Elk Island National Park

Elk Island National Park is located just east of Edmonton, Alberta and is the only fully-enclosed national park in Canada. It was initially established as a wildlife refuge to protect one of the last big elk herds in the region. Despite its name, Elk Island is actually famous for its bison and plays a key role in their conservation. It is the only national park that maintains both plains and wood bison. As such, it is one of the best places in the world to see bison.

Drumheller

Drumheller is known as the dinosaur capital of the world. It is located in the Canadian Badlands just northeast of Calgary and has been home to a significant amount of dinosaur-related discoveries, including fossils and skeletons. The landscape also contains an impressive display of rock formations, canyons and hoodoos.

Jasper National Park

Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. It is best known for its vast wilderness, majestic mountains, turquoise lakes and abundant wildlife. It offers many outstanding opportunities to hike, camp and just enjoy the beautiful outdoors.

Banff & Jasper National Parks

With sweeping vistas of the Rocky Mountains in its backyard and commanding views of turquoise lakes fed by nearby glaciers, Alberta is what the Canadian great outdoors is all about. With a plethora of national parks scattered around the southwestern part of the province  there are endless hiking opportunities and great chances of glimpsing wildlife in their natural habitat.

Waterton Lakes National Park

Situated in southwestern Alberta, Waterton Lakes National Park is where the prairies meet the mountains. It is nestled right on the border just north of Montana's Glacier National Park. Together, these two parks formed the first ever International Peace Park  to better preserve and protect the shared ecosystem.

A day in Calgary

I flew down to Calgary with my good friend A and spent the last four days in Banff National Park. We initially booked a campsite at the Two Jack Main Campground, but the forecast was calling for rain overnight and we didn't want to pack up a wet tent in the morning. Plus it was cold. Instead, we headed back to Calgary to spend our final day of our trip out west.