Elk Island National Park
Established in 1906 to protect elk in their southern boreal plains habitat, Elk Island has helped recover many species from the brink of extinction, including beavers, bison, and trumpeter swans. It's now home to the densest population of ungulates in Canada, including several hundred elk, plains bison, and wood bison. Beavers, once virtually eliminated from the area, now dominate the ponds and wetlands, where you’ll find large beaver dens the size of studio apartments. The park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year, and makes a perfect day trip or a multiday backcountry option. Hiking and biking are great ways to experience the park; in winter, cross-country skiing and pond skating are the preferred way to enjoy the colder weather.
