10 THINGS TO DO IN EDMONTON’S RIVER VALLEY: WINTER EDITION

4 min readMay 18, 2018

It seems that the River Valley was made for sunshine, but when the snow comes don’t fret! Edmonton’s River Valley was made for all weather. Here are our ten suggestions on what you can do during the winter in the River Valley:

1. HIT THE TRAILS

The trails are very much open during the winter months. With 150 kilometres of trails to discover, they are perfect for keeping up with your exercise routine and for nature enthusiasts to take in the frosty scenery. If you are looking to continue jogging throughout the winter, make sure to dress for the weather and take care of yourself. We suggest wearing at least three layers, one of which is removable in case it gets too hot, and taking short, frequent breaks to stay hydrated.

2. CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Cross country skiing is more popular than you would think in Edmonton! Feel free to check out the ski trails at:

All parks are groomed by the City and the Edmonton Nordic Ski Club. If you’re worried about potential injury, each park has an emergency phone!

Never cross country skied before? City of Edmonton offers lessons!

3. CHECK OUT THE SLOPES

Cross country not your thing? Downhill skiing and snowboarding gives you more of an adrenaline rush while gravity helps you more than it does in cross country. Why not try out these places and take advantage of the River Valley?

4. OUTDOOR RINKS

Seriously, when was the last time you skated outdoors? Although an indoor rink keeps you a little warmer, there’s something about skating outside that can’t be beat. Check out an outdoor rink in one of these areas:

Castle Downs Park
City Hall
Hawrelak Park
Jackie Parker Park
Meadows Community Recreation Centre
Rundle Park
Victoria Park Oval and IceWay

Check out Edmonton’s out door rink information here!

5. SNOWSHOE

It seems very Canadian to cross “snowshoed” off of your bucket list and what better place to do it than in Edmonton’s River Valley? Check out these spots for ideal snowshoeing:

Head here for a list of even more spots!

Are you really into downhill and cross country skiing, or snowshoeing? Try out Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC)! Not ready to buy? No worries, Edmonton has lots of rental options, like Sundance and Pacesetter which have the option to buy when you are ready).

6. TOBOGGANING AND SLEDDING

A River Valley means hills are aplenty. Dig out the sled and spend some time reliving your best childhood memories! Don’t forget to bring a thermos of hot chocolate.

7. LIGHTS AT THE LEG

Get into the spirit of Christmas by wandering the legislature grounds when the trees are lit up! Lights go on starting December 1 every year from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. for everyone to enjoy.

8. NORTHERN LIGHTS AND NIGHT SKY OBSERVING

Camp out in the valley where the light pollution is lower, letting you enjoy the aurora borealis and test your knowledge of the constellations.

9. SNOWBALL FIGHT

Feeling spontaneous? Sign up for Edmonton’s biggest snowball fight! With a last-minute decision and perfect weather conditions, you’ll receive a text with the time and location to get in on the fun of pelting both friends and strangers.

10. ACTIVITIES GALORE

With everything that happens during the winter, it’s hard to disagree that Edmonton is the Winter City. So many annual activities keep popping up, it’s hard to know which one is the best to go to! Check out the following downtown Edmonton activities:

Do you have a favourite Edmonton winter activity? Shoot us a message and let us know so we can get the word out!