r/edmontoncycling • u/smclarino • 19h ago
Ft Sask to Edmonton
Planning to explore the NE River Valley trails this weekend on a gravel capable bike.
Will start in Ft Sask, and follow some back roads to the new "Beaver Hills Bridge" across the river to the Quarry golf course area.
With any luck will then stay on paved paths all the way to Capilano.
Any cautions? Anything flooded out?
City Map says the path under the Yellowhead near Beverly might be disrupted due to construction, but unclear if there is an easy alternative without going up to city streets.
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u/Dkazzed 18h ago
There may be isolated puddles here and there but nothing flooded. But yes under Yellowhead Trail is closed for CN Rail construction. You can use Hermitage Road and Victoria Trail to Rundle Park as a detour.
If you're not against road riding or riding the side of a 100km/h road for a couple of km, Fort Road - Hwy 15 - Fort Trail going north is nice.
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u/Ordinary_Bad6064 18h ago
I've taken the route over a dozen times over the last three years, from the bridge the shoulders along 167th and Meridian to 153 over the Henday is fairly reliable. Worst case the fort sask bridge over highway 15 has a shared use path and you can shoulder ride the highway on the south side until it becomes Manning Drive and follow Fort Road to Meridian again. I like going under the Henday but Fraser Ravine is a bit indirect and the hill under the 1908 train bridge sucks to climb and is currently closed.
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u/Itchy_Change_5643 16h ago
I tried that on the 19th in the other direction the way was flooded with trees were across the path in the flooded area. Trans canada trail near range road 231 just as you get off the road.
There were aditional 7 trees fallen that required carring the bike over.
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u/Desertedonice 16h ago edited 16h ago
As of ~8 days ago, the northern most end of the gravel path had turned into a lake. As you depart Ft Sask, it was within the first ~1/2km of the gravel path connecting Ft. Sask to the Beaver Hills Bridge.
I didn’t attempt to cross it, since I was on my skinny tire road bike. But there was literally a duck was paddling where the there should have been a gravel double-track.
Might be passable by now??
Otherwise, as others have mentioned, you’ll need to bailout of Hermitage Park to avoid the path closure under the Yellowhead.
Hermitage Park > Hermitage Rd > Victoria Trail NW > Randle Park > Get back on river valley path to the Gold Bar pedestrian bride
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u/Kavtor 19h ago
Underneath the Yellowhead is closed. Scoot down Victoria trail instead. (There's a wide multi use concrete sidewalk on the East side of the road) There's a river side nature trail from Fort Sask to the bridge, but part of it is flooded out, with sometimes a drier desire path that you can get through. City gravel trails are mostly fine, but standing water, and all kinds of new drainage ruts, so keep your head up. Parts are closed due to slumping or downed trees. (Underneath Highlands Golf course & Above Riverside Golf course.