7 of the Best Places to Walk in and Around Edmonton
One of the best things about living in Edmonton is that you really don't have to go far to get outside.
Obviously, I love the mountains. But you also don't need to drive four hours, pack for a full day, or climb anything for it to count as an adventure.
Sometimes you just want to go for a walk.
Edmonton has a huge river valley running right through it, a bunch of great ravines, and some really beautiful wild spaces just outside the city. So if you're looking for good places to walk in Edmonton, somewhere to take your dog, or a trail for a Saturday when you feel like getting out of town, these are a few of my favourites.
1. Whitemud Creek Ravine
Best for: forgetting you're still in Edmonton
Whitemud Creek is one of my favourite places to walk in Edmonton because parts of it really don't feel like you're in the middle of a city.
The trails run through thick trees along the creek, with small bridges and lots of little side trails to wander down. The City of Edmonton describes the ravine as running through aspen and spruce forest with trails along the creek and several footbridge crossings.
It's a good pick when you want a real walk in the woods but don't want to spend half your day driving somewhere first.
It can also get very muddy, which I personally think makes a walk more fun.
2. Mill Creek Ravine
Best for: the after-work walk that turns into a much longer walk
Mill Creek is another one of those spots that makes Edmonton feel much wilder than it is.
It runs from around Argyll Road north toward the river and has a mix of paved, gravel and dirt trails. It's also a very popular spot for runners, dog walkers and mountain bikers.
This is where I'd go when I want to get outside but don't want going outside to become a whole event.
You can walk for half an hour. You can keep going for two hours. You can take a side trail because it looks neat and then have to figure out where you are.
All good choices.
3. Buena Vista Park
Best for: walking your dog, walking someone else's dog, or just watching a lot of dogs
If you have a dog, Buena Vista is an easy one.
It's right along the North Saskatchewan River beside Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park and has a big off-leash area along with walking and cycling trails.
Even without a dog, it's a nice spot for a fairly laid-back walk with river views and lots of room to wander.
As the owner of a cat who thinks he's an outdoor athlete, I have no dog-specific wisdom to offer here.
Jack would likely hate it.
4. Riverlot 56 Natural Area
Best for: a quiet walk in the woods without going very far
Riverlot 56 is just outside Edmonton in St. Albert, and I think it's one of the more overlooked spots on this list.
There are short loop trails through aspen woods, meadows and low wet areas, so you get a surprising amount of change for a fairly easy walk.
This isn't the place I'd go looking for a huge hike.
It's the place I'd go when I want trees, quiet and a couple of hours outside without having to make a big plan first.
5. Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area
Best for: when "going for a walk" accidentally becomes a three-hour outing
Cooking Lake-Blackfoot is east of Edmonton and is a great step up when you want more than a short city walk.
There are a ton of trails here, so you can build your walk based on how far you actually feel like going. Blackfoot Lake, Central and Islet Lake are all good jumping-off points.
This is one of my favourite kinds of places because you can show up without needing to conquer anything.
Walk a few kilometres.
Walk ten.
Bring snacks and keep going.
It's also open year-round, although what you can use in winter changes once some trails are track-set for cross-country skiing, so it's worth checking trail conditions before you head out. Dogs also need to stay on leash here.
6. Elk Island National Park
Best for: making a walk feel like a full day out
It would be hard to make a list of the best places to walk near Edmonton without putting Elk Island on it.
Elk Island has everything from tiny boardwalk walks to trails that will take up most of your day.
If you want something fairly easy, Lakeview Trail is a good pick, while Beaver Pond Trail is another easy walk through aspen forest and wetland. If you want a much bigger walk, there are longer routes like Hayburger Trail.
And then, obviously, there are the bison.
Which is very cool, but they are wild animals and very much not giant fluffy cows for you to walk up to.
Check the current trail report before you go too. Conditions and closures can change, especially when trails get wet.
Elk Island is one of my picks when I want to feel like I actually went somewhere for the day without having to drive all the way to the mountains.
7. Fort Assiniboine Sandhills Wildland Provincial Park
Best for: when you want the walk to become a bit of a side quest
Okay, this one is stretching the meaning of "near Edmonton."
But hear me out.
Fort Assiniboine Sandhills is farther out than everything else on this list, and it feels much wilder because of it. There are hiking and non-motorized trails through the park, with woods, sandy ground, hills and views over the Athabasca River.
This isn't the same kind of walk as Mill Creek.
It's rougher, there are fewer people around, and some parts of the trail system have rough ground and erosion.
Which is also why I think it's cool.
If you want to make a full day out of getting outside and go somewhere that feels much farther from Edmonton than it really is, put this one on your list.
Bring water. Bring snacks. Download your map.
And wear good socks.
Honourable mention: Strathcona Wilderness Centre
Best for: cross-country skiing in the winter
This one gets an honourable mention because in winter it turns into one of the best places near Edmonton for cross-country skiing.
The Strathcona Wilderness Centre has groomed ski trails through rolling woods and open stretches, and it is a really good spot if you want a proper winter outing without driving all the way to the mountains.
If you're new to cross-country skiing, it's also a great place to try it without making the day feel too serious.
Go ski for an hour.
Fall over a few times.
Get hot even though it's -15.
Call it a win.
You don't have to go that far to have an adventure
I love a big trip as much as anyone, but getting outside doesn't always need to mean driving to Banff at 5 a.m. and hiking 20 km.
Go walk through a ravine after work.
Take your dog to the river.
Pick a trail you've never been on.
Drive an hour out of the city and spend the afternoon in the woods.
The whole point is to get outside and have some fun.
And if you happen to need a good pair of socks while you're doing it, that's pretty much why we started TRAKK.
We're a small Edmonton outdoor sock company making merino wool socks inspired by the places we get to play in here in Alberta.
Go do something cool.
Land on your feet.