Strathcona Science Provincial Park
Encyclopedia
Strathcona Science Provincial Park is a provincial park
in Alberta
, Canada
, located between Edmonton and Sherwood Park
, south of the Yellowhead Highway
and west of Highway 216.
The park is situated in the North Saskatchewan River
valley, on both banks of the river, at an elevation of 625 m (2,050.5 ft) and has a surface of 2.9 km² (1.1 sq mi). It was established on December 12, 1979 and is maintained by Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture.
This site was for thousands of years the site of an annual aboriginal camp, as it was located close enough to the river for transportation and trade and the bluffs of the river valley provided excellent bison-hunting opportunities. The park was established to preserve the site from encroaching industrial development. It was the site of archeological excavations in 1978 to 1980.
The park contains several abandoned interpretive buildings
opened by the Alberta government in 1980 but now shuttered. Remnants of the park's history as a public science center include tiled triangular obelisks
, a boardwalk
through the archaeological area, and a few interpretive plaques. The area is safe but overgrown.
Provincial park
A provincial park is a park under the management of a provincial or territorial government in Canada.While provincial parks are not the same as national parks, their workings are very similar...
in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, located between Edmonton and Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park, Alberta
Sherwood Park is a large hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Strathcona County that is recognized as an urban service area. It is located adjacent to the City of Edmonton's eastern boundary, generally south of Highway 16 , west of Highway 21 and north of Highway 630...
, south of the Yellowhead Highway
Yellowhead Highway
The Yellowhead Highway is a major east-west highway connecting the four western Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Although part of the Trans-Canada Highway system, the highway should not be confused with the more southerly, originally-designated...
and west of Highway 216.
The park is situated in the North Saskatchewan River
North Saskatchewan River
The North Saskatchewan River is a glacier-fed river that flows east from the Canadian Rockies to central Saskatchewan. It is one of two major rivers that join to make up the Saskatchewan River....
valley, on both banks of the river, at an elevation of 625 m (2,050.5 ft) and has a surface of 2.9 km² (1.1 sq mi). It was established on December 12, 1979 and is maintained by Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation and Culture.
This site was for thousands of years the site of an annual aboriginal camp, as it was located close enough to the river for transportation and trade and the bluffs of the river valley provided excellent bison-hunting opportunities. The park was established to preserve the site from encroaching industrial development. It was the site of archeological excavations in 1978 to 1980.
The park contains several abandoned interpretive buildings
Interpretation centre
An interpretation centre, or interpretive centre, is an institution for dissemination of knowledge of natural or cultural heritage. Interpretation centres are a kind of new-style museum, often associated with visitor centres or ecomuseums, and located in connection to cultural, historic or natural...
opened by the Alberta government in 1980 but now shuttered. Remnants of the park's history as a public science center include tiled triangular obelisks
Obelisk
An obelisk is a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a pyramid-like shape at the top, and is said to resemble a petrified ray of the sun-disk. A pair of obelisks usually stood in front of a pylon...
, a boardwalk
Boardwalk
A boardwalk, in the conventional sense, is a wooden walkway for pedestrians and sometimes vehicles, often found along beaches, but they are also common as paths through wetlands, coastal dunes, and other sensitive environments....
through the archaeological area, and a few interpretive plaques. The area is safe but overgrown.
Activities
The following activities are available in the park:- Cross-country skiingCross-country skiingCross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
(5 km (3.1 mi) trails) - Downhill skiing (in the Sunridge Ski Hill)
- Front country hikingHikingHiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
- Mountain bikingMountain bikingMountain biking is a sport which consists of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, using specially adapted mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes, but incorporate features designed to enhance durability and performance in rough terrain.Mountain biking can...
(8 km (5 mi) of paths along North Saskatchewan River) - Tobogganing
- Radio-controlled aircraftRadio-controlled aircraftA radio-controlled aircraft is controlled remotely by a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft...
flying range
See also
- List of Alberta provincial parks
- List of Canadian provincial parks
- List of National Parks of Canada