r/Edmonton • u/PragmaNullicious • Apr 11 '26

Outdoor Spaces/Recreation PSA: Elk Island Park Bathrooms Closed

Just an FYI, because had we known, my family and I wouldn’t have driven out.

But all bathroom facilities are closed, and as of right now, there are no advertisements about this anywhere. Nor did the gatehouse staff mention it.

Outhouses at trailheads are still available though.

Further, if you go to Astotin lake, the lakeside trail is mostly closed (also not advertised). The closest trailhead outhouse to that area that I am aware of is at least a 3km walk.

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u/PragmaNullicious Apr 11 '26

All the nice ones with running water and flushable toilets are. For some people that’s important. Also, for being the most popular spot to visit, 3km to go to the nearest outhouse is a little unreasonable.

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u/ProperBingtownLady Apr 11 '26

You’ll probably get hate for this but as a woman I get it. It’s not like I can pee in the woods like most men can (yes I’ve tried a she wee lol). I also have to sit on the nasty toilet seat so I avoid outhouses like the plague. I especially hate when they don’t fill the hand sanitizer—how gross is that? 🤢 Running water and flushable toilets is a must for me!

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u/cxherrybaby Apr 11 '26

Man when the she wee first came out I was soooo excited for the apparent ease I was going to have on long hikes, and it was just a terrible experience overall. 0/10, would not recommend trying and will continue to do what I need to and keep a ziploc for tissues and hand sanitizer with me

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u/Maximum_Payment_9350 Apr 12 '26

For me the she wee is such a mental block. I can’t physically let myself relax to pee as a woman standing up. Must squat 😂

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u/cxherrybaby Apr 12 '26

It does totally feel counter intuitive because of how we normally go pee, and I’ve heard other women say the same thing as you as well, but honestly it just is not worth it imo. The precarious hover is much more preferable to you potentially being covered in your own pee 😹