2017/18 Edson and Area Visitors Guide 2017 Visitor Guide electronic | Page 6

DI EDSON TO: 4 88 km Hinton 105 km Whitecourt 162 km Jasper 202 km Edmonton Grande Cache 233 km Grande Prairie 382 km 452 km Banff 495 km Calgary Fort McMurray 632 km High Level Fort McMurray 63 High Prairie Grande Prairie Grande Cache Edson is a thriving community in the heart of Yellowhead County that has much to offer residents and visitors alike. 33 40 Athabasca 63 Whitecourt 40 Hinton Jasper 43 Edmonton 16 47 EDSON 16 Cadomin 22 93 www.gallowaystationmuseum.com 11 2 20 Red Deer Lake Louise Banff 1 The Town of Edson (population 8148 - 2016 census) is located in the McLeod River Valley, immediately east of the Canadian Rockies foothills at an elevation of 925 m (3035 ft) — near the center of Yellowhead County (population 10995). The landscape consists of primarily boreal forest with sand hills and muskeg (low-lying bog). Wildlife native to the area include bear, moose, deer, wolf, fox, rabbit and a wide variety of avian and aquatic life. Slave Lake 43 Located almost exactly between the world- class destinations of Jasper National Park and the City of Edmonton, Edson is a natural, and welcome, stopping point for travellers and a retail destination for many surrounding communities. Calgary Brooks Twinned Highway 16 (the Yellowhead Highway) runs through Edson and Yellowhead County from east to west. The highest point on the Yellowhead — Obed — is between Edson and Hinton and has an elevation of 1 163.9 m (3818.88 ft). The historic Coal Branch can be reached from Edson via Highway 47 to the south. Highway 32 connects Edson and Whitecourt to the north. 1 2 Lethbridge 5 3 Medicine Hat Photograph by Lauren Rafael Mendoza