Central Alberta Glamping Getaway at Elk Island Retreat
Are you looking for a unique glamping experience in central Alberta? Only 30 minutes east of Edmonton, family-owned and operated Elk Island Retreat & Campground is the perfect spot for a glamping getaway. I am so grateful to of been hosted by them, and I’m here to share my experience & about the place!
Getting to Elk Island Retreat
Elk Island Retreat, being family owned, has been operated since 2000, when they built their first tipis and had a few unserviced sites. They have put in lots of work, love and sweat into this place and now they offer fully-serviced campgrounds, Geodesic domes, cabins and yurts in addition to the tipis. They even offer wedding & event packages! You can click here to find their webpage.
To get there, you head east out of Edmonton on Highway 16 for about 20 kms. Once you get to Range Road 212, you will turn left. You’ll take that about 10kms to Twp Road 544 and turn right. You’ll see signage as you get closer. Once you get to Range Road 205, you’ll follow the sign and turn right. After that, it is your first left-hand turn! It is easy to find using Google Maps!
The Glamping Domes at Elk Island Retreat
I am so grateful to of been able to experience one of the Geodesic Domes at EIR this fall. I couldn’t of asked for a better experience! Nature meets comfort in these domes, and feeling immersed in the beautiful surrounding nature is such an amazing feeling. There are a number of different domes to choose from, including a Dark Sky Dome that is a lot more private and allows for better viewing of the stars! Each dome is equipped with a mini-fridge, coffee machine, seating area, fireplace, barbecue & outdoor fire pit. Be sure to review the website with all the amenities included, and make a list of what you should bring — pots, pans, cutlery, games etc. They also have these items available for rent if needed. All the accommodations are beautifully decorated by OMAM Collected — which I will talk about further down! This beautiful oasis so close to my home was exactly what I needed to experience. Here are some photos of my lovely “Eagle’s Nest” dome:
In addition to the domes, I had mentioned there is also tipis, cabins, yurts and RV sites. The cabins and yurts offer a homy feeling, and is a great place to escape with your significant other or group of friends — there are cabins that sleep up to 5 people! The decor has been strategically picked and truly elevates the experience. If you’re wanting to divulge into nature even more, there are tipis available to rent, that sleep up to 4 people with cots supplied. The tipis are for those looking for a bit more of an adventure than a glamping experience! And last but not least, they have 36 fully-serviced RV sites that offer daily, monthly, yearly & seasonal bookings — perfect accommodations for those working in the near areas like Fort Saskatchewan and Sherwood Park.
The Experience at Elk Island Retreat
They offer additional packages to elevate your experience:
Bits & Bites Luxury Picnic ($290+gst) The ultimate experience where luxury meets nature. This is perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, elopements or just because!
Bits & Bites Charcuterie Board ($135+) Want to enjoy charcuterie in the comfort of your accommodations? This charcuterie board + bottle of wine & aperitif is perfect for your stay.
Bits & Bites “Cheese” Cake ($125) Literally what is sounds like. Do you love cheese? This is for you!
Volleyball/Badminton net & horseshoe pits! There is also a grassy clearing to toss a ball or throw a Frisbee around.
Enjoy the 2km worth of nature trails. There are lovely trails in the area to explore for bird watchers and nature lovers.
There is also coin-op showers & a on-site laundry facility ($)
What is there to do around Elk Island Retreat?
Elk Island Retreat is situated in such a perfect spot as you are far enough away from the hustle & bustle, but close to so many activities and towns if you need anything!
Elk Island National Park is only a stones through away. With over 100 kms of hiking trails, copious amounts of wildlife and endless lakes, you can spend a whole day exploring this National Park and never get bored. During the summer, you can stop in at the Elk Island Golf Course, or take a kayak out on Astotin Lake. During the winter, rent a pair of snowshoes and walk the shoreline trail and explore Elk Island.
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village is just a short drive further east on Highway 16. This attraction personally was one of my favourites growing up, and I haven't had a chance to visit since I was young so this is me manifesting that I will be going next year! A unique way to experience history, by walking through a “village” of people portraying the lives of pioneers! This museum is great for kids. They are open from approximately May-September.
Fort Saskatchewan is a city only about 15 minutes west of Elk Island Park. Right along the North Saskatchewan River, there is tons of biking and walking trails. If you happen to forget something, Fort Saskatchewan is super convenient to run into Walmart or a Liquor Store.
OMAM Collected at Elk Island Retreat
Of Mountain And Mangoes — a beautiful brand that I am so grateful to of discovered. This brand was founded out of the desire to support underserviced communities and their artists. From jewelry from Nairobi, Kenya to merino socks from the women of Shamshi Village in Northern India — all pieces have been handpicked with thought and love. Every piece and collection have a story, and I was so delighted to take the time to read and learn about the products and the artists behind them from all over our beautiful world. All of the cabins, yurts and domes have been beautifully decorated with these pieces to allow you to truly appreciate the artistry of others. OMAM Collected is actively making an effort to shed light on the talent that lies in underserviced communities and presenting a way with how we can support them. The founders, husband & wife team Shweta & Nathan, have truly created something beautiful.
You are able to browse the beautiful pieces at the main office during your stay, but if you are unable to make it there, you can click here to visit OMAM Collected’s website to view their online store. I encourage you to take the time to read about the collections, and the individual stories of the products — You will not regret it.
I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience I had at Elk Island Retreat. I cannot wait to return! Click here to book your stay at Elk Island Retreat! Thank-you for following along with this week’s blog. Feel free to leave any comments, feedback or questions below.
Note: This stay was hosted by Elk Island Retreat