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The Ministik Lake Game Bird Sanctuary (“Ministik” for short) is a large area (approximately 7350 ha or 28 square miles) of public land about 24 km southeast of Edmonton, Alberta. It was established in 1911 as Alberta’s first provincial bird sanctuary.

Below you’ll find a number of “Starter Hikes” that are perfect if you are brand new to hiking in the Ministik. They all involve walking along well-defined roads and trails.

Before you tackle any other hikes, it is highly recommended you read

The Nature of Ministik Hiking Trails , and
An explanation of this site’s Trail Rating System .

These pages will help you understand what you may be getting yourself into when choosing a hike.

There are 3 Suggested Starter Hikes

Mandy Lake Parking to Old Shelter

This hike takes you along a former road, a rare thing in the Ministik. The going is easy, the navigation simple, which makes this a perfect choice for a starter hike. The final destination is a shelter that has seen better days, but still provides a roof and a place to rest for a while.

The Enchanted Forest Loop

The majority of this hike is along the U of A Field Station Access Road, but instead of remaining on the road the entire time, it takes you on a short section of the Waskahegan Trail, loops through a small forested area, and returns to the road. This is a nice introduction to the quiet, understated beauty of this area.

Stick to the Field Station Road

This hike is all about easy navigation: you follow a road for the entire hike—a rare thing in the Ministik. If this is your first time hiking in the area, this is a perfect introductory hike.