in the water and then rinsing off thoroughly with fresh clean water after swimming.
Like many of the other lakes around Alberta, blue-green algae periodically bloom certain times of the year. It's always a great idea to check important bulletins before swimming and Parks Canada will also post signage around the lakes if algae is present.
The following link will take everyone to Elk Island's important bulletins for water & trail updates.
We also wanted to share a nice paddle along the shores of Astotin Lake that is great for viewing the scenery and wildlife.
- Astotin Lake Paddle - 9.8km which takes roughly 3 hours to complete and is considered to be "moderate/blue" in difficulty.
** Please Note**
Parks Canada strongly encourages certified life jackets or a personal flotation device (PFD) be worn anytime people are on the water because weather can change quickly. The beaches and open water are not controlled and there are no lifeguards on the beach so we want everyone to be as safe as possible when they are enjoying the lakes.
Rentals are available!
Haskin Canoe offers options to rent kayak's canoe's, stand up paddle boards and snowshoes in the winter.
The other neat thing is they also offer courses for paddling, voyager tours, evening paddle options, floating classrooms, student clinics, adventure trips and more!
We highly recommend checking them out for those who do not have a flotation device and want to have an adventure out on Astotin Lake.
People enjoying paddling life on Astotin Lake.
Enjoying the calmness & scenery on Astotin Lake.
Camping & day-use picnic areas
Elk Island offers many options for camping including the Astotin Lake campsite, oTENTik (glamping), and even backcountry camping along the shores of Oster Lake!
There are 75 non-serviced campsites including 15 walk-in tent sites and 5 oTENTiks to choose from.
Each site includes the following:
- Picnic Table
- Fire pit (Bundled firewood & fire permit can be purchased at the Visitor Info Centre or Campground kiosk)
- Sites are gravel and raised off for water runoff purposes
There are also communal areas that include:
- Washrooms with showers
- Portable water taps
- RV grey water dump/fill station
- Shared kitchen shelter
oTENTiks:
Wondering about the oTENTiks and what they are all about? They are an A-Frame tent with a deck and are considered to be a bit more of a "glamping" experience because these are all set up upon arrival and include actual beds.
The oTENTiks include:
- One double bed, two singles and a bunkbed (who's claiming top bunk?)
- Electric baseboard heater in case of a cold prairie evening
- Indoor table with 4 chairs
- USB charging port and battery-powered lantern
- Smoke & carbon dioxide detector along with a fire extinguisher
- Propane BBQ with a tank
- Parking for one vehicle due to the space
- Fire pit with 4 outdoor chairs
- Outdoor picnic table
Visitors will need to bring a few things with them if they choose to stay in the oTENTiks and have provided a list below for planning:
- Sleeping bags, pillows and/or extra blankets for the colder months of the year like May & Sept.
- Food, snacks, water, and any other drinks people may like
- Dishes, eating utensils, and a cooler
- Flashlights
- Cards, a crib board, or something to do during downtime
**Please Note**
Do not cook, prepare, or store food inside the oTENTiks. Make sure to cook outside and store any coolers & food inside of a vehicle because of the local wildlife. This is because people may get a bear scratching at their tent door looking for a late-night snack.
Backcountry Camping:
Backcountry camping is considered to be the most peaceful camping experience at Elk Island because it is away from the traffic with no lights and under the beautiful prairie skies along west shore of Oster Lake. The neat thing is having to hike 6km to the site while sleeping under the starts hearing howls of the the local coyotes.
A little info on the backcountry campsites:
- 5 sites available for reservation (reservations are mandatory so they know people are out there for safety purposes)
- Pit/Vault toilets available
- Picnic table & fire pits are provided at each site
- Fire permits must be purchased at the Visitor Centre & firewood is available at the Astotin Campground
**Please Note**
These sites are remote and to plan accordingly. Here are some recommendations on what to bring to help keep the site safe.
- Bear spray
- Bags & some sort of pulley system to hang food above ground in the trees away from the tent if it is not sealed.
- Waterproof matches
- 24 hr trip plan & to share it with someone before heading out because there is limited cell phone service.
- Proper clothing & footwear for any sudden weather changes
Backcountry camping is a very fun, challenging, unique, and rewarding experience! We always recommend people to research the gear needed and what it entails for no sudden surprises on the trip.
Day-use picnic areas:
Not looking to stay over night but need a site to cook breakfast, lunch or dinner? Not to worry; Elk Island also offers many day-use picnic sites at Astotin Lake, Beaver Bay & Tawayik Lake. Each recreation area provides easy access to the parking area for transporting supplies.
The day-use sites provide picnic tables & fire pit to help with meal planning. If there is a large group; they also offer communal covered Pavilion picnic shelters with a fire place to cook hotdogs, marshmallows or whatever else may come to mind.
There are also some fantastic playgrounds for the kiddo's to enjoy so they can burn of some energy.
Book a camping reservation today!
Camping at Elk Island National Park is open year-round and the sites are UNSERVICED.
There are showers and flushing toilets in the washroom building.
Camping Rates:
- Astotin Lake: $28.50 per night
- Overflow: $17.50 per night
- oTENTik: $133.25 per night
- Winter $17.50 per night
Backcountry Camping:
- Oster Lake: $13.50 per night
- Winter: $ 7.50 per night
Camping Services:
- Fire permit: $9.00 per night
- Bundled Firewood: $7.45 each
**Please note **
The fees listed above DO NOT include the National Park fees. The Park fees are separate when entering Elk Island.
An oTENTik campsite at Elk Island National Park
Nothing like a fire out in the wilderness
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village
Although the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is not technically in Elk Island National Park; we had to put this on the list because of how fun, educational, and incredible it is.
The great thing about this Village is that in the summer months there are "locals" who live there for plays happening within the park. Plus, these locals are also there to answer any questions people may have about the early pioneers and how they thrived in the prairies.
Fun story - On one of our visits, one of the "locals" was caught for stealing chickens from one of the farms. The police chased him down in the street trying to catch him and eventually ended up arresting him. Later that day, a trial was held for his conviction of this crime. It was such a neat experience to see how situations like that were handled in the early 1900's and the actors are/were just amazing.
There are many different buildings to explore in the village and each one has historic significance. We thought we would include each of them below for people to read up on before planning their visit to add to the excitement.
- Burdei
- Slemko House
- Grekul House
- Hlus House
- Wostok Hardware
- Radway Livery Barn
- Bellis Canadian National Railway Station
- Alberta Lumber Company
- Demchuk Blacksmith Shop
- Morecambe School
- St.Nicholas Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church
- Hilliard Hotel
- St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church
- Bellis Home Grain Elevator Company
- Andrew Alberta Provincial Police Post
For all those people who love Ukrainian food as much as we do, the Ukrainian Cultural village has also provided some incredible recipes to try at home.
- Borshch (Beet Soup)
- Kolach (braided bread)
- Kutia (Sweet cooked wheat)
- Pyrohy (Home made Perogies)
- Red Fife Bread
To read up on how to make each of these delicious dishes, please click on this link.
The first picture below is a mud/clay A-frame house with logs for the roof. The roof is then packed with dirt and mud for the shingles so grass could grow to insulate the quaint home. Once inside, there is a view of how early Ukrainian settlers lived providing a bed, table, wood burning stove with a chimney for warmth. It is quite the sight to see and was surprisingly clean inside all things considered. This "Burdei" house alone is a reason to go and see how settlers in the early 1900's lived. They worked with what was available to create a beautiful little quaint home and succeeded with their new life on the prairies!
We feel the Ukrainian Cultural Village is a must see if anyone is in the area and to plan for at least a half day to wander around the park and learn about Alberta's early Ukrainian settlers.
Looking to visit?
The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is open seasonally from late May - early September.
Please note - The gift shop and food services are only open during the summer season. Please plan ahead if anyone is planning to visit during in the spring or fall months.
Seasonal hours of operation:
May 18th - Sept. 2nd
Wednesday - Sunday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Monday: CLOSED (with the exception of any holiday landing on a Monday)
Tuesday: CLOSED
Admission Fees: (Prices include GST)
Adult (18-64): $15.00
Senior (65+): $13.00
Youth (7-17): $10.00
Child (0-6): FREE
Canadian Military (with CFOne card) and the friends of the Ukrainian Village Society members are FREE!
Please note - Due to maintaining historical accuracy, buildings in the historic village have limited accessibility for wheelchairs. The grounds and the Visitor Centre are wheelchair accessible.
A replica of a 1900's "Burdei" style home
St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church - Built 1934
Hlus House - Built 1915-1916
