Lockdown got you feeling blue? The Great Outdoors is calling your name! Here at Viridis, we’ve spent countless winters living in the deep freeze AKA Edmonton. However, it’s about to get a whole lot warmer so it’s time to take advantage and check out what this city has to offer in the winter months. Grab your favourite Viridis strain, bundle up and check out one of these four Covid friendly experiences.
Image by @kati3__h via Instagram
Located just 35 minutes east of the city, Strathona Wilderness Center is the perfect place to learn something new and test out your xcountry skills. You can rent equipment from the day lodge and head out on trails ranging from Green to Black Diamond. If xcountry ain’t your thing, you can always walk or snowshoe the pedestrian trails. And if you’re lucky, you might even see some wildlife on your adventure. Deer and moose frequent this area so remember to play it cool if you do encounter any animals.
Image by City of Edmonton
Edmonton’s skating game is strong with a total of 7 main outdoor parks to choose from. Grab a rental or buy a pair of skates from a local shop like Totem and head out on a rink hop around the city. If you hit up Rundle Park Iceway, remember to start your Strava and upload that glory lap.
Image by Parks Canada
Got an afternoon off and sick of staying inside? Saddle up with your hiking boots and snacks, and head out to Elk Island. Just a short 40-minute drive East of Edmonton and you’ve arrived in an Insta-worthy winter escape. Elk Island is Canada’s largest fenced national park and boasts 11 trails that cover over 80 kilometers. Depending on the snowfall, you might need snowshoes but the shorter, more popular trails are usually tracked out pretty well if you only have winter boots.
Image by @petsdotpics via Instagram
If you could picture winter dog heaven, this would be the place. Don’t have a dog? No problem. You can still walk the beautiful trails and explore the area. They also have a cute fenced-in area for those small doggos that don’t rock with the big boys. Just East of Sherwood Park, Deermound is a quick escape for Fido and you.
Happy Adventuring and Stay Safe!
Written by Angie Clark