It’s the kind of warm, sunny summer afternoon made for mountain biking. The mosquitoes are relentless, but the bikers are too, weaving through the river valley trails. Speed, it turns out, is the best defence against the bugs. In the background, Edmonton’s downtown skyline peeks through the long line of trees.
What looks like an ordinary Edmonton summer afternoon is, in fact, the final few months of a journey more than 20 years in the making. It took 2,500 volunteer hours last year alone to bring Edmonton’s first mountain bike park to life. “That was always the goal,” volunteer board member and Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance director Matt Edwards says. “The community is going to build this.”
Not officially open yet, the completed portions of the site are already in use. The excitement in Edwards’ expression is obvious as we walk through the site. He points out freshly built features and enthusiastically explains all the sections still waiting for their finishing touches.
The Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance was formed in 2005 by local mountain biking clubs, trail builders and riding groups that worked with the City of Edmonton on developing and maintaining trails throughout the river valley. The association’s years of work led to the concept of the bike park as a central hub for the sport in 2022, and it has coordinated volunteers to build it since then. The park was financed through donations from the alliance’s membership and through grants. Once finished, the city and the alliance will work out an agreement for maintenance.
At the bike park in the distance, volunteer Cory Montemurro and his son wave at Edwards. They’re working to shape the trails they will soon ride. “It would not be possible without the volunteers,” Edwards adds. “The trails would not exist and neither would the bike park.”
For Montemurro, helping build the park is a family affair. His son has become a helping hand at the site, creating a shared experience that Montemurro says builds a sense of ownership and pride.
A group of helmeted young riders follow one another like ducklings in line along the trail. A steady stream of riders move through Queen Elizabeth Park, from the youngest beginners to experienced mountain bikers.
Edmonton Bike Park offers something for every biker soul. Designed for all ages and abilities, it features trails marked green, blue and black, similar to ski hill difficulty ratings, allowing riders to grow their skills at their own pace. The facility is located in Queen Elizabeth Park, and it connects directly to Edmonton’s river valley trail system, making it accessible to riders from across Edmonton.
The grand opening has been bumped forward by the soggy summer of 2026, and is anticipated for spring 2027. The event next spring is the milestone that will celebrate Edmonton Bike Park, Edwards says, “And we’re going to be proud as a community to have it.” But you don’t have to wait until then, the park is already in use with flow trails open to the community. Riders head out and enjoy the park, with the majority of its features already available.
Edmonton Bike Park
Queen Elizabeth Park | 10380 Queen Elizabeth Park Rd, Edmonton | edmbikepark.ca
