North Central Alberta is the part of Northern Alberta to the north and west of the Edmonton Capital Region. It is the transitional zone between the agriculturally rich "parkland" (aspen poplar forest) in the south and the more remote boreal forest to the north. Many people pass through the smaller communities found here when driving between Edmonton and points north (for example, to get to the Alaska Highway), and if that's you, here's a guide to what to do if you need to stop for a rest.
There are no cities in this region, but these are the largest towns:
The main reason most people stop in this region is to camp at one of the recreational lakes, some of the most popular which are not immediately adjacent to the above mentioned towns are:
This is a rural region tending from agricultural in south to forested in the north. The economy is highly dependent on field crops, livestock and oil and gas drilling and lumbering. The area is not frequently travelled for tourism except by other Albertans coming to camp for the weekend and people (Americans, mainly) passing through on the way to the Alaska Highway.
There are no commercial flights here.
Drive north from Edmonton or southeast from the Peace Country. Highway 43 enters the region traveling southeast from Grande Prairie and traveling northwest starting from Highway 16 (Yellowhead Highway) west of Edmonton. Highway 43 passes through Whitecourt.
The multi-use Athabasca Landing Trail — for most of its length — isn't a "trail" in the sense of a footpath (though it is also that in places), but rather more of a historic route that follows the country roads leading from Fort Saskatchewan to Athabasca.
Lakes, rivers and wide open spaces.
The Fort Assiniboine National Historic Site, NW of Barrhead, was a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post and reflects the fur-trading times that helped to establish the area. The Rochfort Trestle Bridge, SE of Mayerthorpe, is one of North America’s longest wooden train trestles.
The Whitecourt meteor impact crater, southeast of Whitecourt is a fadcinating place to explore.
When in Westlock, check out the Canadian Tractor Museum, which has 90 farm tractors! There's also a pioneer museum in Westlock if viewing 90 tractors hasn't taken up your whole day.
The Boreal Centre for Bird Conservation,north of Slave Lake , is the only educational and research facility in the world that studies boreal birds on their breeding grounds. It has indoor and outdoor exhibits, and interpretive programming.
Canoe the Pembina River from Highway 16 to the confluence with the Athabasca River. There are numerous roads that cross the river that make for good places to "put in" (Sangudo, Lac la Nonne, Manola, Rossington, Dapp, Jarvie, Fawcett or Flatbush). Random camping is possible on sandbars along the river's edge.
Lesser Slave Lake offers 7 km of pristine, white sand beaches in the Lesser Slave Lake Provincial Park.
There is downhill and cross-country skiing near Westlock.
Whitecourt has 50 km of walking trails, a waterpark, and a casino.
This is meat-and-potatoes country. Chain restaurants predominate in the larger towns but there are a few local spots as well. The closest you can come to international cuisines are North American-style Chinese cafés or the donair (kebab) place in Westlock: Ramzi's.
Buy your own and bring it to your campsite. You don't come here for the nightlife. An exception is if there's a curling bonspiel (tournament) on, in which case, invite yourself into the lounge and the locals will happily explain the finer points of the sport to the curious over cheap beers or Bloody Caesars.
If you're out in the wilds in the autumn, wear bright colours so you won't be mistaken for a deer. In winter, make sure you have winter tires and an emergency blanket in your car. Otherwise, extremely safe.
From here it make sense to continue north to the Peace Country and on to the Alaska Highway, or go west though the Foothills and into the Alberta Rockies.