Welcome to the Larch Sanctuary! This natural area is conserved through a conservation easement between the City of Edmonton and Edmonton and Area Land Trust. This natural area conserves Whitemud Creek, an oxbow lake, and interesting plants and wildlife. Edmonton and Area Land Trust has installed a bat box and bee hotels to provide additional habitat for bats and native bee species in the area.
There are two ways to access this geocache:
For a short walk: Look up Larch Sanctuary on Google Maps (near Larch Park Community Garden). Park along the roadside in the community and then start your walk on the residential trail next to the community garden.
Option 2 Not accessible - under City maintenance - For a longer walk: Look up MacTaggart Sanctuary on Google Maps (along 23rd Avenue) and park in the parking lot on the east-bound side of the road. Park here and follow the western trail down towards the creek. Cross the bridge over the creek and keep following the path until you find a fork in the trail. Take the trail to the right and follow it up the big hill and onto a residential trail.
Once on this residential trail: Please keep on this trail and follow it until you reach the place where birds are found in guilds and baby bees sleep for the winter. At this point, head into the bush across from here. Enjoy!
Note: the cache is NOT the painted birdhouse.