River Valley Alliance

Municipalities

Devon

Urban comfort, country charm!

Just minutes from Edmonton, Devon is scenically located on the banks of the scenic North Saskatchewan River. The rich colours of the changing seasons mixed with the colourful character of the citizens make Devon a year-round destination for residents and visitors. Complete with 14 km of nature trails, Devon is an active member of the River Valley Alliance, working toward a river valley trail system from Devon to Fort Saskatchewan.

Devon boasts numerous outdoor recreation activities such as hiking, skiing, fishing, boating, gold panning, tennis, baseball, and soccer. Devon has a beautiful 18 hole golf course next to the river. The Devon Lions Campground is located on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, adjacent to the Devon Golf & Conference Centre. The park is connected to the Town of Devon and the river valley through numerous trails, which are great for walking, jogging or biking.

Greater Edmonton’s largest and most popular resort, Rabbit Hill Snow Resort, is scenically located 10 minutes east of Devon and 20 minutes southwest of Edmonton in the North Saskatchewan River Valley. Triple chairlift, t-bars, rope tows and extensive snowmaking and grooming equipment make this a very popular winter destination. Devon Voyageur Park is Devon’s newest park area. Located at the end of Saskatchewan Avenue West along the North Saskatchewan River, this area includes a boat launch, picnic tables, gazebo, and washroom facilities. The town is only minutes away from several major tourist attractions such as Castrol Park, Devonian Botanic Garden, Rabbit Hill Ski Area, Canadian Petroleum Discovery Centre, Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary and Shalom Waterskiing Park.

Parkland County

Where Opportunity Awaits

Parkland County is a vast, quiet, and scenic geographic area with an abundance of natural attractions that provide a variety of exciting outdoor and indoor activities for families of all ages.

Parkland County is one of the most picturesque areas in the entire province. From beautiful rolling hills to the incredibly scenic river valleys, Parkland County has something for every outdoor enthusiast. With numerous pristine lakes & beaches, over a dozen challenging golf courses and a host of outdoor activities, you have a world of possibilities in Parkland County, including: The Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary – which boasts elevated walkways & lookouts to allow you to experience birds and wildlife in their natural environment. Devonian Botanic Gardens – with over 10,000 species of plants showcased, this unbelievable 80 acre site includes nature trails, ecological & wetlands reserves and the awe-inspiring Kurimoto Japanese Gardens.

The North Saskatchewan River – this majestic river offers unlimited opportunities to hike, fish, canoe or simply relax and enjoy the scenery. Many gold prospectors visit the Prospector’s Point area to pan for gold. This amazing river covers almost our entire southern boundary and is one of the true “Gems” of Parkland County.

Leduc County

“Black Gold” Country

Land on your feet at the Edmonton International Airport, step out the door and you’ve hit the road running in Leduc County. Leduc County is a dynamic municipality. It provides the opportunity for acreage living in many of its subdivisions, or a farm life with the opportunity to carry out many diverse farming operations.

You don’t have to go any further than Leduc County to find a plentiful array of recreation and leisure opportunities. Budweiser’s Motorsports Park Raceway is located at the north end of the Edmonton International Airport. Rural rodeo and exhibitions take place throughout Leduc County in the summer. View the region historically at the Alberta Heritage Exposition Park sponsored by the Leduc West Antique Society. Participate in rural living at any number of the dairy farms, horse stables, equestrian centres or “u-pic” berry farms. Water ski in the summer or snow ski in the winter. Numerous golf courses attract recreation and competitive golfers. Walking trails will include a 42 kilometer section of the TransCanada Trail. There are many lakes for sport fishing. Bird watching is available at Coyote Lake Nature Sanctuary or Ministik Lake. Camping is available at our own Centennial Park campground on Joseph Lake or Jubilee Park campground on Wizard Lake. Hotels and motels are in close proximity to the International Airport or stay at rural Bed and Breakfast Inns and Guest Ranches.

Leduc County is home of the first major oil strike in Canada. February 13, 1947 remains the day etched in memory as the beginning of Alberta’s oil boom. The Leduc #1 Interpretive Centre is located at the oil discovery site, so make sure to add this to your itinerary when visiting Black Gold country.

Edmonton

Alberta’s Capital City

At 7,400 hectares, Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River valley is the largest stretch of urban parkland in North America. There are 22 major parks and over 150 kilometres of trails on which you can enjoy walks, bike rides, picnics, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and more.

In all, Edmonton has over 460 parks. The 48-kilometre long city stretch of the North Saskatchewan River alone has 22 major parks. No wonder it’s become known as the Ribbon of Green.

Our vibrant prairie city is located near the centre of the province of Alberta, and is the provincial capital. The municipality of Edmonton is Canada’s fifth largest with a population of 712,391 based on the 2005 Civic Census. Edmonton’s Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) is the sixth largest in the country with a population estimated at 1,014,000.

Edmonton offers a wide variety of places to go and activities to enjoy at any time of the year. Known as Canada’s Festival City, Edmonton hosts over 30 festivals annually that celebrate music, food, culture, sports, theatre and more! Edmonton offers diverse opportunities to explore arts, sport, recreation, personal growth and wellness. You’re sure to find something to pique your interest. Check out our City-operated attractions, arenas, municipal golf courses, recreation centres, senior centres, stadiums, sports fields and tennis courts.

With lots of blue sky and sunshine throughout the seasons, you can take advantage of many outdoor activities in the city. You’ll also find plenty to keep you busy indoors, from visiting world class galleries and museums to dining at one of over 1600 restaurants throughout the city. There’s something for everyone in Edmonton.

Strathcona County

“Strathcona County is a safe, caring and autonomous community that treasures its unique blend of urban and rural lifestyles while balancing the natural environment with economic prosperity; and through strong, effective leadership is a vibrant community of choice.”

Strathcona is called a “county,” yet its status is actually something that many people may not have heard of—it is classified by the Province of Alberta as a specialized municipality. As a specialized municipality, Strathcona County consists of the urban area of Sherwood Park and an extensive rural area which includes eight rural hamlets. These are Antler Lake, Ardrossan, Collingwood Cove, Half Moon Lake, Hastings Lake, Josephburg, North Cooking Lake and South Cooking Lake.

Strathcona County is your natural location to enjoy a variety of outdoor opportunities. Enjoy hiking, bird watching (there are over 230 species of birds including trumpeter swans and pelicans!), canoeing, cross-country skiing and camping at the Strathcona Wilderness Centre. Test your skills in the Skateboard Park located next to Millennium Place. Enjoy golfing, skating, tobogganing and many more seasonal outdoor adventures. Enjoy downhill skiing at Sunridge Ski Area. Explore the Beaverhills-Cooking Lake Moraine, a RAMSAR site.

The Heritage Parkway trail system is a 42-kilometre off-road trail system in and around Sherwood Park. The Heritage Parkway trails allow people of all ages and abilities to get around town by cycling, running, walking, roller-skating or using a wheelchair.
The Strathcona County Trails Master Plan provides a framework to determine a continuous network of rural and urban multi-use trails that link the community and recreational areas. The Trails Master Plan envisions a trail opportunity within 15 minutes (sometimes driving) of most residents. It also provides a blueprint for the continued development of trails over the next 20 years. Trail development in the North Saskatchewan River Valley is included in the Plan. In 2008, Strathcona County residents will celebrate the development of a new river valley link in the Heritage Parkway Trail.

Sturgeon County

Sturgeon County is a community where family values are pleasantly integrated with agriculture, commerce and industry. County residents and visitors experience at excellent quality of life with numerous golf courses, large and extensive parks, multiple agra-tourism sites and a vast array of cultural and historical sites.

Sturgeon County’s location on the northern boundaries of Edmonton and St. Albert provide residents and visitors with access to urban amenities while showcasing the advantages of country living. The towns of Bon Accord, Gibbons, Legal, Morinville and Redwater are all located within Sturgeon County. The municipality’s major rivers are the North Saskatchewan, the Sturgeon, the Redwater and Riviere Qui Barre.

The Redwater Sandhills Area boasts one of the largest sand dune fields in the region and can be found in the northeast section of Sturgeon County near the North Saskatchewan River. It’s rolling sand hills are ideally suited for recreational vehicle day use. The area contains numerous natural trails and habitat indicative of the region. Come and visit Sturgeon County. It’s the place to be!

Fort Saskatchewan

A Great Place to Live

A beautiful river valley, parks, schools, shopping and restaurants…it’s all here in Fort Saskatchewan. We combine all the comforts of big city living with strong community values and pride. The result – a great place to live and work.

The Fort Saskatchewan District entered history well over 200 years ago with its original industry of canoe building. In the spring of 1875, the Northwest Mounted Police built the “Fort on the Saskatchewan”. It was originally known as “Sturgeon Creek Post”, but the name was changed very shortly to “Fort Saskatchewan”. A community began to develop adjacent to the fort. Thus, the present City of Fort Saskatchewan traces its history back to this Northwest Mounted Police fort of 1875.
Fort Saskatchewan was incorporated as a Village in 1899, as a Town in 1904 and as a City in 1985.

Fort Saskatchewan today is a growing community with an enviable quality of life. Nowhere will you find better amenities for sports and recreation, more parks and green spaces, with an outstanding trail system. The Fort is located right on the North Saskatchewan River, giving access to many miles of very scenic riverbank.

There are over 75 hectares of parks, open spaces and recreational areas in the City of Fort Saskatchewan. Nature and fitness buffs will marvel at all of the opportunities presented by more than 30 kilometers of trails linking all parts of the city with paved pathways and residential sidewalks. Chart a course through the quiet, wooded area and along our river valley and throughout the city. The trails are designed for year-round multi-use that includes walking, inline skating, cross country skiing and biking.

We have it all in Fort Saskatchewan!