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Cross-Country Skiing

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Edmonton’s River Valley is home to a large number of cross-country ski trails. These trails are accessible, open to everyone and regularly groomed and to accommodate different levels of skiers.

Sign up for cross-country skiing programs and lessons if you need a little help getting started.

Ski Trails

Argyll Park / Mill Creek

Argyll Park / Mill Creek Trail Map

Check Trail Notifications 

Amenities and Grooming
  • Grooming - Wednesdays
  • Parking
  • Skijoring
Trail 1 

Length: 1km
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:1.3km
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

Capilano Site/Trail Map

Check Trail Notification 

Amenities and Grooming
Trail 3 - Capilano East Loop

Length: 1km
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: Capilano Park on the west side of 50 Street past 109 Avenue

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: 1.6km
Rating: Intermediate classic and skating
Trailhead: Capilano Park on the west side of 50 Street past 109 Avenue

Heading west along Hardisty Drive, a panoramic view of Edmonton can be seen from a lookout along the trail.

Goldstick Park

Goldstick Site/Trail Map

Check Trail Notification 

Amenities and Grooming
Trail 7 - Creek Crossing 

Length: 1km
Rating: Advanced classic and skating

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: 1.9km
Rating: Advanced classic and skating

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

Trail 7 - South Loop (Closed due to slumping)

Length: 1.1km
Rating: Advanced classic and skating

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.

Gold Bar Park

Goldbar Site/Trail Map

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Amenities and Grooming
Trail 1 - North Shore

Length: 1.4km
Rating: Easy classic and skating

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

Trail 2 - Two-way Lake

Length: 1.1km
Rating: Easy classic and skating

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: 1.2km
Rating: Intermediate classic and skating

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: 1.8km
Rating: Intermediate classic and skating

The trail continues north through rolling terrain and trees to 50 Street, looping back to the park pavilion in Gold Bar.

Kinsmen Park

Kinsmen Site/Trail Map

Check Trail Notifications

Amenities and Grooming
  • Grooming - Tuesday and Friday
  • Night Ski
  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Warm-up Shelter
Trail 1 - Servold's Loop

Length: 2km
Rating: Moderate classic and skating
Trailhead: The southeast corner of the Walterdale Loop

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: 1.5km
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: The bottom of the field area

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

Riverside Golf Course Site/Trails Map

Check Trail Notifications 

Amenities and Grooming
  • Grooming - Tuesday and Friday
  • Parking
  • Portable toilet
Trail 1 - Inside Loop

Length: 2.1km
Rating: Easy classic and skating

Flat trail that starts at the clubhouse and loops around the golf course.

Trail 2 - River's Edge Loop

Length: 2.7km
Rating: Easy classic and skating

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

Victoria Park Site/Trails Map

Check Trail Notifications 

Amenities and Grooming
Trail 1 - West Loop

Length: 1km
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: 2.5km
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.

William Hawrelak Park

Hawrelak Park Site/Trails Map

Check Trail Notifications 

Amenities and Grooming
  • Grooming  - Monday and Thursday
  • Parking
  • Restrooms
  • Warm-up Shelter
Trail 1 - Perimeter Loop/Inner Loop

Perimeter Loop Length: 2.6km
Inner Loop Length: 2km
Rating: Easy classic and skating
Trailhead: The trail travels around the edge and loops around the interior of the park.

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

Trail 2 - Connecting Trail: Emily Murphy Link

Length: 1.5km
Rating: Easy classic

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

Notifications

There are currently no notifications.

Grooming

Building a solid foundation of snow that withstands use by cross-country skiers requires up to three passes to condition and level snow, with a fourth pass to finish and set classical and skating tracks. The City ensures tracks are set as listed on the schedule, weather permitting.

Edmonton Nordic Ski Club

The City thanks the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club (ENSC) for their partnership since 1978. ENSC has been instrumental in the development and grooming of cross-country ski trails, including the operation of a snowmaking machine in Gold Bar Park.

Edmonton Nordic Ski Club

Grooming Frequency
Location Days
Victoria Golf Course and Park Monday and Thursday
William Hawrelak Park Monday and Thursday
Riverside Golf Course Tuesday and Friday
Kinsmen Park Tuesday and Friday
Argyll Park/Millcreek Wednesday
Goldbar Park Edmonton Nordic Ski Club
Goldstick Park Edmonton Nordic Ski Club
Capilano Park Edmonton Nordic Ski Club

 

Safety and Etiquette

  • 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 traveling 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

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.

Travel Time

The length of time it takes depends on snow conditions, trail difficulty, weather and the skier’s ability. To ski for one hour on groomed trails, you will travel:

  • Family with young children 2-4km
  • Novice or beginner 4-6km
  • Intermediate 6-8km
  • Advanced 8-14km

For More Information

311 Contact Centre

Online Contact 311 Online
Telephone

In Edmonton: 311
Outside Edmonton: 780-442-5311
TTY 780-944-5555

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