Edmonton’s River Valley is home to many cross-country ski trails. These trails are accessible, open to everyone, regularly groomed and accommodate different levels of skiers.
Cross-country skiing programs and lessons are available to help you get started.
Argyll Park / Mill Creek
Address: 6750 88 Street NW
Amenities
- Parking
- Skijoring
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 1
Length: 1 kilometre
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: The trail begins from the west side of the main parking lot and heads southwest.
Description: The trail traverses the flat field, looping around the baseball diamonds back onto itself.
Trail 2
Length:1.3 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: The trail begins from the east side of the main parking lot and heads northeast.
Description: The trail travels on the flat field around the sportsfield, looping back along the tree line, heading up towards Millcreek, with a final loop back towards the Velodrome.
Capilano Park
Address: 109 A Avenue 50 Street
Amenities
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Warm-up Shelter
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 3 - Capilano East Loop
Length: 1 kilometre
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: Capilano Park on the west side of 50 Street past 109 Avenue
Description: The trail follows 50 Street, turns west on 109A Avenue and ascends a long gradual climb along Capilano Crescent. At Hardisty Drive, the trail forks west along Hardisty Drive (#4 Capilano West Loop) or east down a long gradual hill back into Capilano Park.
Trail 4 - Capilano West Link
Length: 1.6 kilometres
Rating: Intermediate classic and skating
Trailhead: Capilano Park on the west side of 50 Street past 109 Avenue
Description: Heading west along Hardisty Drive, a panoramic view of Edmonton can be seen from a lookout along the trail.
Goldstick Park
Address: 4210 101 Avenue
Amenities
- Grooming - Edmonton Nordic Ski Club
- Night Ski
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Warm-up Shelter
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 7 - Creek Crossing
Length: 1 kilometre
Rating: Advanced classic and skating
Description: At the south end of the park, look for the “advanced” trail signs that lead into Goldstick Ravine. The trail crosses Gold Bar Creek and goes up the very steep ESSO hill. Halfway up the hill, turn right onto a hilly trail that re-crosses Gold Bar Creek, leading back to flat terrain in lower Gold Bar Park.
Trail 8 - Switchback
Length: 1.9 kilometres
Rating: Advanced classic and skating
Description: Continue up ESSO hill into rolling hilly trails along the trees in Goldstick Park.
Gold Bar Park
Address: 10955 50 Street
Amenities
- Grooming - Edmonton Nordic Ski Club
- Night Ski
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Warm-up Shelter
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 1 - North Shore
Length: 1.4 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Description: A flat trail that follows the north shore of the lake.
Trail 2 - Two-way Lake
Length: 1.1 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Description: A flat trail in the centre of lower Gold Bar Park that circles the lakes in the park. A grid of classic tracks for lessons is set on the lake by the warm-up shelter.
Trail 5 - Wood Cutters' Loop
Length: 1.2 kilometres
Rating: Intermediate classic and skating
Description: At the south end of the park, the trail leads up into hilly terrain on the west side of the River Valley. The trail travels through steep and rolling terrain north through the forest. Where the trail drops to the park's flats, a fork leads to the park pavilion.
Trail 6 - The Hadhirgaan (50 Street)
Length: 1.8 kilometres
Rating: Intermediate classic and skating
Description: The trail continues north through rolling terrain and trees to 50 Street, looping back to the park pavilion in Gold Bar.
Kinsmen Park
Address: 9100 Walterdale Hill
Amenities
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Warm-up Shelter
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 1 - Servold's Loop
Length: 2 kilometres
Rating: Moderate classic and skating
Trailhead: The southeast corner of the Walterdale Loop
Description: The trails on Kinsmen Park’s “Pitch and Putt” (south of the Sports Centre) follow along the gentle and steep hills of the golf course. The loop is ONE-WAY only.
Trail 2 - Walterdale Loop
Length: 1.5 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: The bottom of the field area
Description: The trail follows the outer perimeter of the lower field. A grid of classic tracks for instruction, practice and training is on the football field at the west end of the park.
Northeast River Valley Park
Address: 903 153 Avenue NE
Amenities
- Parking
- Restrooms (Lakefront Lodge)
- Portable Toilet
- Skijoring
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 1 - Park Exterior Loop
Length: 4 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Description: Weaves from the main parking lot, around the exterior of the park, throughout the upper lawn, and connects to the Lakefront Lodge.
Trail 2 - South Lakeside Connector
Length: 0.75 kilometre
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Description: A short connection ski trail between the Lakefront Lodge and Lower Lawn. Access via the existing trails required from the parking lot.
Riverside Golf Course
Address: 8630 Rowland Road
Amenities
- Parking
- Portable toilet
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 1 - Inside Loop
Length: 2.1 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: Flat trail that starts at the clubhouse and loops around the golf course.
Trail 2 - River's Edge Loop
Length: 2.7 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: Flat trail follows the river's edge north. A few gentle rolling hills are found along the south edge of the loop.
Victoria Golf Course and Park
Address: 12030 River Valley Road
Amenities
- Parking
- Restrooms
- Warm-up Shelter
Trail Map and Descriptions
Trail 1 - West Loop
Length: 1 kilometre
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: Flat trail begins and ends at the driving range, it loops around the golf course.
Trail 2 - East Loop
Length: 2.5 kilometres
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: Flat trail begins south of the Cricket Clubhouse and continues along the golf course toward the Royal Glenora Club, looping around the base of Victoria Park Hill and returning.
Trail Status and Conditions
Check cross-country ski trail status and conditions before venturing out.
- Respect groomed ski trails – foot, paw and bicycle prints damage ski tracks
- Observe directional signage – many ski trails are one-way for your safety
- Yield to skiers travelling downhill
- Signal to others when passing – call “Track”
- When stopping, step out of ski tracks and off the trail with your equipment so others may pass safely
- Use trails that are suited to your ability and fitness level
- Never ski on rivers or creeks
- Watch for signs of frostbite, hypothermia and fatigue
- Keep clear of grooming equipment – operators cannot see or hear skiers well
- Dogs are not permitted - please leave your dogs at home
Skiing Styles
Most trails in the River Valley are set for both classic and skate skiing cross-country techniques.
Classical Skiing
This refers to the skiing motion of diagonal striding along a snow track in an exaggerated walking motion. The skier steps down and kicks back one ski and glides forward on to the other ski.
Skate Skiing
This resembles ice-skating. A skier kicks off the edge of one ski and glides on to the other ski, resulting in a “V-shaped” footprint.
