LOCATION
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• Located in Lac Ste. Anne County
• 155 Acres
• Near Lily Lake Natural Area and other protected areas
• 100 km drive from central Edmonton
VISITING GUIDELINES
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Please read our full guidelines before visiting our sites.
No dogs allowed
DIRECTIONS, PARKING & TRAILS
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• Roadside parking
• Access trail is through private land - follow signs and stay on trails
• 4.2 km of natural trails
• Wide and narrow trails, some hills
• Trails prone to flooding in some spots
• Recommended for intermediate or experienced hikers due to remote location
• Bears and cougars frequent this area
SHARE ABOUT YOUR VISIT
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Tag @EdAreaLandTrust in your photos, and share with #LCNSEALT
““Donating the Lu Carbyn Nature Sanctuary to EALT is just another step along the way to foster promoting avian conservation on many fronts, most importantly for teaching young and old about bird identification. It also gives me great satisfaction to leave this world a bit better for my grandchildren and their grandchildren.””
Come on in!
The Lu Carbyn Nature Sanctuary is OPEN to the public by foot access only.
This site is NOT closed unless marked with an EALT branded sign.
The Closed for Habitat Rehabilitation sign has been installed by locals to deter ATV access. Foot access is still welcome.
Please proceed to enter and leave gates as you found them.
Wildlife and Habitat
Described by this leading ornithologist as the best birding land within a hundred miles of Edmonton, this quarter section of completely undisturbed Boreal forest and wetlands is home to a wide variety of wildlife, including over 95 bird species, recorded during field visits and breeding bird surveys. Songbirds find ideal habitat in the mixedwood forest, and waterfowl and other water birds – including loon, trumpeter swan and great blue heron – use the wetlands for nesting and feeding. Moose, deer, coyote, bats, beavers, lynx and cougar also find sanctuary on this land – its biodiversity is truly amazing!
Do you plan on trying to identify plants and animals while exploring? Consider helping EALT with some Citizen Science. There are lots of easy ways to share your finds with our conservation team and your input is greatly valued!
Photos: Lu Carbyn, EALT
Importance
The Lu Carbyn Nature Sanctuary is located close to the Lily Lake Natural Area, as well as to several other Crown Lands, significant lakes, natural areas and other types of protected lands. Collectively, they provide extraordinarily significant habitat for wildlife, and conserving this quarter section assures landscape connectivity for wildlife as they live and move in the area.
Legacy
Lu Carbyn, a renowned wildlife biologist and Adjunct Professor from the University of Alberta, donated this land to EALT in 2017. The high diversity of wildlife makes this sanctuary an ideal location for nature study field trips for students, members of the Edmonton Nature Club, and others, led by Lu himself. Lu’s career in wildlife biology focused on predatory mammals, especially wolves. He is the recipient of several awards, including the Wildlife Society’s Distinguished Service Award, is a representative on committees and boards, and has written several books about wildlife.
Indigenous Connections
Lac Ste. Anne, a National Historical Site of Canada, lies nearby Lu Carbyn. It’s been called Wakamne, meaning The Creator’s lake, by the Nakota (Assinoboine) and Lake Manitou Sakhahigan, which translates to Lake of the spirit, by the Nehiyawak (Cree). The lake was said to have healing powers and was visited by many nations including the Nehiyawak and the Nakota, before the arrival of Europeans. Today it is still an important cultural site, with an annual Catholic pilgrimage. Many of the people who attend this event feel a connection to both Catholicism and their Nation’s traditional beliefs.
Stewardship Highlights and Recent News
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