I'm visiting Edmonton on business the morning of Sept 11th and since it's a new location for me I figured it makes sense to stop over until Sunday evening. It'll be more of a reconnaissance trip for a return visit than a once off.

Can anyone recommend some good locations within a few hours of the city for photography? Maybe even must-see locations in the city or nearby?

I'm aware of Lake Louise/Banff area - is it truly a must-do? Any recommendations beyond perhaps the sunrise cliche at Lake Louise? I could stay over at the Chateau Lake Louise Saturday if its worthwhile vs perhaps some more out of the way & less visited alternatives?

I guess the alternative is to head over to the Jasper area - this might make more sense. I suspect I'll have to consider extending the stay the more I look at the alternative locations around here.

Thoughts & recommendations? If I extended the stay to say 4 days would that change recommendations?

Thanks in advance.

Graham

The Jasper/Lake Louise drive is spectacular - lots of great places to stop on the way down, Athabasca Falls, Bow Lake, Peyto Lake... I lived in both Calgary and Edmonton for a number of years and if this is your first trip (or second or even third) spending time in Edmonton vs the national parks is a non-starter...

I agree with Tim. I live in Alberta now and regularly go to Banff/Lake Louise and the highway north to Jasper. You won't be disappointed.

Kelly

Let me third all the above. We lived in Calgary for 17 years and have now spend the last 4 years in Edmonton. While the city is nice and the area around here can be nice for some rural prairie photography I would strongly consider a trip to Jasper. A round trip from Edmonton to Jasper to the David Thompson Highway and back out to Lacombe and then north to Edmonton can be spectacular. That is a lot of driving but the scenery is wonderful.

Many hikes in the Jasper area. Valley of the five lakes is a simple one and well worth hauling a camera. A trip up to the top of Whistler on the tram and then a short hike is also worth it. Maligne and Pyramid lake are also worth a look! Good luck!

Excellent information - thanks everyone.

I think I'll extend my stay for a couple of days beyond the weekend and take a leisurely trek via Jasper/Banff.

Locations for what purpose? Landscape photography? For wildlife? Architectural? Locations to serve as background settings for people type photography of various genre?

I agree that the region around Jasper is great and it's closer to Edmonton than Banff.

For nature there's also...

Elk Island National Park is less than an hour east of Edmonton. It's only second only to the Serengeti for concentration of wildlife.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/visit/visit9b_E.asp
http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/elkisland/index_E.asp

It's not nearby Edmonton but in southern Alberta there's Drumheller National Park and the Badlands.
http://tpr.alberta.ca/parks/dinosaur/flashindex.asp
http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/spm-whs/itm2-/site3_e.asp
http://www.tpr.alberta.ca/parks/managing/s...c_grassland.asp

As well, in southern Alberta: Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.
http://www.pc.gc.ca/progs/spm-whs/itm2-/site6_E.asp

Architecturally speaking within Edmonton these might be of some interest...

Pyramid greenhouses at Muttart Conservatory
http://www.edmonton.ca/portal/server.pt/ga...t+conservatory/

The Science Centre and other works of Douglas Cardinal in Alberta.
http://www.odyssium.com/aboutus.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Cardinal

High Level Bridge
http://hermis.cd.gov.ab.ca/ARHP/Details.as...ectID=4664-0031

-Anthony

it's a no brainer....Jasper, Jasper and, time permitting, Japer.