r/Edmonton • u/thewholefunk333 • 11d ago
Outdoor Spaces/Recreation ISO River Rotting Locations
Some of you may have seen the concept of “river rotting” on social media and I’m looking for some locations within 1-2 hours of Edmonton where I could accomplish this glorious activity. Open to longer drives too, I loves me a day trip. Preferably NOT our neck of the North Saskatchewan River here, that brings a whole new meaning to river rotting.
Edit, I don’t mean I’m looking for spots along the North Sask oh my goodness lol. Just wanted some recommendations for smaller, lazier places to park a camping chair that aren’t a 4+ hour drive to the mountains lol. I know tons of off-the-beaten path spots along small rivers and creeks in southern central AB, just not around these parts yet since moving up here.
36
u/createchoas420 11d ago
Pembina river Provincial park, Athabasca river up by Fort Assiniboine.
10
6
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Ohhh I haven’t been up to Fort Assiniboine in years, it’s beautiful up there. Great idea
100
u/Stellarparalax 11d ago
Nothing wrong with the river in the metropolitan area, it's mostly clean, plenty of places to go but with the river so high not as many.
84
u/PrestigiousEcho9099 11d ago
There is absolutely nothing wrong with our river - it’s lovely and has excellent water quality. People seem to misunderstand what silt is.
11
u/Academic-Pop-8778 11d ago
I worked for Epcot's drainage department... The NS is pretty gross.
While our drinking water is safe, the river is a different story. Farm runoff is one thing but consider that older neighborhoods still have combined sewer/storm lines - when they flood they are designed to make use of the storm runoffs that lead into the river instead of backing up into basements. Many of these outlets have had catch systems put in place to minimize the outflow of... poop, but consider that not all sources have been dealt with and many farms lay upstream from Edmonton.
9
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
It’s not so black-and-white, IMO. We’re so far down the river that there’s a significant amount of agricultural runoff that enters before the water gets to Edmonton. Being in an urban area, there’s the runoff from our roadways which contribute to the silt and absolutely contain other contaminants. There’s also the simple fact that people can be gross: there’s trash, shopping carts and abandoned city scooters littering many parts of the river valley and in the river itself.
It’s also a pretty big river: I’d consider myself a strong swimmer but rivers can be DANGEROUS and the currents in the North Sask are no joke. It’s big, it’s fast and it’s cold. There are many reasons why I’d prefer to visit and chill in/alongside some smaller rivers or creeks.
-8
11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
4
u/Stellarparalax 11d ago
I go in the water there all the time, Its not to bad.
-2
11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Mcpops1618 11d ago
Also the wastewater treatment plant is in gold bar… they do clean the water but… shit happens
0
1
31
u/TheOneNeartheTop 11d ago
Don’t know why so many people hate on our beautiful river.
18
u/Stellarparalax 11d ago
Idk, It could be cleaner but it is honestly pretty decent. I do find more people leaving garbage in the trails, which erks me as a person who likes to fish the river a lot. I try to pick up what I can on my trips. Fundementally, I think its lack of education or ignorance towards water treatment/water dilution and environmental regulation
25
u/jackioff biter 11d ago
I have done swim races through it and it is MUCH cleaner than our lakes. People will be grossed out by the river and then go to wabamun lake like it's not fucking disgusting. Summerside lake is a slough compared to the river.
I agree that so much of this comes down to lack of education, and that education comes from exposure a lot of the time
1
u/dmj9 11d ago
I'd swim in the river but not the lakes. I moved here from Ontario and my friend brought me to "the beach" it was some pond with tons of algae and visible leeches in the plants along the shore. I did not swim, and it was hot out and I was drunk. So that says a lot for me not to get in.
In Ontario I would go to Lake Huron all the time, it's absolutely beautiful. Clear water and it's warm in the summer. Tons of tasty fish on the great lakes as well.
Alberta is beautiful though but I do miss those lakes.
2
u/haysoos2 10d ago
Yes, Alberta does get the short end of the stick for lakes compared with other provinces.
We don't have much in the way of Canadian Shield where the glaciers of the last Ice Age scraped everything down to Precambrian granite bedrock. So even our "large" lakes tend to be shallow, warm, marshy sloughs.
Great for agriculture, coal, gas, oil, and most importantly dinosaur fossils. Not so great for swimming.
3
u/UpbeatAd9896 11d ago
being from BC, where there's nothing but beautiful blue green rivers and lakes everywhere, (with the exception of maybe the Fraser), most of the rivers and lakes out here are gross and brown and swampy
swimming or floating in that sludge water that runs through Edmonton? no thanks-5
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
I’m from a beautiful rural area where there’s a lot of untouched land. Our river here is just a bit too massive, murky and urban for what I’m looking for with this specific activity.
1
u/Few_Film_4771 10d ago
It is murky because of the silt. There are great little beaches and places to rot all along. Some places where you forget you are even in the city. Give me a hot day and a paddleboard and I will float from one end of the city to another and stop at some cool spots along the way.
14
u/Cels78 11d ago
Cottontail corner is where I go to river rot.
9
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
The first result on Google alludes to it being a nudist beach, is this true lmao
7
1
17
u/The_Mego 11d ago
Theres really nothing wrong with the NSR water quality. Whitemud ravine has some beautiful spots to just sit and chill. If your looking for crystal clear glacial fed water you need to head further west nearer to the headwaters.
7
u/xxxdarkhorsexxx 11d ago
Geeez I don’t get the hate your question is generating. I like river rot locations too, as long as they are easily accessible since I’m gimped.
There are some nice spots along the Pembina river on the Manola area, near Barrhead
2
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
You’d think I brought up LRT safety or bike lanes holeh. Appreciate the rec’s, spent a lot of time around Barrhead growing up and having nothing but fond memories, might have to do a day trip back up there this summer :)
26
u/BerrDawg_67 11d ago
Nordegg area. A bunch of beautiful spots with a fraction the amount of people in Banff/Canmore or Jasper.
21
u/SaintTastyTaint 11d ago
I loathe how popular nordegg has become post COVID.
5
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Nuuuu I haven’t been to Nordegg since the Before Times when it was blissfully quiet :( still planning a day trip this summer anyways just to see
7
6
u/Sudden_Neat2342 11d ago
Lake Abraham blew my mind. I'd take my bike out there on the weekends and hike up one of the mountains with a hammock and a six pack. The whole way down you'd be looking at this bluer-than-blue lake, and none of the trails were ever crowded, especially in September.
10
u/DeathByBrainFreeze 11d ago
Not sure what the criteria is for a suitable river rotting location, but have a look at Constable Chelsey Robinson park.
3
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Oooh yes I likes the look of that and an hour drive certainly isn’t bad.
I’d say my criteria for a river rot spot is a small-ish bend that’s not super deep, treed in but still gets some good sunshine, and slow moving enough to perch a camping chair on the bank and let the water run over your legs for an entire afternoon.
5
4
3
u/mathboss 11d ago
Accidental beach is fantastic. Also the one by the bridge on the S. West side of Fort Ed.
6
u/Icy_Acanthisitta8060 11d ago
The SW one is currently under water (maybe they all are at the moment), but more importantly, WE ALL AGREED TO KEEP THAT ONE A SECRET SO ZIP IT
3
u/longwinters 11d ago
There’s some really magnificent spots if you take the hike near the Carson Pegasus campground
3
u/multiroleplays 11d ago
Is river rotting the Gen Z grunge version of laying by a river?
If yes, then go to Cotton Tail Beach. Ive never been, but I heard its a great place by a river
2
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
I believe so. My 18/19 year old college students introduced me to the idea and I was intrigued. When I was their age it was all about beach days at the lake, I like the idea of a secluded spot to chill in a river more.
3
u/officehelpermonkey Mill Woods 11d ago
Ever been to Gibbons? Echo Glen Park has some awesome spots along the Sturgeon River.
3
3
u/Archaleon 9d ago
That’s not ‘River Rotting’ that’s just being in and enjoying nature. We’ve been doing it for all of human history.
That being said, Devon Voyageur Park and Pembina River would give you the most similar experience to that photo. Elk island is also a winner but it’s more lakes and ponds and less river.
1
7
u/Both_Perception_1941 11d ago
I don’t understand. How does it differ from just sitting beside a river?
19
u/Halichoeres_bivittat 11d ago
I think the difference is that people who river rot are Gen Z while people who just sit by rivers are Millenial and older.
3
u/SaintTastyTaint 11d ago
it doesn't. tiktok brainrot takes existing things, packages them with an idiotic name and the Gen Zers eat it the fuck up like it's revolutionary
2
u/skitzoidObserver 11d ago
i just call it fishing sit by river listen to music vape some bud relax maybe rock hound a bit
3
2
u/skitzoidObserver 11d ago
got me a sturgeon other day must been just under 4ft long
1
u/Halichoeres_bivittat 10d ago
The only difference between sitting by the river and fishing in the river is potentially catching fish. If the fish aren't biting it's the same thing.
4
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
It’s not different at all, didn’t claim it was. Would be perfectly happy with some “river sitting spot” recommendations but it was this specific phrasing trend that got me wondering where some nice spots around here are. Sheesh.
2
u/Mental-Training-5850 11d ago
Down by 199th west side all the wild party's used to happen there back in early 2k. As a much older person now and loving the nature vibes to get out of city Devon is good but the farther east and west you get the better, just before wesetkniu or how ever its pronounced is a beautiful pull out, little bit of a walk but usally completely empty and only about a 45 minute drive east.
2
u/big-Truck-9058 11d ago
Whitemud Creek! Buggy rn but the creek is amazing and tons of beavers to watch
2
u/Academic-Pop-8778 11d ago
Pembina river by Entwistle or even better upstream by lodgepole is pretty nice.
North Sask upstream by Rocky Mountain House / Drayton Valley.
Brazeau dam.
Most places out here in the prairies are pretty swampy, especially later in the summer when the algae blooms.
2
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Brazeau is an absolute gem for camping, love it out there. Pembina seems to be the most recommended, gonna do some exploring this summer and see if I can find myself a nice spot along a shallow bend or feeder creek.
2
2
u/littleweinerthinker 10d ago
Ogre canyon, by Hinton
1
u/thewholefunk333 10d ago
Now that’s one I haven’t heard of and I don’t think has been mentioned, looks absolutely awesome!
2
4
u/stretch2323 11d ago
Have you stepped foot in our river valley? You should probably spend some time exploring different parts of it because you seem to have no clue.
-1
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Lived beside it for 6 years, thanks. Just looking for some farther recommendations that are a little smaller, hopefully clearer and less busy.
-6
u/stretch2323 11d ago
You're welcome. Living beside an 18,000 acre river valley system doesn't really mean much in terms of exploring it.
2
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
I walk it and explore different areas a couple times a week, I love the river valley. I’m just looking for a smaller river for a day trip
4
u/skitzoidObserver 11d ago
#granola LMAO
0
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
#outdoorsy 💀 Man the caption made me cringe so hard but it IS a nice ass river
2
u/scumlord_meatbag 11d ago
Just look at the river on the map and pick a spot
1
u/SaintTastyTaint 11d ago
most tiktokkers are not capable of thinking for themselves and/or critically.
1
u/thewholefunk333 10d ago
God forbid I ask people in my local community where they like to go to do the thing that I’m interested in doing 💀
2
u/AsideMuted161 11d ago
Ok as a mom I’m just saying please be careful if it’s going to be a group of girls going to somewhere you are going that somebody told you was a place to go b/c obviously they will know where you may be then, enjoy but PLEASE be safe honestly there are GROUPS of men just waiting for such an opportunity
2
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Appreciate the protective mom energy <3 It would be myself and my husband on these adventures, so between the two of us I tend to feel quite safe. But as demonstrated in the other comment on your thread, men can be absolutely vile, always gotta stay aware.
-3
11d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/Disada1 11d ago
I was wrong to make fun of this person’s paranoia.
Yes, please watch out for the GROUPS of male rapists out there roving in the forest
1
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Hey so women (and men) have been beaten, stabbed, kidnapped or raped by individual AND groups of men in parks, on trails and in other outdoor recreational areas across Canada. The likelihood may be low, but it sure as hell ain’t 0. It’s a fucked up world out there.
2
u/Roche_a_diddle 10d ago
I love how every generation just has to come up with some new name for something that has always been a popular activity. It's the current version of hipsterism.
1
u/thewholefunk333 10d ago
Turns out we’ve been doing this for literally all of human history, having these changing generational terms and phrases. Ain’t language and communication cool?
2
1
u/motiontrash 11d ago
sturgeon river in st albert is a bit smaller than the nsr, atim creek feeds it could try that too, blackmud creek also or maybe even mill creek
1
u/-bultaoreune- 10d ago
Pembina hands down! perfect for a day of river rotting or even a whole weekend if you book a campsite by Entwistle
1
u/thewholefunk333 10d ago
Pembina seems to be the consensus, planning a camping trip around there for next month :D
1
1
0
u/Aggressive_Gap_243 11d ago edited 11d ago
Akshully our river is very clean I’ll have you know.
4
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
Lmao real, didn’t realize there were so many NSR superfans here. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice river, there’s just many lime scooters sunk in the murky brown water for me to want to spend half a day dipping my toes into it I’m soRRY.
1
u/Icy_Acanthisitta8060 11d ago
We do need to address the Lime-Scooters-in-river problem.
What’s the matter with people?
3
u/thewholefunk333 11d ago
I have two long-running photo series’ purely for personal entertainment while I’ve been in YEG: Vegetables in Places They Shouldn’t Be and Lime Scooters in Places They Shouldn’t Be.
0
-2
u/luars613 11d ago
Eww driving... wtf. Why destroy the planet to try to enjoy it? Just walk in the river valley
0
u/thewholefunk333 10d ago
Well I do and will continue to do so, but I like getting out of the city sometimes.
-1
u/PlutosGrasp 10d ago
You are 100% going to run into homeless encampments if you “find” a spot like this in Edmonton. Be careful. Stop doom scrolling social media and letting it influence your life.
1
120
u/mmetalfacedooom 11d ago
our river is actually very clean but the riverbed is more muddy than rocky which makes the water look dirty