Vermilion Provicial Park
Last Review/Updated: May 10, 2002
© Alberta Government |
The Vermilion River meanders through a wide, steep valley with aspen forests blanketing the north-facing slopes, and prairie grasslands covering the drier south-facing slopes.
Further on, a dam has widened the river, flooding about half the valley floor within the park. Visitors can stay overnight at the campground and hike a trail in the early morning for some exceptional wildlife viewing.
Along the Aspen, Wild Rose and Cathedral trails, look for white-tailed deer, red foxes, Franklin's ground squirrels, porcupines and ruffed grouse. Richardson's ground squirrels are common on the Fescue Trail, and you may also see northern harriers, red-tailed hawks and short-eared owls.
The Lakeside Trail along the reservoir offers opportunities to view Canada geese, great blue herons, American bitterns, shorebirds and various ducks, as well as mink, muskrats and beavers.
The grassland environment on the north side of the river is a good place to look for coyotes, Sprague's pipits and savannah and vesper sparrows.
