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The Urban Paddler
The North Saskatchewan River has a few put-in and take-out locations for your convenience. One popular starting point frequently used by club members, for both formal and informal trips, is Emily Murphy Park. From there, it is a gentle paddle downriver to the Canada Goose take-out at 50th street. Along the way you’ll encounter sections of the river where you won’t see any evidence of the city, close up views of outflows, graffiti covered brickwork, and broad vistas of beautiful city-scape.
Regardless of when you paddle the river, you are pretty much guaranteed to see some wildlife. Gulls, ducks, geese, and muskrats are common. You may even catch a glimpse of deer, moose, or beaver, so be sure to have your camera handy. On the south side of the river, near the Equine Centre, is Whitemud Creek. The navigable section of the creek is not overly long, but depending on the time of year, it can offer a very gentle, beginners play area, or a spring-time reintroduction to whitewater kayaking. This creek is typically listed on the NWV trip schedule each year. Another body of water that serves well as a training area is the pond at the Paddling Centre in Rundle Park. Open from the beginning of June to early September, the Centre offers a park-like setting to paddle in, complete with birds and mammals. Our club operates a drop-in session each Wednesday from 19:00 to 21:00. Visitors are offered the opportunity to try out the canoes and kayaks, and it presents a great opportunity for club members to obtain some informal instruction from the certified trainers who are always on hand.
Although they are not quite urban, a short drive out of the city will broaden your day trip opportunities. Elk Island National Park, the Sturgeon River near St. Albert, Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, Cooking Lake, and a number of other locations are all options you can explore and satisfy Plan your getaway from the claustrophobic glass and steel canyons, the drudgery of daily commutes out to the suburbs, and the stress of high-pressure careers. Take an hour or three to paddle, relax, and unwind on one of Edmonton’s fine waterways. You know doing so will make you feel a lot better. - Ken Collett (The Eddyline - June 2011) |
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Northwest Voyageurs Canoe and Kayak Club
Edmonton's oldest and most active paddling club!
A number of Canadian cities have impressive paddling opportunities due to their location on the shore of an ocean or massive lake. Here in land-locked Alberta, if a paddler wants to scratch their itch with a short outing, they have to make do with the more limited resources in the immediate vicinity. Fortunately, Edmonton has a few rivers, creeks, and lakes that are accessible without investing in hours of travel. If you don’t want to leave the comforts of your urban environs, Edmonton boasts a great river valley that often belies its urban setting.