Join the Second Annual Camino Edmonton 2019!!!
The Camino Edmonton is an informal, five-day walk through the North Saskatchewan River Valley from Friday June 7 to Tuesday June 11, 2019, starting at Fort Saskatchewan/Lamoureux, ending at the University of Alberta Botanical Garden.
All hikers are welcome to join us - for a day, a half-day or the entire five days. Everybody is responsible for their own daily drop-off/pickup arrangements.
Here is the schedule.
Friday June 7, 2019:
Meet 8:30 a.m. Lamoureux Church (Notre Dame de Lourdes Catholic Church) , Village of Lamoureux, 56 Lamoureux Dr.
Finish about 4:30 p.m. Strathcona County Nature Trail Staging Area - Township Road 540 on the east side of the North Saskatchewan River (just west of Alberta Capital Region Wastewater treatment plant, north of the Legends Golf Club.)
Distance 15 km.
Notes: Lamoureux is a village across the river from Fort Saskatchewn. As there is no walkway on the bridge into Fort Saskatchewan, friends of the Camino will transport us over the bridge by vehicle. We will continue on trails from Fort Saskatchewan to the Strathcona County Nature Trail Staging Area.
Saturday, June 8, 2019:
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at 167 Avenue and North Saskatchewan River scenic lookout - just east of turn-off to the Quarry Golf Course.
Finish about 4:30 p.m. at Capilano Park boat launch, 50 Street and south bank of North Saskatchewan River.
Distance 22 km.
Notes: We will be walking the newest section of the River Valley Alliance trail system, criss-crossing the river via foot bridges into the east end of Edmonton's river valley trail system.
Sunday June 9, 2019:
Meet at 8:30 a.m. at Capilano Park boat launch.
Finish about 4:30 p.m. at Fort Edmonton Park parking lot (east end of the parking lot)
Distance 20 km.
Notes: A beautiful hike through the river valley within the city with trails on both sides of the river - last year we stopped for drinks on the patio of the Hotel Macdonald! Sadly Fort Edmonton Park is closed for renovations this summer, but the parking lot is still accessible, as are the riverside trails around the park.
Monday June 10, 2019:
Meet 8:30 a.m. at Fort Edmonton Parking lot
Finish about 4:30 p.m. Intersection of Cameron Heights Dr. NW and E.L. Smith Road NW
Notes: We will start with a side-trip - from Fort Edmonton Park up Whitemud Creek Ravine to Snow Valley and back, then along the river past Terwilligar Park, crossing the river via the pedway bridge under the Henday Dr. southwest bridge. The pick-up spot is west of the Henday Bridge.
Tuesday June 11:
Meet at 8:30 a.m. Devon Lions Campground, The Gatehouse
Finish about 2 p.m. University of Alberta Botanic Garden - with a finale picnic to celebrate!
Notes: No trails yet exist from the Henday Bridge south to Devon, hence the starting point in Devon's beautiful river valley Lion's campground. We walk through Devon's riverside trail system, cross the river on Hwy 60's Devonian Way Bridge then walk up the comparatively new trail from Prospectors' Point to the university's beautiful Botanic Garden.
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The Camino Edmonton, organized by Sheila Thompson and Graham Hicks, is completely informal, not a part of any organization. All are welcome to join us, but are responsible for their own travel arrangements, lunches and snacks.
At the end of each day, we head to either a watering hole or a nearby hiker's home for liquid refreshment! If you'd like to join us, you are most welcome!
And on the final day, we envision a lovely picnic at the University of Alberta's Botanic Garden, with a visit to the magnificent Aga Khan Garden.
For more information, feel free to email (graham.hicks1950@gmail.com) or phone (780-707-6379) Graham Hicks.
Shiela also has a more contextual blog posting about the Camino Edmonton. https://tctsummertour.wordpress.com/2019/05/16/camino-edmonton/