Drone Footage

Drone Footage: Documenting Central Alberta's Protected Areas

Our drone footage plays a key role in documenting Central Alberta’s protected areas. By capturing aerial views, it offers a unique perspective that showcases the beauty and importance of these landscapes. Scroll down to explore our drone videos, and click on the site name (highlighted in blue) to access more details about each location. Please review the Rules & Amenities for all Protected Areas prior to your visit.

Radar Hill (19.5 km)
Radar Hill Conservation Area is a 480-acre site of forests, grasslands, and ponds that support diverse wildlife. Visitors can see birds like blue-winged teal, red-tailed hawk, and yellow warbler, as well as plants such as trembling aspen, willows, and wild roses. An old road allowance and game trails provide routes for nature walks, and a southeast lookout offers views over Schrader Lake and its heron colony.

Burns Nature Park (26 km)
A 20-acre nature reserve in Lacombe County, Burns Nature Park was donated by James and Patricia Burns. The park offers hiking trails, views of Sylvan Lake, informative signage, and seating areas for visitors. It includes a mix of poplar forest, shoreline, and wetland habitats, home to a variety of native plants and animals from the Sylvan Lake area. Amenities include a parking lot with outhouses, and well-marked trails.

Stonhouse (26.3 km)
This nearly 800-acre property is located across from the Ghost Pine General Store and features diverse terrain, including aspen forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Situated in the Central Parkland region, it offers seasonal activities such as Saskatoon berry and chokecherry picking from mid-July to August. The area is home to various wildlife and waterfowl. It also supports a stable population of beaver and ungulates and provides excellent overwintering habitat.

Innisfail Natural Area (33.0 km)
Innisfail Natural Area is a 159-acre site dominated by trembling aspen and balsam poplar forests, with scattered wetlands and grassland patches. The largest wetland lies in the southeast corner, bordered by willow thickets and aquatic grasses. The site is accessible by a loop trail, though further exploration requires bushwhacking through damp undergrowth, with the terrain opening into shrubby grasslands toward the north.

Bergeson (33.1 km)
The Bergeson property, just 15 minutes from Red Deer, features a mix of forest, grassland, wetlands, and rolling hills. While there are no marked trails, game paths can be used for navigation. Open for hiking from December to August, the property can become marshy in wet years, so visitors should come prepared and must book access through NCC. Note that a small acreage lies on the south side of the property.

Bend (35 km from Red Deer)
Bend is a 40-acre ungrazed lease dominated by trembling aspen, situated on the northwest corner of a 640-acre grazed crown land property just west of Ghost Pine General Store and the Underwood protected area. Bisected by Highway 42 and Range Road 254A, this portion is accessible without permission and offers forested habitat and open edges ideal for wildlife viewing and exploration.

Boote (37.5 km from Red Deer)
Boote is a 96-acre natural area located west of Ghost Pine General Store, accessible with permission from NCC. The site lies north of Underwood and east of Bend, two neighbouring conservation areas. Boote features a mix of trembling aspen, grasslands, and wetlands, extending across Highway 42 to a large northern wetland. The area supports various bird life, including nesting colonies of Eared Grebes.

Raven Ridge (48.1 km from Red Deer)
This 300-acre site, located 44 km west of Red Deer, features a mixed-wood forest dominated by white spruce, with stands of trembling aspen, balsam poplar, and paper birch. A 20-acre wetland lies in the southwest corner, and the landscape includes hilly areas that offer varied terrain. The area is accessible year-round via cross-country ski trails and game paths.

Drake (53.2 km)
This 133-acre site, located 14 km east of Caroline, features spruce forests, grasslands, and over 2 km of fishable Raven River. Access is via rural roads, though the river may limit entry to some areas and there are no developed trails. Visitors should be prepared for uneven terrain and variable conditions, and are advised to carry bear spray as large wildlife may be present in the area.

Magee Lake Natural Area (58.5 km from Red Deer)
To reach this natural area from Red Deer, head north on Queen Elizabeth Highway II until you reach the Milton/Gadsby Highway (Township Road 412) heading east. Continue until you reach Range Road 244, then head north beyond Township Road 414. The natural area will be on the left side of the road (look for Park Boundary Signs). Please refer to the webpage dedicated to protected areas for more detailed information.

Thompson (59.9 km)
This 318-acre natural area, located 7 km west of Bashaw, includes wetlands, grasslands, and bush habitats. Access is limited, with a rough trail leading to an oil lease. Cattle may be present, so visitors should leave gates as they find them. The terrain is uneven, and visitors should expect to travel through grasslands and bush.

Magee Lake (62.6 km from Red Deer)
Magee Lake, also called Lower Chain Lake or South Chain Lake, is the southernmost and widest of the three Chain Lakes near Ponoka. Located in a valley, it connects to the other lakes through Parlby Creek, which eventually drains into Buffalo Lake and the Red Deer River. The lake is popular for fishing and suitable for beginner paddling. Its shoreline and surrounding habitat attract a variety of birds, making it a good spot for birdwatching.

Raven Brood Trout Station (81.0 km from Red Deer)
Raven Brood Trout Station, Alberta’s oldest provincial trout hatchery located 10 km southeast of Caroline, is open year-round and plays a key role in fish conservation, producing roughly 50,000 trout and 500,000 eyed eggs annually. Visitors can explore a 4.5 km forest trail for birdwatching, view show ponds with brook, brown, and rainbow trout, and enjoy amenities such as a disc golf course, picnic area, and educational tours - all with no admission fee.

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