Golden Ranches Conservation Area

This 1,400-acre conservation area, located in the Beaver Hills Biosphere, was made possible by the collective work of Nature Conservancy of Canada, Edmonton and Area Land Trust, Alberta Fish and Game Association, and Alberta Conservation Association. The land was owned by horse and cattle rancher George Golden in the 1950s and is now a protected area that includes portions of the counties of Strathcona, Leduc, Lamont, Beaver, and Camrose. Stroll through mature aspen forests and open grasslands along Cooking Lake shoreline. You may be lucky enough to come across the area's diverse wildlife, such as moose, deer, or elk. Be sure to bring binoculars so you can gaze upon the shorebirds or waterfowl as they stroll along the shoreline.