Argyll Park

69 Avenue and 88 Street

Length: 1.5 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: Loop located in the northwest corner of the park adjacent to the Argyll Velodrome.

Mill Creek Ravine

Mill Creek Ravine runs from Argyll Park to Connors Road. Access is also available at:

• Argyll Park – 69 Avenue at 88 Street
• Mill Creek Pool parking lot – Whyte Avenue at 96A Street
• Muttart Conservatory – 98 Avenue and 96A Street

Ravine Link

Length: 5.0 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: This wide, scenic path connects the upper Argyll Park parking lot with Connors Road. The path is well-used by walkers and is only set with sufficient snow accumulation.

Note: The ski track breaks down quickly due to foot, paw and bicycle prints on this well-used trail.

New this season, Hermitage Park cross country ski trails are becoming official! Trails will be created to provide a skijoring location on the east side for citizens who wish to ski with their dogs. A map will be posted once the ski season is in full swing.

Access these trails from the Hermitage Park parking lot at 2115 Hermitage Road NW.

Loop #1

Length: 500 metres

Rating: Easy

Description: This trail loops around the picnic shelter on-site and provides a quick and short jaunt for those learning to skijor.

Loop #2

Length: 2.5 km

Rating: Easy

Description: This trail starts at the Tornado monument and heads North/South to just shy of the Beverly Bridge.

Kinsmen Park is at the base of Walterdale Hill on the south side of the 105 Street Bridge. Parking is available at Kinsmen Sports Centre or along the access road that follows the river.

#1 Trail: Servold’s Loop

Length: 2.0 km

Rating: More difficult 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.

#2 Trail: Walterdale Loop

Length: 1.5 km

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.

Riverside Golf Course is at Rowland Road and 84 Street. The golf course is on the east end of Dawson Bridge as the river runs north here. Parking is on the south side of the road, across from the clubhouse. Trails start from the clubhouse.

#1 Trail: Inside Loop

Length: 2.1 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: This is a flat trail that starts at the clubhouse and loops around the golf course.

#2 Trail: River’s Edge Loop

Length: 2.7 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: This flat trail follows the river's edge north. A few gentle rolling hills are found along the south edge of the loop.

#3 Connecting Trail: Riverside/Capilano Link

Length: 5.5 km (Riverside clubhouse to Capilano parking lot)

Rating: More difficult classic and skating

Description: See Capilano Park section for description of this trail.

Terwillegar Park is at the west end of the river valley in Riverbend. Follow Rabbit Hill Road west until it turns into a gravel road and descends to the parking lot at the base of the hill. Terwillegar is an off-leash park, so it is an ideal place to ski with your dog. The generally flat terrain is good for beginner skiers. Be prepared for all types of weather as there are no warm-up facilities in the park. A Blufone is in the parking lot.

#1 Trail: Plains Loop

Length: 4.6 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Trailhead: Parking lot at the base of Rabbit Hill Road in Riverbend

Description: The trail follows terrain that is generally flat, starting at the parking lot and circling Terwillegar Park along the edge of the river.

#2 Trail: Rancher’s Loop

The Ranchers Loop was identified as a trail with considerable challenges and risks for grooming staff, which saw minimal use throughout the ski season. Therefore, the decision was made to no longer set this track. Thank you for your understanding and enjoy your cross country ski experience.

Victoria Park trails are accessed from the Victoria Park Golf Course parking area, north of River Valley Road and just east of Groat Road. The main trailhead starts at the Cricket Clubhouse (brown cabin). The West Loop can also be accessed at the driving range building.

#1 Trail: West Loop

Length: 1.0 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Trailhead: The flat trail begins and ends at the driving range, as it loops around the golf course.

#2 Trail: East Loop

Length: 2.5 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Trailhead: The flat trail begins just 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.

William Hawrelak Park is on the west side of Groat Road, south of the Groat Road Bridge.

#1 Trail: Perimeter Loop/ Inner Loop

Length: Perimeter Loop 2.6 km, Inner Loop 2 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Trailhead: The trail travels around the edge and loops around the interior of the park.

Description: Great for beginners; the flat trails on the perimeter are set for classic and the inner loop for both skating and classic.

#2 Connecting Trail: Emily Murphy Link

Length: 1.5 km

Rating: Easy classic

Trailhead: The first parking lot (Shelter #1) on the right side of the road in Hawrelak Park, or the parking lot on the east side of Groat Road Bridge in Emily Murphy Park.

Description: The trail travels over gentle, flat terrain from the northwest corner of Hawrelak Park to the west parking lot of Emily Murphy Park.

Capilano Park is south of the river, on the west side where 50 Street meets the river.

#1 Trail: Capilano Loop

Length: 2.5 km

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 (#2 Capilano Link) or east down a long gradual hill back into Capilano Park.

#2 Connecting Trail: Riverside/Capilano Link

Length: 5.5 km

Rating: More difficult classic and skating

Trailhead: Capilano parking lot or Riverside Golf Course

Description: Heading west along Hardisty Drive, a panoramic view of Edmonton can be seen from a lookout along the trail. At the end of Hardisty Drive, the trail descends a long steep hill and under Wayne Gretzky Drive. Watch for skiers coming up the hill. The trail follows rolling terrain along the river’s edge until it enters Riverside Golf Course.

Trails in the park are accessed from the parking lot at Gold Bar Park, east side of 50 Street and north of 109 Avenue where the road meets the river. Trails can also be accessed from Goldstick Park at 101 Avenue, half a kilometre east of 50 Street. Washrooms, telephone, Blufone and a map of the ski trails can be found in the warm-up shelter.

Note: For safety, please follow all ONE-WAY signs on the trails.

#1 Trail: Two-Way Lake

Length: 1.1km

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.

#2 Trail: North Shore (two-way trail)

Length: 1.4 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: A flat trail that follows the north shore of the lake.

#3 Trail: Wood Cutters’ Loop (one-way only)

Length: 1.2 km

Rating: More difficult 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 trail north through the forest. Where the trail drops to the park's flats, a fork leads to Gold Bar warm-up shelter.

#4 Trail: 50 Street (one-way only)

Length: 1.8 km

Rating: More difficult classic and skating

Description: The trail continues north through rolling terrain and trees to 50 Street, looping back to the warm-up shelter in Gold Bar.

#5 Trail: Creek Crossing (one-way only)

Length: 1.0 km

Rating: Most difficult classic and skating

Description: At the south end of the park, look for the “most difficult” 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.

#6 Trail: Switchback (one-way only)

Length: 1.8 km

Rating: Most difficult classic and skating

Description: Continue up ESSO hill into rolling hilly trails along the trees in Goldstick Park.

#7 Trail: South End (one-way only)

Length: 1.2 km

Rating: Most difficult classic and skating

Description: This trail leads south into even more hilly terrain before it winds back toward Gold Bar Park. Steep uphill, downhill and tight corners challenge even advanced skiers.

#8 Trail: Capilano Link (one-way only)

Length: 1.5 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: The trail leads to 50 Street, and cross the road to join the trails in Capilano Park.

Trails in the park are accessed from the parking lot at Gold Bar Park, east side of 50 Street and north of 109 Avenue where the road meets the river. Trails can also be accessed from Goldstick Park at 101 Avenue, half a kilometre east of 50 Street. Washrooms, telephone, Blufone and a map of the ski trails can be found in the warm-up shelter.

Note: For safety, please follow all ONE-WAY signs on the trails.

#1 Trail: Two-Way Lake

Length: 1.1km

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.

#2 Trail: North Shore (two-way trail)

Length: 1.4 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: A flat trail that follows the north shore of the lake.

#3 Trail: Wood Cutters’ Loop (one-way only)

Length: 1.2 km

Rating: More difficult 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 trail north through the forest. Where the trail drops to the park's flats, a fork leads to Gold Bar warm-up shelter.

#4 Trail: 50 Street (one-way only)

Length: 1.8 km

Rating: More difficult classic and skating

Description: The trail continues north through rolling terrain and trees to 50 Street, looping back to the warm-up shelter in Gold Bar.

#5 Trail: Creek Crossing (one-way only)

Length: 1.0 km

Rating: Most difficult classic and skating

Description: At the south end of the park, look for the “most difficult” 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.

#6 Trail: Switchback (one-way only)

Length: 1.8 km

Rating: Most difficult classic and skating

Description: Continue up ESSO hill into rolling hilly trails along the trees in Goldstick Park.

#7 Trail: South End (one-way only)

Length: 1.2 km

Rating: Most difficult classic and skating

Description: This trail leads south into even more hilly terrain before it winds back toward Gold Bar Park. Steep uphill, downhill and tight corners challenge even advanced skiers.

#8 Trail: Capilano Link (one-way only)

Length: 1.5 km

Rating: Easy classic and skating

Description: The trail leads to 50 Street, and cross the road to join the trails in Capilano Park.

Rundle Connector ​Length

Length: 3.6 km

Rating: Easy - Groomed for classic and skate, with a shared 2-way classic track through the lake bed.

Trailhead Location: Access to the trail is via the trail house at the west, the parking area at the toboggan hill.

Trail Description: A gently rolling and partially treed trail that acts as an out and back loop from the Ainsworth Dyer Bridge, or a connector to those wishing to ski through to Strathcona Science Park (some walking on trails required).

Mostly flat with only one large slope at the west (near the trail house) end of the trail. Generally less skied than the other area parks, this is a great spot that stays well groomed for all levels of skier.