Wild about Saskatchewan ’ s wildlife
In Pursuit of Alberta adventure
Western Canada
COMPILED BY PAT HENDERSON
Wild about Saskatchewan ’ s wildlife
CHRIS HENDRICKSON / TOURISM SASKATCHEWAN
“ Saskatchewan is a phenomenal destination for watching wildlife ,” says Tourism Saskatchewan ’ s Amy McInnis . “ With a rich diversity of landscapes — from the prairie vistas and rugged badlands of the south , to the immense northern boreal forest that blankets the province ’ s north , dotted with 100,000 lakes and rivers — there is no end to the pristine environments that wildlife thrive in here .”
Nature lovers have plenty of places across the province where they can see everything from loons and whooping cranes to antelope and elk . McInnis recommends the following parks and nature reserves as top choices :
Prince Albert National Park National Geographic Traveler named this regional gem one of Canada ’ s 50 Places of a Lifetime . The park ’ s boreal woodlands area is home to 195 species of birds along with elk , bear and the occasional wolf .
Grasslands National Park At one of the largest tracts of native prairie in North America , visitors can see endangered species such as the Plains bison , pronghorn antelope , ferruginous hawks and the greater short-horned lizard .
Cypress Hills Destination Area The Cypress Hills are part of a forested plateau in the southwest corner of Saskatchewan and the southeast corner of Alberta , an area where moose , pronghorn , thousands of birds and other wildlife thrive .
Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area Established in 1887 , the wildlife area is North America ’ s oldest bird sanctuary . Millions of waterfowl pass through each fall , and enthusiasts also may catch a glimpse of the elusive whooping crane .
Reach out to McInnis at amy . mcinnis @ tourismsask . com or visit trade . tourismsaskatchewan . com to learn more .
Mule deer in Grasslands National Park
GLACIER SKYWALK | PURSUIT
Glacier Skywalk near Alberta ’ s Columbia Icefields
In Pursuit of Alberta adventure
Pursuit is a multi-faceted company that owns and operates a collection of nature-based tour offerings in Alberta ’ s Canadian Rockies ; Vancouver , British Columbia ; Alaska ; Montana ; and , as of 2019 , Iceland .
“ Our world-class attractions , distinctive lodges and travel experiences help adventurous people from around the world discover and connect with iconic locations ,” says Eliza Fair , the company ’ s sales manager – North America , Australia and New Zealand .
Pursuit ’ s Banff Jasper Collection , which many NTA members know as Brewster Travel Canada , includes a number of hotels and sightseeing excursions in Alberta . The company ’ s adventure center along the Icefields Parkway is the starting point for many of the programs , including Glacier Skywalk and Glacier Adventure .
A shuttle takes guests from the center to the skywalk , which extends out from the side of the mountain , 918 feet above the canyon floor . “ Taking a jaw-dropping walk along the glass-floored Glacier Skywalk at the cliff ’ s edge is an unforgettable experience ,” Fair says .
As part of the Glacier Adventure , travelers board a massive Ice Explorer that transports them to Athabasca Glacier . During their time outside the specially crafted earth rover , guests get to walk on , feel and drink from a glacier .
Two other popular experiences , a Maligne Lake Cruise and a ride on the Banff Gondola , offer additional Alberta adventures in Jasper and Banff , respectively .
To find out more , contact Fair at efair @ pursuitcollection . com or visit pursuitcollection . com .
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