Tracey Sawatzky

35 minutes east of Edmonton (or one hour from the Edmonton International airport) is Elk Island National Park, a diverse northern prairie ecosystem with grassland, aspen and boreal forest that is home to a variety of mammals and over 250 bird species. The Amisk Wuche (Cree for “Beaver Hills”) Trail showcases the diversity of the park winding through aspen, birch and spruce forests, marsh and ta...

Just 33 km southwest of Edmonton is Clifford E Lee Nature Sanctuary. A 348 acre protected area in Parkland County that attracts a diversity of animals, and bird species. The area has about 5 km of multiple connected trails through the diverse landscape and is classified as easy. Once you leave the parking lot, you will start on the boardwalk loop. A raised boardwalk that winds through marshland...

Located in Sooke, between the Sooke Harbour and the Juan de Fuca Strait is Whiffin Spit Park. An easy 2.4km out and back trail with minimal elevation gain that you can walk to the end and back in about an hour. The dog-friendly gravel trail takes you down the spit to the end where you will find a lighthouse. There are plenty of wooden benches along the path to give you the opportunity to sit ba...