Whitecourt Meteorite Crater Askiy-Geo Discovery Tour

You can’t experience this geo-adventure anywhere else. A meteoroid from outer space crashed into the Alberta boreal forest 1,100 years ago, and you can stand right at the bottom of the impact crater where it hit at an estimated speed of 8-10 km/s.

Canada’s youngest, best-preserved meteorite impact crater is hiding in the woods near Whitecourt, Alberta, and almost nobody knows it exists outside the academic world. Join Keith Diakiw, a proud Métis guide and professional geologist as he combines a geology field trip with a medicine walk. On this discovery tour, your guide will lead you to the crater site and explain the local geology from the impact, the type of meteorites ejected outside the crater, how an iron meteorite survived a journey from outer space into our atmosphere, and what this 36-metre scar on Mother Earth can teach us about our place in our solar system. Through both a scientific and Indigenous cultural lens, your Métis guide will bring this remarkable landscape’s history, traditional plant medicines, and significance to life.

All About the Whitecourt Meteorite Crater Askiy-Geo Discovery Tour

Mud, mosquitoes, and unpredictable Alberta weather are part of the adventure. Come prepared for the weather with proper clothing and hiking boots, and be ready for any surprises by what this land may share.

Your discovery tour begins at the Whitecourt Visitor Information Centre (Forest Interpretive Centre and Heritage Park) for a bathroom break and a meteorite crater site display visit. From there, we drive out together to the crater site’s rural parking. Once we arrive, we will begin with an opening circle, and then conduct some bushwhacking to reach the main ATV trails. Once we are on the trail, you will learn about the local geology and the traditional plant medicines with stops along the way, and some of the Indigenous history woven into this landscape along with our tobacco offering of gratitude. At the crater site, we will smudge together around a tree at the bottom of the crater with some personal time for reflection and exploring the surrounding area on foot. We will have lunch just outside the crater. We will be compliant of the federally protected 200 x 200 m exclusion zone surrounding the crater site where no collecting or digging is allow. To ensure good environmental stewardship, we will also leave no trace and pack out everything you bring in. On your way home, consider stopping in Whitecourt to support a local restaurant for supper.

Overall, this discovery tour is perfect for earth science enthusiasts/rockhounds, space enthusiasts, and anyone who has ever looked up at the night sky and wanted to get a little closer. Come find out what the universe left behind.

NOTE:

• The Whitecourt’s Forest Interpretive Centre and Heritage Park is approximately a 2-2.5 hour drive from Edmonton. Transportation is not included — you are responsible for getting yourself there and back.
• Weather may vary. Please dress accordingly, and consider bringing a change of clothes and replacement footwear for your drive home.

Tour Distance: ~6.5 km (roundtrip)

Tour Time: 3-3.5 Hours

Meeting Point: Whitecourt Visitor’s Centre (Forest Interpretive Centre and Heritage Park). Please use the facilities here — there are no bathrooms for the remainder of the tour. We recommend arriving a early to check out the meteorite crater site 1:50 model along with the iron meteorite specimens (Self-guided, but highly recommended).

Address: 3002 33 Street, Whitecourt, Alberta.

Level of Difficulty: Intermediate, it is the most challenging hike we currently offer, but is still suitable active individuals and families. Do not recommend children under the age of 16.