Let’s be explorers at Wagner Natural Area

Looking for a simple hike this fall that’s just outside city limits? Wagner Natural Area is absolutely beautiful in the fall and the simple trail is perfect for toddlers and young children. The Marl Pond Trail is a easy loop that is approximately  1.5 km long through four different types of ecosystems.  It’s the perfect distance for young kids and can be completed in about 30 minutes, or longer if you stop and read each trail marker provided.

When you arrive at the gate, follow the path to the right (heading west) and stop at the large map to pick up a visitors guide. The trail is marked with numbers and each marker has a page in the guide with interesting facts and unique things to look for.  There’s a couple of guide books in the attached box and they’re free to borrow for your walk through the park.  On your hike you’ll walk through a meadow, a willow tree forest, an evergreen forest and across a boardwalk by the pond.  It’s a great place to teach kids about ecosystems including a unique marl pond  (which is a pond rich in calcium deposits, and in this case it’s spring fed with lots of fen vegetation adding to it’s uniqueness). You can see the calcium deposits around the outside edge of the water, and for older kids this can be a great learning opportunity. Younger children will just love running across the boardwalks.

Wagner Natural Area is less then 15 minutes outside the west end of Edmonton and is easily accessible right off of Highway 16 before Spruce Grove, just south on Range Road 270. It is directly south of Kiwi Nureries and is easily found using Goggle Maps. More information can be found on the Alberta Parks Website HERE or on the Wagner Area official website.

Look Forward to-
-Peace and quiet right outside the city.
-Beautiful views- make sure to bring a camera if you’re visiting in the fall- the colours are fantastic and make it a great place for a DIY family photoshoot.
-Lots of different species of trees, birds, and vegetation and being able to identify them with a visitors guide.
-An easy hike for any age and ability- and it’s impossible to get lost on the loop, it leads right back to the parking lot.
-There’s also stocked outhouses and a picnic shelter  if you plan on staying a bit longer.

But Be Prepared For-
-The park being only accessible by crawling through a gate (see image below.) It is not stroller friendly and bikes are not allowed on the trails. Dogs must be kept on a leash.
-Mosquitos. Bring repellent spray and use it generously (especially around the ponds)
-Wet trails if it’s been rainy. The trails are natural, so if it’s been wet, wear rubber boots in case of mud.

Our Insider Tips-
Print off a scavenger hunt game when hiking with young kids. We liked this one because every item the list was available to be found at Wagner Natural Area…expect for an acorn, but looking for an impossible item kept them all busy anyway 😉 Or you can write your own list (if you’re less lazy then me) to make it more difficult or add any items that your kids might be more interested in searching for.  Also if you’re looking for a naturey-type location for a photoshoot, this one is winner because of the awesome variation of “backgrounds”.