5 PLACES NATURE LOVERS WILL LOVE IN ST. ALBERT

Put on your sneakers, charge up your camera, and get outside. Smell roses, hyacinths, or whatever is blooming in St. Albert this time of year. Be amazed by peregrine falcons or cozy up by a fire while creating memories with friends or family camping or picnicking at one of St. Albert’s parks, conservation areas, and forest and outdoor trails.

 

Here are 5 places nature lovers will love in St. Albert:

 

Riverlot 56

 

Riverlot 56 is a provincial park where you can hike or go cross-country skiing. Several trails are marked for hiking, and the park is open year-round. 

 

Only 12 minutes from Solis Giroux, Riverlot 56 is an 80-acre parkland along the Sturgeon River in South St. Albert. It features beautiful pathways, picnic tables, fire pits, playgrounds and more than seven kilometres of trails that wind through forests, wetlands and prairies. The Sturgeon River winds through the park in several places and provides excellent opportunities for fishing and paddling. One of our favourite things about this park is that it’s free!

 

Red Willow Trail Corridor

 

This is 95 km of urban trails in St. Albert, most along the river valley, allowing you to connect with nature and marvel at its beauty. The trail is named after Red Willow Creek — which runs from north-central Alberta to Lake Winnipeg — and has become a popular destination for locals and tourists alike because it offers beautiful views of the North Saskatchewan River valley and access to other amenities such as parks, playgrounds and sports fields.

The Red Willow Trail also connects with other trails that lead into Edmonton’s river valley system, so it’s easy to keep exploring once you get started!

 

Botanical Loop

 

The Botanical Loop bus tour runs every Saturday between mid-June and September. This free tour visits the Enjoy Centre, the Farmers’ Market, and St. Albert Botanic Park. The bus departs from downtown St. Albert at 10:30 a.m., stops at the Enjoy Centre, then heads to the Farmers Market, where you can pick up fresh produce. The final stop is at St. Albert Botanic Park to explore the park’s trails and gardens.

 

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park

 

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park (Big Lake) is an important wildlife area. The lake and wetlands attract more than 220 bird species, including trumpeter swans, Sprague, pipits, peregrine falcons, short-eared owls and bald eagles. The John E. Poole Interpretive Boardwalk at Big Lake includes trails, boardwalks, a picnic area and interpretive signage to help you understand the unique ecosystem.

 

The park is 15 minutes from Solis Giroux and offers hiking trails through forested areas filled with aspen groves, balsam poplar stands and mixed coniferous forest on the northern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.

 

St. Albert Farmers’ Market

 

The St. Albert Farmers’ Market is an outdoor market where you can find fresh produce, meat, and baked goods. It takes place in St. Albert on the second Saturday of every month from June to November, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. unless it rains (then it’s cancelled). It features 270 vendors, 5 special event days, and a variety of top market-quality products that follow our “make it, bake it, grow it” regulations. Check out a variety of vendors carrying everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to home decor. 

 

Everything sold in the market is hand-made, hand-baked, or home-grown, so you can feel good knowing that your purchases support the local community! If you’re looking for a beautiful space to find unique art, vegan and gluten-free goods, farm-fresh meat, handcrafted jewelry, delicious distilleries, and more, St. Albert Farmers’ Market is the place to be!

 

Solis Giroux is close to many of the city’s parks and outdoor attractions. We’re the perfect home for you and your family! Not only have we redefined luxury, comfort and elegance, but our location gives residents plenty of opportunities to explore St. Albert’s beautiful parks or participate in one of the many annual events held throughout the year.