Four Indigenous Road Trips to Take This Summer

The Bison Trail

This journey will take you to key Indigenous attractions and experiences in and around Edmonton, Alberta's capital region. Along the way, you'll learn about the importance of bison in Indigenous culture and even get to see some.

An Indigenous geology tour: See the Edmonton river valley in a way you've never experienced before with Talking Rock Tours, the first tour company in Alberta that combines geology with Indigenous culture.

Fort Edmonton Park: Check out the Indigenous Peoples Experience at Fort Edmonton Park to learn about the diversity of First Nations and Métis people in the Beaver Hills region of Alberta.

Indigenous Art Park: Explore “the story of this place” through the creative work of Indigenous artists at ᐄᓃᐤ (ÎNÎW) River Lot 11∞, Edmonton's Indigenous art park.

Royal Alberta Museum: View thousands of Indigenous artifacts, dating from the mid-1800s to present day, at the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. Make sure to check out Papamihaw Asinîy, also called the Manitou Stone, a 145 kg (320 lb) iron meteorite that is considered sacred by many Indigenous Peoples. This stone has been the subject of repatriation discussions by First Nations Peoples in Alberta for many years.

Elk Island National Park: Visit the place where bison were brought back from the brink of extinction. You can see plains bison, wood bison and many other species of wildlife at Elk Island National Park. The park also has great hiking, canoeing and interpretive programs.

Métis Crossing: Paddle a canoe, follow costumed interpreters through a historical village, talk to an Indigenous Elder, make a traditional craft, see rare white bison and eat Indigenous cuisine at Métis Crossing. You can even stay overnight, either in a cozy Métis trapper's tent or in a luxurious room at the guest lodge.

The Blackfoot Trail

This adventure starts in the major city of Calgary and heads east to Blackfoot Crossing, then south to Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump and Áísínai'pi.

Calgary Indigenous shopping tour: Shop for handmade art, fashion, jewelry and more at Moonstone Creation and Mystical Métis.

Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park: This site was where Treaty No. 7 was signed and now features an excellent museum with displays telling the story of Siksika First Nation history and culture. Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park also has a restaurant, gift shop, walking trails and a tipi village.

An Indigenous overnight stay: There are plenty of options for an Indigenous overnight stay on this road trip. Choose a room at River Ranche Lodge or Many Guns Ranch and Adventures, or camp in a Blackfoot tipi at Buffalo Rock Tipi Camp or Blackfoot Crossing Historical Park.

Stop at the Trading Post: Make a stop at Boy Chief Trading Post on Siksika Nation, a 50-minute drive east of Calgary. Shop for giftware, western wear, horse hardware, jewelry, authentic Indigenous arts and crafts, Boy Chief Blankets and more.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump: Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, which was used as a communal buffalo hunting site for thousands of years. Learn about the history of the Plains People through onsite exhibits at Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.

Áísínai'pi: See incredible hoodoos and the largest collection of rock art on the Great Plains of North America at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park.

Lakeland Trail

Head north of Edmonton towards the town of Lac La Biche and experience overnight Indigenous adventures, fishing and shopping.

Overnight adventures: Enjoy a stay in a cozy cabin or a campground on the shores of Whitefish Lake at Kikino Silver Birch Resort and Campground. Stay in a fully-equipped traditional tipi at Alberta’s only island park, Sir Winston Churchill Provincial Park. Experience Métis hospitality and traditional activities while staying in a fully-equipped Métis trapper's tent at Hideaway Adventure Grounds.

Go fishing: Enjoy a guided fishing adventure, stay overnight in a cabin or rent a boat at Winefred Lake Outfitters in Lac La Biche County.

Shopping: Purchase authentic Indigenous arts and crafts at the giftshop at the Lac La Biche Canadian Native Friendship Centre. If you're up for a longer road trip, a three-hour drive north will take you to the Fort McMurray Métis Trading Post.

Indigenous Rockies

Experience the Canadian Rocky Mountains from a new perspective with these unique Indigenous adventures.

Go on a medicine walk: Get a new perspective on the Rockies with a guided medicine walk from Mahikan Trails in Banff or Canmore.

Experience an Indige-scape tour: Get an Indigenous perspective on the Rockies on a guided hiking adventure with Buffalo Stone Woman.

Take a guided hike on the Athabasca Glacier: Experience the thrill of hiking on the surface of an ancient glacier with Zuc'min Guiding. They also offer cultural plant hikes, backpacking and many other adventures.

Enjoy an Indigenous wildlife tour: See wildlife in Jasper National Park and learn the Indigenous names for the animals and some of the Indigenous history of the park with Jasper Tour Company.