Bunchberry Meadows
Notice of Temporary Closure
From April 5 – May 20, 2024
Bunchberry Meadows is home to moose, deer, coyote, lynx, cougar, black bear and at least 58 species of birds (including seven listed as species of concern). Conservation of this ecologically diverse property is crucial to encouraging biodiversity in the area.
The months of April and May are an important time for plants and wildlife on the Bunchberry Meadows property. Birds are migrating and nesting, and ungulates are calving, making them all sensitive to disturbance. To limit this, property access will be closed to the public, but available to a small number of school groups through the Inside Education program on select dates during the closure.
Thank you for supporting conservation and respecting the temporary closure. We look forward to welcoming you back on May 21, 2024.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s natural area manager for northwest Alberta, Eagle Willier, at eagle.willier@natureconservancy.ca.
Bunchberry Meadows is a very special place. Located approximately 30 kilometres outside of downtown Edmonton, this 260-hectare (640-acre) conservation site is made up of old-growth forests, open meadows and wetlands. The forest supports jack pine, which is habitat for northern flying squirrels, porcupines and long-tailed weasels. The water and willows shelter a variety of species as small as tiger salamander and as large as moose.
Owned in partnership with the Edmonton and Area Land Trust, Bunchberry Meadows is open to the public year-round for foot access.
To estimate the number of users on Bunchberry Meadows, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is using trail counters supplied from TRAFx. To learn more about these counters, please click here.
User ethics and access guidelines
The Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area is privately owned and managed by NCC and the Edmonton Area Land Trust. Users are welcome to hike, cross-country ski, snowshoe and connect with nature, but we ask that you follow these rules of access:
• The property is open daily from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.
• Access the site on foot only. Horseback riding, bicycles and OHV use are not permitted.
• No hunting.
• No dogs on site.
• Do not smoke or light campfires.
• Refrain from using camp stoves and BBQs.
• Liquor is prohibited.
• Stay on designated trails.
• Dispose of your garbage in the receptacles provided.
• Respect wildlife and give them space.
• Refrain from collecting plants, mushrooms and berries.
• Do not use electronic surveillance devices.
• Do not place geocaches on the property.
Directions
From Edmonton:
- Head west on Whitemud Drive.
- Turn south onto 215 St/Winterburn Road (6.5 km).
- Turn west onto Highway 627/Maskekosihk Trail (1.6 km).
- Turn south onto Range Road 261/Fleming Drive (5.6 km).
- The entrance to Bunchberry Meadows will be on your right.
Click here to find Bunchberry Meadows on Google Maps.
The campaign to conserve Bunchberry Meadows
The campaign for Bunchberry Meadows was officially launched in Edmonton on May 21, 2015. Since then, Edmontonians have stepped up in support so that this special community amenity could be created.
Learn more about the campaign to conserve Bunchberry Meadows.
This project was completed with the help of the Government of Canada under the Natural Areas Conservation Program and the Alberta Land Trust Grant program and opened to the public with the support of Federated Co-op's Community Spaces.
