These urban beaches offer stunning views worth a summer trip in Edmonton

Summer is around the corner, and being in a landlocked city doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a day at the beach.

Edmonton may not have the ocean, but there are a handful of urban beach destinations where you can post up, catch a tan, and pretend like you’re not in the middle of a continent for a little while. Besides, with the price of gas as high as it is, it doesn’t hurt to plan a little staycation!

These beach spots are along the North Saskatchewan River, and they’re not monitored by lifeguards. So if you plan on wading or swimming, make sure you know the risks that could come with swimming in the river.

Here are three urban beaches in Edmonton worth throwing a towel down at this summer:

Accidental Beach

As the name suggests, this central Edmonton urban beach popped up unintentionally after the construction of the Tawatinâ Bridge. It comes with great views of downtown, the LRT bridge, and the river valley. The size of the beach depends on river levels. It can be wide-open one day and nearly gone the next, so it’s worth checking conditions before you head out.

Wolf Willow/Cougar Island Beach

Like Accidental Beach, this picturesque spot is best visited when water levels are low and the shoreline is fully exposed, typically later in the season. There are a number of spots on this island near the Fort Edmonton Footbridge to post up, and it feels a bit more tucked away in nature, with views of the steep river valley slopes in southwest Edmonton. Getting there also means a short hike, which adds to the experience.

Skyline Beach

While not as large as the others, this beach gives you a totally different vantage point of downtown. Tucked next to the Walterdale Bridge, it’s easy to access and gives you a front row seat to some of Edmonton’s most iconic sights. You can watch the High Level Streetcar crawl across the bridge or catch the sun setting behind the Alberta Legislature. Either way, it’s a pretty great place to post up!

Will you be hitting up any urban beaches this summer? Let us know in the comments.

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Allison Stephen, Daily Hive

Allison Stephen, Staff Writer– Allison is an Edmonton-based reporter passionate about uncovering overlooked and unexpected details in the world around us. She began her journalism career in 2021, covering Fort Saskatchewan and surrounding small towns, and has reported on everything from politics to sports, breaking news, and entertainment. In her spare time, she enjoys walking her dog, trying new recipes, watching films, and exploring Edmonton’s food and drink scene.

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