This week’s story is about a couple of the coolest places on earth: the salt plains and Grosbeak Lake in Wood Buffalo National Park.
Two of the biggest draws to Fort Smith for me are the opportunities for wildlife photography and the chance to visit one of the most unique landscapes in Canada – the salt plains. Wood Buffalo National Park is home to a couple of saline environments that are like visiting another planet – the salt plains and Grosbeak Lake.
The salt plains were closed during this visit as Parks Canada is improving the trail. I was disappointed at first but on the recommendation of Parks Canada staff, I took the trail into Grosbeak Lake. And it was spectacular! The open plain was hidden amidst the the tall trees. The red mud was crusted with salt crystals and a clear ribbon of water reflecting the blue sky cut across the vast expanse. Boulders of different sizes, colours and textures were scattered across the mudflat.
I spent a few hours exploring the lakeshore and even tasted the water – it was really salty! I plan to visit the lake and the salt plain again and spend a bit more time exploring the area at different times of the day in the hopes of seeing more animals and birds and maybe even the aurora.