Official website of Edmonton's longest running winter festival
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Official website of Edmonton's longest running winter festival
Celebrate the joy of winter sport with us. It’s fun, it’s easy, and anyone can do it! Compete, or for your pleasure – it's completely up to you! Edmonton has hundreds of kilometers of trails and perfectly groomed cross country ski trails begging to be explored, as well as some of the most beautiful skating facilities imaginable. Limited time only. Get out there before the sun takes it all away.
Run, skate, and ski to frosty victory!
Push your self to personal victory and a new fastest time. The competition isn't available, but the snow, ice, and facilities are. Log your skate times in our time log and qualify for a prize.
City-operated ice surfaces are maintained and monitored on a daily basis. Ice surfaces will be closed if conditions are unsafe for users. Please keep off closed ice surfaces and obey all posted signage.
Hawrelak Pavilion
Hours: 9am-10pm
Includes: Washrooms
Rundle Family Centre
Hours: 9am-10pm
Includes: Washrooms
Skating Oval
Hours: 10am-10pm
Except during Edmonton Speed Skating Association (ESSA) hours:
Monday: 6-7pm
Tuesday and Thursday: 5-9pm
Wednesday: 5-7pm
Pavilion
Hours: 9am-10pm
Includes: Washrooms
Ski, cycle, run, or walk!
Now you can go at your own pace, at your own place. Join thousands of people around the world completing the Canadian Birkie virtually. The Canadian Birkie Ski Festival takes place from February 11 to 28, 2021, including the Barnebirkie event during Silver Skate Festival at Hawrelak Park, on Sunday, February 13, 2022.
Pick your preferred distance and sign up your friends, office, department or organization for the Most KM Group Award. Tons of fun and over $1000 in prizes up for grabs.
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 to accommodate different levels of skiers.
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 sports field, looping back along the tree line, heading up towards Millcreek, with a final loop back towards the Velodrome.
Amenities:
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.
Amenities
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
