Edmonton is a big time winter City. The area spends a lot of time each year under a blanket of snow and cold temperatures. For those that enjoy the great outdoors in all seasons, Edmonton has many fun winter activities to keep busy and active. We have a large number of parks within city limits that have gorgeous groomed trails for skiing, skating rinks and skating tracks, ski hills, tubing hills, and toboggan hills!
Cross Country Skiing
Edmonton has a ton of trail systems that span kilometers through the city. In the winter many of these trails are groomed for skiing. Cross Country Skiing is one of those sports that after purchasing the equipment is virtually free for anyone to enjoy!
Trails in Edmonton:
Argyll / Mill Creek – 69 Avenue & 88 St
Riverside Golf Course – Rowland Road & 84 Street
Capilano Park – 10810 54 Street
Gold Bar Park – 109 Avenue & 50 Street
Goldstick Park – 50 Street & 109 Avenue
Kinsmen Park – 91 Avenue & 108 Street
Rundle Park – 2909 113 Avenue
Victoria Golf Course & Park- 116 Street & River Valley Road
William Hawrelak Park – 9330 Groat Road
Hermitage Park – 2115 Hermitage Road
For information on trail conditions, click here.
Cooking Lake-Blackfoot Provincial Recreation Area
52365 Range Rd 210, Sherwood Park, Alberta
Elk Island National Park
54401 Range Rd 203, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Strathcona Wilderness Centre
52535 Range Rd 212, Ardrossan, Alberta
For cities/towns surrounding Edmonton (Beaumont, Sherwood Park, Spruce Grove, Stony Plain, Devon) check out the individual cities website to view their listed trails.
Snowshoeing
Most City trails are packed down from frequent travel or groomed to ski making the trails not the best place to break out the snowshoes. Snowshoes perform best in areas that are more open, off the beaten track with deep fluffy snow!
Areas to check out for Snowshoeing:
- Elk Island National Park
34 km east of Edmonton (Amiskwuche and Lakeview trails recommended) - Whitemud Park
13204 Fox Drive, Edmonton, Alberta - John Janzen Nature Centre
Beside Fort Edmonton (corner of Fox and Whitemud Drive) - Mill Woods Park
23 Avenue and 66 Street - McLeod Creek Farms
43 km north of Edmonton - Rundle Park
2913 113 Avenue - Strathcona Recreation Area
16 km east of Edmonton - Miquelon Lake Provincial Park
- Elk Island National Park
53 min drive south east of Edmonton
Skating
Time to hit up the ODR!
Edmonton has many maintained skating rinks and skating tracks within the city to get your skate on!
Where to skate:
- Castle Downs Park
- City Hall
- Rundle Park
- Hawrelak Park
- Jackie Parker
- Meadows Outdoor Leisure Ice
- Victoria Park
See a full list and ice conditions, click here.
Skiing, Snowboarding, & Tubing
Edmonton is lucky enough to be home to 2 ski hills right in the City limits. With more close by and a “quick” drive to Jasper or Banff for those that crave a little more elevation.
Hills within the city:
- Snow Valley – Offering skiing, snowboarding, lessons, rentals
- Edmonton Ski Club – Offering skiing, snowboarding, tubing, ice wall climbing, lessons, rentals
- Sun Ridge – Offering skiing, snowboarding, tubing, lessons, rentals
Hills outside the City Limits:
- Rabbit Hill – Offering skiing, snowboarding, lessons, rentals, NEW tubing
Tobogganing
Tobogganing is one of those childhood must dos! Most adults fondly remember flying down the hill on a magic carpet with their friends or siblings only to hit a bump and crash land into the bottom of the hill. Followed by much laughter and an excited ‘let’s do it again!’
Where to hit the hills:
- Emily Murphy Park
11624 Saskatchewan Drive NW
Check Conditions
- Gallagher Park
9505 96 Avenue NW
Check Conditions
- Government House Park
9938 Groat Road NW
Check Conditions
- Queen Elizabeth Park
10380 Queen Elizabeth Park Road
Check Conditions
- Rundle Park – ACT Hill
2903 113 Avenue
Check Conditions
- Rundle Park – Walton’s Mountain
2903 113 Avenue
Check Conditions
- Whitemud Park North
Are you more of an inside activities person? Check out this article where we planned your whole date at West Edmonton Mall, click here to read.
