Wagner Natural Area — Attraction in Alberta

This area is a nice walk. On foot access only. There is a straight forward trail and it's numbered and a box with guides available. The trail appears well kept and it is a 1.5km walk. The access to the area is off a busy highway but the parking area is off to the side so it's pretty safe for kids to access from the parking but it is not stroller friendly so bring baby wearing gear if you have non walkers. Outhouse and a picnic table undercover available. Benches available through the trail. I wish I could go through the seasons but I'm not sure if I can handle baby wearing a growing baby through the next year. But it's a short enough walk to endure for an hour with my kids. I'm not very fond of exiting this park during rush hour but it's a nice quiet walk otherwise. Lots of people bringing out...

My family and I love walking here. As you walk the paths, you can see how the area changes around you--from prairie to boreal and wetlands. You can spot tons of natural plant life and glimpse a few birds. The spring and summer are, of course, amazing times to go. I personally prefer to go in the autumn cause of the Tamarack trees. Usually, visitors do a great job of picking up after themselves and keeping the area free of trash. Since the paths are dog-friendly, visitors will let their dogs off leash (and sometimes not pick up after their dog, so watch where you step). The terrain is pretty flat and easy to navigate. I see families with baby strollers, so it is a family-friendly space to walk. I highly recommend bringing your camera to take...

It's been 26 years since I've been to the Wagner Natural Area. Back in 1991 there was a nice marl pond beside the trail, loaded with tadpoles, plus lots of carnivorous butterwort plants in the area adjacent to the marl ponds. From the same location in 2017 (note the trees on the left side of the photo are the same between the two pics), the marl pond is dry and has been completely filled in with rushes. Two decades of drought has eliminated the marl pond beside the trail, so sad. It's still a lovely walk through a healthy larch and black spruce woods, so I'm giving it 5 stars, but I'm saddened by how it has changed...