This stunning park near Edmonton is a critical wildlife habitat | Daily Hive

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Just northwest of Edmonton, past the last rows of houses and big-box stores, is an incredible natural oasis that is considered one of Alberta’s most important wildlife habitats.

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park spans more than 1,100 hectares of wetlands, walking trails, and some pretty unreal bird watching. It surrounds Big Lake, which, as the name suggests, is a rather large feature of the park. It’s one of the most accessible places in the capital region to unwind and reconnect with nature.

What’s in a name?

The area was designated a provincial park on Earth Day in 2005, Alberta’s centennial year, and named after the late Lois Hole, Alberta’s beloved Lieutenant Governor and a champion of education, community, and, fittingly, the province’s green spaces.

Hole, who served from 2000 until her death in December 2005, was known as the “Queen of Hugs,” often breaking protocol to embrace pretty much anybody she met. She and her family also owned Hole’s Greenhouses & Gardens in St. Albert, founded in 1952. Nearly 30 years later, it grew into one of Canada’s largest independent garden centres before being rebranded as Enjoy Garden Centre, under new ownership, located just minutes from the park.

What you’ll find in the park

Well, Big Lake, for one. The shallow, 8 km lake makes up nearly 60 per cent of the park’s area and is considered one of the 20 most important wildlife habitat areas in Alberta. More than 235 bird species have been recorded here, including Trumpeter Swans, Peregrine Falcons, owls, Bald Eagles, and massive fall gatherings of Tundra Swans and pelicans, where as many as 20,000 birds can stop here at once.

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The lake is also home to one of only three bird-foot deltas in Alberta. According to National Geographic, a bird-foot delta has a few widely spaced distributaries, giving it the appearance of a bird’s foot. The Mississippi River is one of the world’s best-known examples.

A network of trails connects from Rotary Park in Riel Recreation Park, winding along the Red Willow Trail System toward the lake and wetlands. There’s also a wheelchair-accessible viewing platform, rebuilt in 2020 with helical piles, new decking, and a second set of binoculars.

The surrounding wetlands are home to moose, deer, beaver, coyotes, and the occasional porcupine, while the lake itself is home to northern pike, walleye, goldeye, and white sucker.

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How to get there

Access to the Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park parking lot is available at the intersection of Ray Gibbon Drive and LeClair Way.

Parking is also available at Rotary Park in Riel Recreation Park, where you can walk or bike along the Red Willow Trail System to the lake and wetlands.

What to bring

It is a wetland, so bug spray is a must if you want to stay comfortable. A good pair of walking shoes is always a good idea, although the boardwalks and trails are mostly flat. Don’t forget water to stay hydrated on a hot summer day and some sunscreen if you’ll be out for a while.

Have fun exploring!