Edmonton is the capital of the province of Alberta and, with a population of over 900,000, it is one of the world’s largest northern cities. Known as the “Gateway to the North”, Edmonton is a staging point for oil sands projects in northern Alberta as well as diamond mining operations in the Northwest. The city is also nicknamed “Canada’s Festival City”, as it is a cultural and educational center hosting a year-round schedule of festivals. This is our guide to the best places to run in Edmonton.
The highlight of Edmonton running is the 25 miles of paths and parks along the North Saskatchewan River, which flows through the city. This makes for a runners’ paradise, as the parks are connected by trails and roads allowing for uninterrupted routes of varying lengths. Note that sections of the River trails are cleared in winter. Our guide to running in Edmonton also features routes in the Kinnaird River Valley, around the University of Alberta, and some great trails in Strathcona Science Park.
Edmonton is laid out in a grid system. The downtown is fairly compact. There is good public transportation, consisting of an extensive bus system and five light rail lines. Note that the airport quite a distance from downtown.
Edmonton’s climate is described as ‘humid continental’, which means warm summers and cold winters. Summers are short, warm and pleasant, with dry days, and lots of daylight given Edmonton’s northern latitude. Average July high temps are 23C (74F), with cool nights, in the 50s typically (12C). Winters are cold, with average January highs of -6C (20F) and lows of -15C (5F). On the bright side, Edmonton has a sunny climate, and only gets about 120 cm (49 inches) of snow annually. Summer lasts from late June to early September and winter lasts from November to March. The climate is fairly dry with the wettest month being July and the driest being February, March, October, and November.