Nestled between Fort Saskatchewan and Sherwood Park is a trail that connects Sturgeon County to Strathcona County.
If you want leisurely exercise outside, this is the trail for you. The hard-packed gravel trail is mostly flat and takes you alongside the North Saskatchewan River before taking you into Sherwood Park. Or, you can go the opposite direction towards Fort Saskatchewan. Either way, you get a taste of nature without having to walk deep into a forest or drive far out of the city.
The Strathcona County Regional trail stretches 22 kilometres along the North Saskatchewan River and is part of a larger set of trails. It connects to the Riverside Nature Trail in Strathcona County which can be done in a five-kilometre loop or you can take the trail to Fort Saskatchewan where it intersects with the West River’s Edge Loop.
Each of these trails can be done separately or you can keep going and spend a day exploring.
The Strathcona County Regional Trail doesn’t only connect Fort Saskatchewan to Sherwood Park, it also connects to trails across the country. It’s part of The Great Trail of Canada, created by Trans Canada Trail to connect Canada from coast to coast. The Great Trail of Canada is more than 27,000 kilometres long.
The 5.5-kilometre Riverside Nature Trail, a section of the Strathcona County Regional Trail, runs along the North Saskatchewan River and is perfect for beginners.
“People should head out on the trails to connect to themselves, to connect to nature and to connect to community,” says Makennah Walker, communications and marketing specialist at River Valley Alliance. “In our world of busyness and technology, the trails give a place to unplug and connect.”
One trailhead is at Township Road 540 and Range Road 232. The other trailhead is west on Township Road 540, about one kilometre away.
