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Region known for:
  • Northern lights
  • River activities
  • Roaming bison

Explore this northern hideaway and allow your Wild Side to run rampant through the region. This is a place for those who push harder, trek further and seek escape from everyday norms.

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Trending in Wood Buffalo

Wood Buffalo highlights

Kayaker navigates rapids with island in the background.

Rugged wilderness

Canada’s Wild Side flourishes across the diverse landscape of Wood Buffalo. Tour vibrant wetlands, vast boreal forests and rushing rivers with a guide or on your own.

Northern Lights from Alberta Stories

Northern lights

Spot an unforgettable show of captivating colours dancing in the night sky. Join northern lights festivals or visit Wood Buffalo National Park, the world’s largest Dark Sky Preserve, which shields the night from light pollution.

Protected wildlife

Wood Buffalo National Park is home to half of Canada’s endangered wood bison population. Here, you can watch the majestic creatures graze in their natural habitat. Wolves, whooping cranes, bears and more live in this northern region.

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A couple snowshoeing, late day sun shining through the trees at Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village
Wood Buffalo National Park Aurora, Northern Alberta.
Couple around fire at night at Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village
Couple snowmobiling on a frozen lake with a guide snowmobiling behind them.
Two people set up their nets and adjust equipment while ice fishing in Fort Chipewyan
Scenic reflection shot of lake in Wood Buffalo National Park
Night shot of Tipi's lit up at Aurora Borealis Indigenous Village

Things to do in Wood Buffalo

Key towns

Find accommodation, dining and more in the towns of Wood Buffalo.

The northern lights shine over a forest of trees in Fort McMurray.

Fort McMurray

Venture down the road less travelled with tall pine trees and gently rolling hills serving as a stunning backdrop.

Visit Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo
A guide and a participant being pulled by a team of huskies who are wearing Indigenous articles, on a dog sled ride in Fort Chipewyan.

Fort Chipewyan

Boat or fly to one of the most northern towns in Wood Buffalo and the oldest settlement of Alberta, deemed a trading post in 1788.

Visit Fort Chipewyan

Stories

An RV travels along a prairie road in Alberta.
3 min read Four Ways to Make the Most of Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo

The gateway to the Wood Buffalo region, historic Fort McMurray offers a variety of outdoor activities in its vast outdoor spaces and wonderful waterways.

Bonus: At night, you're guaranteed to see the northern lights.
3 min read Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo is the Gateway to the Best Fishing Around

Fly into one of Northern Alberta's remote fishing lodges and spend days on a pristine lake catching trout, walleye or large northern pike.

Point of view from a kayaker at another kayaker sitting on a lake during a colourful sunset.
4 min read The Best Paddling Adventures in the Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo Region

Northern Alberta's many lakes and rivers are perfect for paddling adventures in the middle of untouched landscapes.

Someone standing in the middle of a snow covered frozen lake watching the night sky light up with colour from the Northern Lights
4 min read The Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Alberta

People from all over come to Alberta to see the Northern Lights. It's wide-open spaces, prairies and mountains, turn it into a magical experience.

Read all stories

Suggested itineraries

Dog sledding in a winter field near Fort McMurray.
4 days
Winter Road to Canadian Adventure

Plan things to do near Fort McMurray with a winter trip to Fort Chipewyan that blends snowy adventure and Indigenous heritage.

Two large, dark brown horses pull a luxurious sleigh along the snow-covered Lake Louise at sunrise.
9 days
Alberta Winter Wonderland Road Trip

A winter road trip through Calgary, Banff, Jasper and Edmonton, packed with snowy adventures and cozy indoor warmups to reveal the best of winter.

View all road trips & itineraries

Cities to explore

The northern lights shine over a forest of trees in Fort McMurray.

Fort McMurray

Fort McMurray
Person ski jumping with downtown Edmonton in background

Edmonton

Edmonton
A snowboarder catches some air at ski resort as the sun sets.

Grande Prairie

Grande Prairie