Edmonton's Best Cross Country Ski Trails

Posted by Justin Havre on Monday, January 30th, 2017 at 3:09pm.

Edmonton real estate is blessed with an outstanding network of cross country ski trails. They stretch out across the city, snaking through the North Saskatchewan River Valley — meticulously groomed and used by cross-country enthusiasts from all over Edmonton. The day may soon come when cross-country skiing your way to work or school will be a way of life, similar to what's done in some Scandinavian cities. Some folks ski to the nearest public transit depot as part of their daily winter commute.

In the meantime, this sport is accessible, requires minimal equipment which can be rented and has a pretty low injury rate relative to other sports. Edmontonians can take lessons from a variety of ski clubs such as St. Albert Nordic or the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club or through the City of Edmonton. Skills such as diagonal striding, how to go up hills and back down slowly and stopping will help new skiers build confidence.

Here are some of the groomed trails within the City of Edmonton maintained either by River Valley Operations or the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club. Call 311 for more information:

Hermitage Park

Park in the lot at 2115 Hermitage Road. Trails this year have been set up so skiers can take their dogs. Loop # 1 is half a kilometre and is rated as easy with a trail that loops around the picnic shelter. Loop # 2 is also easy but at 2.5 km is longer, beginning at the Tornado monument.

Kinsmen Park

Park at the Kinsmen Sports Centre for the park at Walterdale Hill to the south of the 105 Street Bridge. Servold's Loop is 2 km and is rated as difficult. It's a one-way only trail. The Walterdale Loop is shorter at 1.5 km and is easier. The trail circles the field with a grid of tracks on the football field for practice.

Riverside Golf Course

Cross-country skiing is a great activity in the off-season. This course is on Rowland Road at 84 Street, at the east end by Dawson Bridge. Park on the south side adjacent to the clubhouse which is where the trails originate. The Inside Loop is 2.1 km and is rated easy and flat. River's Edge Loop is longer at 2.7 km but is also easy with a few gentle hills on the southern edge. The third trail here is the Connecting Trail, an energetic 5.5 km and is more challenging.

Victoria Golf Course

You'll be able to access these trails from the golf course parking lot just north of River Valley Road by Groat Road. Start at the Cricket Clubhouse, a small brown cabin. The West Loop is an introductory train, just a kilometre long and very flat. The East Loop is 2.5 km, another easy, flat trail which leads south away from the Cricket Clubhouse towards the Royal Glenora Club, around the base of Victoria Park Hill then back to the parking lot.

William Hawrelak Park

West of Groat Road and south of the bridge is where the Hawrelak Park trails begin. The Perimetre Loop is 2.6 km and the Inner Loop is slightly shorter at 2 km. Both are easy and well marked. The Emily Murphy Link is only 1.5 km and is easy and flat.

Trails Groomed by the Edmonton Nordic Club

Capilano Park

This area is on the south side of the North Saskatchewan River at 50 Street past 109 Avenue. The Capilano Loop is 2.5 km and is easy. There is a long, gradual ascent at Capilano Crescent. The Riverside/Capilano Link is accessible from the Riverside Golf Course and is longer at 5.5 km and more difficult. There is a wonderful view of the city from a lookout point on the trail.

Gold Bar Park

Get to this park off 50 Street and 109 Avenue or access the Gold Bar trails from Goldstick Park farter east at 101 Avenue. The beauty of Gold Bar is that fact there are washrooms, a warm-up shelter and maps. Trails are mostly one-way. Two-Way Lake Trail is easy at 1.1 km with a grid for lessons. North Shore is a two-way 1.4 km trail, flat and easy on the north side of the lake. Wood Cutters' Loop is 1.2 km one-way and is more difficult with a steep trail through woods. The 4th trail here is a one-way 1.8 km trail on 50 Street and is also rated as difficult. Trail #5 is Creek Crossing, along one-way and just a kilometre long. It's the hardest trail and goes straight up ESSO hill. Trail # 6 is a one-way Switchback hill, difficult at 1.8 km.

A complete list of trails is on the City of Edmonton website.

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