From dancing lights and heritage villages to wild bison and one of the world’s largest oil reserves, this three-day loop has it all.

Multicultural roots | Oil Sands | Fishing

Ukrainian Easter Egg, Pysanka, Vegreville

On Highway 16, head east from Edmonton to Elk Island National Park for some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities this side of the Serengeti. In the 60-mile (100-km) web of trails that crisscross this park, you’re bound to spot a few of the 1,700 elk, 600 plains bison, 375 wood bison, deer, moose and beaver that call this special place home.

A little farther along Highway 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) is the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village whose costumed interpreters cleverly spirit visitors back 100 years with hands-on demonstrations. Featuring more than 30 restored historic buildings on a 320-acre site — everything from tasting homemade borscht to churning butter and painting eggs is part of this cultural, hands-on experience.

At Mundare, stop and visit the Basilian Father’s Museum for another look at Ukrainian culture and religion. Then, turn north on Highway 855 until you reach Andrew. Then jog east to Highway 857 and turn north. Follow Highway 857 until you reach Highway 28 and then take Highway 28 a short distance to the junction of Highway 36, which will take you all the way to the historic town of Lac La Biche, where you can visit a mission that was built in 1853. Besides acting as a base for priests who had missions along the Athabasca, Peace and Mackenzie rivers, Lac La Biche was used as a supply depot for voyageurs still using the northern trade route. Tour the original buildings and/or take in a service, still held on Sundays.

Soon after, veer north on Highway 831, until it reaches Highway 63, which runs all the way to Fort McMurray, the hub of the Athabasca Oil Sands.

Oil Sands Tour, Syncrude, Fort McMurray

Spend a night in this boom town (founded in 1790 as a North West Company fur-trading post) and take a fascinating tour through the award-winning Oil Sands Discovery Centre, a showcase for modern technology of oil sands mining. For a bigger picture of the oil sands extraction process, tour Syncrude and Suncor plant sites.

Then spend an unforgettable evening under the Northern Lights, the aurora borealis. Guided tours take guests to prime viewing spots outside the city limits where the colourful sky dance unfolds. Here, at Alberta’s northernmost city, learn the mysteries of constellations that continue to spellbind residents and visitors alike. Swirls…curtains…pinwheels…streaks…ribbons of colour: green, white, yellow and sometimes red. Depending on the conditions, the lower edge of the visible light is 90 to 150 kilometres (54 mi to 90 mi) above the ground.

Fishing, Athabasca River, Fort McMurray

This area of Alberta is also famous for its freshwater fishing rivers and lakes. Six of the province’s seven top fishing lakes are in this region, all accessible through fly-in packages, many of which boast lovely lodges and cabins. Angle for perch, northern pike, whitefish, lake trout, goldeye and arctic grayling and enjoy as much backcountry luxury as you desire.

On the way back to Edmonton, drive through Athabasca, nestled among the hills along a bend in the Athabasca River. Once a vital link to the north, the town of Athabasca has many historic buildings, such as the 1912 railway station, the 1913 Union Hotel, an old brick schoolhouse and library. It also offers some excellent industrial tours of the Alberta Pacific Forest Industries pulp mill and of the nearby Miller Western saw mill. Surrounding this entire area are parks and wilderness, famous for swimming, camping and a trail system that caters to hikers, cyclists, naturalists, birders and cross-country skiers.

Stop in the city of St. Albert and visit the Father Lacombe Chapel, restored to look much as it did in the early 1860s.

Alberta has more than 25 sample itineraries that span the province. Discover the other scenic drives with detailed trip planning advice.