The best cycling routes around Sturgeon County

Known for its community-focused amenities, Rotary Park features a large playground, expansive grassy fields, and picnic areas that make it a popular destination for family gatherings. The paved trails connect seamlessly to the city's broader trail network, offering a pleasant route for walkers and joggers to enjoy the local landscape.

The Sturgeon River Trail follows the banks of the Sturgeon River through St. Albert. This section is part of the city’s extensive Red Willow Trail System, which spans nearly 100 kilometres of interconnected pathways linking neighbourhoods, parks, and river valley green spaces. The mostly paved multi-use trail winds through the wooded river valley with frequent views of the water and surrounding parkland. Popular with walkers, runners, and cyclists, it’s one of the best ways to explore the natural corridor that runs through the heart of St. Albert while staying close to the city.

The St. Albert Botanic Park sits along the Sturgeon River and the Red Willow Trail System in St. Albert. This volunteer-run botanical garden features a series of themed spaces including rose gardens, native plant areas, and quiet landscaped paths beside the river. It’s a peaceful stop along the trail, with benches and shaded areas that make it a pleasant place to pause before continuing along the river valley pathway.

Running through the quiet residential edge of St. Albert, the Erin Ridge North pathway follows a tree-lined corridor that links neighbourhood streets with the broader ravine system. The route feels calm and suburban at first — low rolling lawns, tidy plantings, and small pockets of spruce and poplar — before gradually drawing you toward the wooded dip of the ravine. From here, the path naturally transitions into Coal Mine Park, where open greenspace and a bit more elevation change signal your entry into the connected network of trails shared by Erin Ridge Ravine and Ted Hole Park.

Just across from Ted Hole Park, Erin Ridge Ravine offers a wide, paved pathway through a canopy of mature poplars and spruce trees, winding gently between neighbourhood green spaces. The trail is lined with benches and perfect for a relaxed walk, bike ride or run — regardless of the season. In autumn the leaves blaze with colour; in winter the trees glisten with snow, making it one of St. Albert’s most accessible and scenic ravine routes.

Nestled in the northeast of St. Albert, Ted Hole Park is a leafy 13-hectare neighbourhood green-space where tall poplars and spruce trees form a calming canopy over paved and gravel trails. Between the paved loop, benches, and the modest off-leash dog area, it’s a perfect stop for a quick nature break, a gentle stroll, or a run at any time of day.

Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park protects over 11 square km of wetland and shoreline habitat on Big Lake. Recognized as an Important Bird Area, it supports diverse waterfowl and shorebird populations and offers beautiful birdwatching opportunities, with walking trails and interpretive signs. It’s a rare pocket of wildness within an urban setting, connecting people to the Central Parkland’s natural beauty while honoring the legacy of Alberta’s former Lieutenant Governor, Lois Hole.

Albert G. "Bert" Nickel (1904-1984) dedicated years of service to the Wellington community. Born in Saskatchewan, Nickel moved to the Wellington neighbourhood in 1959. He later served as president of the community league and as a director. Nickel received the Wellington Community Honorary Award in 1966, the Area #1 Outstanding Service Award in 1973 and the Federation of Community Leagues' Service Award in 1982. The Albert G. Nickel Park is in the Wellington neighbourhood and has an area of 0.38 ha.