Elk Island National Park (Bicycle Tour)

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Elk Island National Park (Bicycle Tour)

On 26 May 2024, Zosia Zgolak and I visited Elk Island National Park located just east of Edmonton, Alberta. Both of us had separately visited the park in the past, but this time, we would together do a partial tour on bicycle. Although there are not many bicycle pathways here, the park's access roads are not particularly busy (except apparently on nights when aurora activity is predicted to be high) and are ideal for cycling. Starting from the Park Administration & Operations building (53.68323, -112.86865) near the West Entrance, we rode south along the administration road which hugs the west shore of Astotin Lake. Where the road bends away from the lake, we turned off to take a paved pathway running more or less along the south shore all the way to Astotin Lake Campground. At one point, we stopped at a bench near a footbridge to observe some waterfowl when a bison surprisingly emerged from the woods just behind us. Perceiving us to be no threat, the bison casually grazed on a patch of grass beside the pathway not that far from us and seemed perfectly content until it was spooked by a family on bicycles who came zooming obliviously across the footbridge. The bison nearly ran over one of the cyclists as it tried to get away, and admittedly, I was kind of rooting for the bison.

When Zosia and I resumed cycling, we rode to the end of the pathway at Astotin Lake Campground and made a short detour onto the Living Waters Boardwalk near the campground's theatre. From there, we connected with the main parkway and cycled to the North Entrance before turning around and returning to the campground. Instead of retracing our route along the south shore pathway, we stayed on the main parkway until we reached the junction with the administration road. Turning right, we rode back to our starting point without any trouble.

After packing up our bicycles, Zosia and I drove to the Oster Lake trailhead/picnic area to enjoy a relaxing lunch. Before exiting the park at the South Entrance, we drove the Bison Loop Road, but disappointingly, the bison we saw there were too far away to get any good photographs.

	Zosia turns onto a paved pathway which leads to Astotin Lake Campground.
	Some waterfowl can be seen in this southeastern corner of Astotin Lake.

Perfect for target shooting!

In this zoomed-in view, the waterfowl turn out to be some pelicans. Note the great blue heron on the far shore at left.

Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak

	As Sonny watches the pelicans from this bench, something big appears on the pathway in the trees at left. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	A bison wanders casually out of the trees beside the pathway.
	Zosia rides onto the Living Waters Boardwalk near Astotin Lake Campground.
	Zosia and Sonny pose with their bicycles in front of Astotin Lake.

Surprisingly scenic despite the lack of mountains!

This is one of many nameless ponds along the northern half of the main parkway.

	Zosia rides past several Canada geese near a marshy pond.
	Sonny and Zosia pose behind the park sign near the North Entrance.
	Zosia rides back to her starting point along the administration road beside Astotin Lake.
	A bison appears to be resting in a glade not far from the main parkway. Photo courtesy of Zosia Zgolak
	Total Distance: 26.0 kilometres Round-Trip Time: 2 hours 35 minutes Cumulative Elevation Gain: 54 metres GPX Data