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FrançaisElk Island National Park is open 365 days a year, sits about 40 minutes east of Edmonton, and is best known for the bison herds that were built up here when the species had almost vanished from North America. The main things to do are driving the bison loop, walking or snowshoeing the trails, paddling Astotin Lake in summer and camping between mid-May and Thanksgiving. Admission is C$10.00 for an adult and C$19.50 for a family or group in a single vehicle.
I went in winter as a day trip from Edmonton, spotted bison in the snow, and ate maple toffee poured onto a frozen lake. What follows is what I did, what else there is, and the practical detail that changed in 2026.
8 of the best things to do in Elk Island National Park
The 8 things below are what the park is worth visiting for, ordered with the year-round activities first and the summer ones after. Numbers 1 to 3 are what I did on a winter day trip.
1. Drive the bison loop
Driving the bison loop is the fastest way to see the animals the park exists for, and it is the first thing we did. Bison were close to extinction in North America at the start of the 20th century, and a herd was brought to Elk Island to secure the species and build the numbers back up. It worked well enough that bison from here have since been used to seed herds elsewhere, and the park runs a Bison Festival each August to mark it.
It was nowhere near August when I visited, so we went looking for bison in the snow instead, and found them. Two brown shapes against a backdrop of forest, turning out to be large, entirely unbothered animals that could knock you down without noticing. They were busy grazing. One man got fairly close for his photographs; I did not have a telephoto lens with me and still did not fancy it.
Keep your distance and stay in the vehicle on the loop. Bison are unpredictable, and the park publishes guidance on behaving around them that is worth reading before you go.
2. Spot the other wildlife
Elk Island holds a dense population of hoofed mammals, so bison are only part of what you might see. Driving and walking, you can come across deer, moose, elk, beaver, coyote, lynx, black bear and wolverine, though elk in particular are elusive and I did not see one.
We were there for about 3 hours and saw 2 bison and, at a distance, 1 coyote. That is worth saying plainly: this is not a safari park, and a short visit can be quiet.
3. Go snowshoeing in winter
Snowshoeing is how you cover the park in winter, and it needs no skill beyond walking. After the bison loop our guide took us out on snowshoes around and onto the frozen lake. You strap on shoes built to spread your weight over the snow and you walk.
We only went for about half an hour before our guide sat down in the middle of the frozen lake and made maple toffee. She heated syrup, poured it onto the ice to set for a moment, then rolled it onto a stick so it came up like a lollipop. Sweet, sticky and very good.
If you want more on what to eat in the country, I have written about Canadian foods separately.
4. Walk the official trails
The park has a network of marked hiking trails that range from short loops to half-day walks, so there is something at most levels of fitness. Named trails include the Wood Bison Trail, Moss Lake Trail, Amisk Wuche Trail, Hayburger Trail, Astotin Lakeview Trail, Tawayik Lake Trail, Beaver Pond Trail, Shirley Lake Trail and the Elk Island Loop.
Check trail conditions on the Parks Canada site before you set out, because they change with the season and with wildlife activity, and pick up a map at the visitor centre if you would rather not rely on a phone.
5. Find the red chairs
Every Canadian national park has a pair of red Adirondack chairs placed to face a view worth sitting in front of, and Elk Island is no exception. Sit down and take in the view, or use them as the photograph.
They are not the only reason to bring a camera. The silence and the openness are the character of the place, and photographers do well here.
6. Watch birds
Elk Island is a strong birdwatching site because its wetlands give birds somewhere to feed and breed. The park is a recognised stop for waterfowl, and the trumpeter swan is among the species associated with it.
Viewing is best around dawn. The spring and autumn migrations bring the widest range of species through at once, and if you are not confident identifying what you see, a guided outing with a local expert is the way to do it.
7. Paddle Astotin Lake
Astotin Lake is the centre of summer activity in the park, and motorboats are not allowed on it, so it stays quiet. Canoeing and paddling around its islands is the main draw, and Beaver Bay is a good target to stop at for a picnic.
The Astotin Lake Recreation Area on the shore has a picnic area, showers and washrooms, plus a sandy beach if you would rather sit and read. There are firepits if you want to stay past dusk. The campground kiosk is open daily from 10.30am to 7.30pm between 15 May and 12 October 2026.
8. Camp overnight
The park has 2 campgrounds, at Astotin Lake and at Oster Lake, and both run from mid-May to Thanksgiving Day, weather permitting. Oster Lake is the backcountry option.
Book ahead through the Parks Canada reservation service, because sites are limited and go quickly. A reservation, change or cancellation costs C$11.50 online or C$13.50 by phone.
Practical information for visiting Elk Island National Park
Elk Island charges admission, opens its gates permanently and its buildings seasonally, and is reached by car in about 40 minutes from Edmonton. The four sections below cover fees, guided programmes, hours and getting there.
Entry fees in 2026
Entry to Elk Island is charged per person or per vehicle-load, and regular fees resumed on 8 September 2026, after a period of free admission under the Canada Strong Pass that ended on 7 September. Anyone who visited earlier in 2026 and paid nothing should expect to pay now. Current rates are below.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Adult, daily | C$10.00 |
| Senior (65+), daily | C$8.75 |
| Youth 17 and under | Free |
| Family or group, daily | C$19.50 |
| Commercial group, per person | C$8.50 |
| Adult, annual | C$48.25 |
| Senior, annual | C$42.50 |
| Family or group, annual | C$96.75 |
A family or group ticket covers up to 7 people arriving in one vehicle. An early-bird annual pass is cheaper if you buy between 1 December and 31 March: C$38.75 for an adult and C$34.00 for a senior.
At the exchange rates of 10 September 2026, C$10.00 is about €6, $7 and £5, and C$19.50 is about €12, $14 and £10. Canadian dollars are written C$ here so they are not read as US dollars.
Guided programmes
The park runs paid guided programmes alongside free access to the trails. The Bison Backstage tour takes you to the bison handling facility to learn how the herds are managed, and costs C$16.50 per person for groups of up to 20, or C$8.75 per person above 20. A guided Snowshoe and Stargaze programme costs C$41.00, and Gateway to the Stars costs C$18.50.
Opening hours
The park itself is open and accessible 365 days a year and around the clock, so there is no closing time to plan around. What has hours is the buildings.
- Wahkotowin Visitor Information Centre: open 7 days a week, 9.30am to 4.30pm. From 15 May to 8 September 2026 it runs 9.30am to 6.30pm on weekdays and 9.30am to 7.30pm at weekends.
- Astotin Theatre Interpretive Centre: closed from 8 September 2026 until 21 May 2027.
- Astotin Lake Campground Kiosk: daily 10.30am to 7.30pm, 15 May to 12 October 2026.
If you are working from an older guide that gives the park itself seasonal hours and a Christmas Day closure, that is not how it works. The gates do not close; only the staffed buildings have opening times. Hours, fees and trail conditions are all published on the Elk Island National Park pages at Parks Canada, which is also where the guidance on behaving around bison sits.
Getting there
Driving is the practical way to reach Elk Island, and a car is also how you get around once inside. The park is roughly 40 minutes east of Edmonton off Highway 16, and you will want the vehicle for the bison loop and to move between trailheads.
If you are flying in and need a car, DiscoverCars compares rental offers across suppliers and has a best-price guarantee.
What to wear at Elk Island in winter
Wear knee-high snow boots and merino layers if you are visiting between November and March, because you will be standing still outdoors a lot. Tall boots let you push through deeper snow to get a better line on wildlife, and they are what snowshoes strap onto most securely.
I was comfortable in 2 merino base layers under 2 fleeces, with merino socks, a merino legging under jeans and snow boots, plus a warm hat and gloves. The wind is the thing that catches people out, especially on the open plains where there is nothing to break it.
My full Edmonton winter packing list has the rest of it.
Where to stay near Elk Island National Park
There is no hotel inside the park, so you either camp or base yourself in Edmonton or one of the towns between. Your options are listed below, closest first.
- In the park: the Astotin Lake and Oster Lake campgrounds, mid-May to Thanksgiving.
- Fort Saskatchewan: roughly halfway between Edmonton and the park, and the shortest drive in of any town.
- Lamont: a small town just north of the park.
- Edmonton: the widest choice by far, and about 40 minutes away, which is a manageable day-trip distance either way.
Edmonton is where most people stay, and if you are building a longer trip my guide to things to do in Edmonton in winter covers 3 days in the city, including where I stayed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to enter Elk Island National Park? C$10.00 for an adult per day, C$8.75 for a senior, free for anyone 17 and under, and C$19.50 for a family or group arriving in one vehicle. Regular fees resumed on 8 September 2026.
How long should I spend at Elk Island? Half a day covers the bison loop and a short trail, which is roughly what I had. A full day lets you add a longer hike or, in summer, the lake.
Will I definitely see bison? No. The herds roam and sightings are not guaranteed. I saw 2 in about 3 hours in winter. Driving the bison loop slowly, early or late in the day, gives you the best chance.
Is Elk Island worth visiting in winter? Yes, and it is quieter then. Snowshoeing is the main winter activity, the bison are easier to pick out against snow, and the park is dark enough at night to see the aurora when conditions allow.
Can you visit Elk Island without a car? It is difficult. There is no transit to the park and the points of interest are spread out along roads, so a car or a guided tour is effectively necessary.
WonderfulWanderings Pro Tips
The 4 tips below come from my own winter day at Elk Island and from the park’s current 2026 information.
- Budget half a day and accept you may see little. We spent about 3 hours and saw 2 bison and 1 coyote. The park is not stocked for visitors, and going in expecting a guaranteed spectacle is how people leave disappointed.
- Buy the annual pass between 1 December and 31 March if you are going more than four times. The early-bird adult rate is C$38.75 against C$48.25 the rest of the year, and daily entry is C$10.00.
- Book Bison Backstage as a group if you can. It is C$16.50 per person for up to 20 people and drops to C$8.75 per person above that, so a larger party halves the cost each.
- Wear boots tall enough to snowshoe in. Knee-high snow boots let you get off the packed trail towards whatever you have spotted, and they are what the snowshoe bindings grip.
About the author. This guide is written and maintained by the Wonderful Wanderings editorial team. Wonderful Wanderings was founded in 2012 by Sofie Couwenbergh, and the first-hand notes in this post come from her winter day trip to Elk Island National Park from Edmonton, including a guided snowshoe outing on the frozen lake. The team covers Canada for independent travellers, including the parks, tours, car rental and cold-weather gear worth booking, and updates this page when fees, opening hours and seasons change.
I was invited to Elk Island by Edmonton Tourism. The choice to enjoy myself was entirely mine.
