Edmonton River Valley Askiy-Geo Discovery Tour

Embark on a journey into Edmonton’s past as you hike to historic and sacred sites within North America’s largest urban green space, the Edmonton River Valley. Walk in the footsteps of Indigenous Peoples who continue to visit this sacred gathering place on Turtle Island for the last 10,000 years. Honour the local First Nations, Métis, and early European ancestors of amiskwacîwâskahikan (Translation: Beaver Hills House – Nehiyawak (Cree) traditional territorial name for Edmonton) by giving tobacco protocol and participating in a smudge ceremony. Discover the extensive history of our region’s fur trade, stretching across 112 years from 1795 to 1907.

Talking Rock Tours’ Edmonton River Valley Discovery Tours include a continuous sharing circle with some Indigenous music and storytelling as Keith Diakiw, a proud Métis and professional geologist, imparts his expertise on Alberta’s fur trade history and geological treasures nestled within a river valley spanning over 20 times the size of New York’s Central Park.

Bring an open heart/mind and come walk with us in the spirit of reconciliation.

Length: ~5 km

Time: 2–2.5 hours; weekends (1300 to 1530 hrs)

Level of Difficulty: Fairly Easy with a minor elevation gain, however, the majority of the trails are paved and makes for an easy hike.

Significant Features:

• John Walter Museum
• Walterdale Bridge
• Fort Edmonton IV historical site
• Sacred First Nations’ Burial Ground / Fort Edmonton Cemetery / Alberta’s first Catholic and Methodist Cemeteries

Trailhead Location: Kinsmen Sports Centre Parking Lot – East Side (Free parking).

Address: 9100 Walterdale Hill, Edmonton, AB T6E 2V3