Salt Plains–Unpublished

What in the world? Just west of Fort Smith in Wood Buffalo National Park lies a shimmering, pearly desert, stretching to the far horizon. A quick hike downhill will bring you to the bizarre Salt Plains, where saline minerals leach from an ancient seabed, turning the world white and crystalline. Remove your hiking boots and stroll barefoot over the smooth, crusty saltflats and through the briny pools. You’ll likely see the tracks of various critters (bison, lynx, even rare whooping cranes) that utilize the area as a salt lick. And if you have a taste for the savoury, you can sample the salt yourself.