Everything about The Waskahegan Trail totally explained
The
Waskahegan Trail is a walking/hiking trail that runs through and around
Edmonton,
Alberta,
Canada. It is 235 km and runs through a mix of public and private land. Landowners are paid nothing. Their permission is given on the understanding that it can be withdrawn at any time for any reason. The trail is managed by a volunteer board, the Waskahegan Trail Association (WTA).
Current Route
A complete map of the trail route is available to Waskahegan Trail Association members. Membership information is given in the References section.
Edmonton Section
Although the trail is more or less circular in shape its starting point is in north east Edmonton at the intersection of the river and 144th Avenue. From this point it runs SW to the Whitemud and Blackmud Creeks ending at Ellerslie Road, the first gap.
Nisku/Leduc Section
This gap ends at Saunders Lake (directly east of the Edmonton International Airport), south to
Coal Lake in the
Wetaskiwin area, then east along the
Battle River from
Gwynne to
Camrose.
Coal Lake Section
Pipestone Section
Battle River Section
Camrose Section
Beaver Hills Section
North of Camrose is the second gap after which the trail continues north from
Miquelon Lake Provincial Park through
Ministik Lake Bird Sanctuary,
Hastings Lake area, and the
Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area to
Elk Island National Park.
Blackfoot Section
Elk Island National Park Section
Ross Creek-Fort Saskatchewan Section
It then continues west along Ross Creek to
Fort Saskatchewan. The third and final gap is between Fort Saskatchewan and the starting point in Edmonton.
Trees and Tall Shrubs in the Waskahegan Area
| Conifers |
- white spruce
- black spruce
- jack pine
- tamarack
|
| Deciduous trees |
| trembling aspen
white poplar
balsam poplar
white birch
water birch
|
river alder
green alder
saskatoon
pin cherry
choke cherry
|
high-bush cranberry
Canadian buffalo berry
red osier dogwood
silver berry
beaked hazelnut
|
willows
hawthorn
Manitoba maple
caragana
|
|
Mammals of the Waskahegan Area
| Shrews |
Masked shrew
Arctic shrew
Pygmy shrew
Water shrew
Prairie shrew
|
| Hares |
Snowshoe hare
Jack rabbit
|
| Bats |
Little/big brown bat
Hoary bat
Silver haired bat
|
| Rodents |
| Least chipmunk
Woodchuck
Gopher
Grey Gopher
Striped Gopher
|
Red Squirrel
Northern Flying Squirrel
Northern pocket gopher
Beaver
Deer Mouse
|
Northern bog emming
Southern red backed vole
Meadow vole
Prairie vole
jumping mouse
|
western jumping mouse
Muskrat
Porcupine
|
|
| Carnivores |
| Red Fox
Raccoon
Long-tailed weasel
Ermine
Least weasel
|
Mink
Badger
Striped skunk
Canada Lynx
Coyote
|
|
| Ungulates |
White tailed deer
Mule deer
Bison
Elk
|
History
Founding of the Trail
The beginnings of the trail started in 1967 with Fred Dorward, the trail's founder, pitching the idea to the Oil Capital Kiwanis group who provided funding and support. Other people and organizations involved at this time were the Edmonton Regional Planning Commission, Edmonton Parks and Recreation, the Alberta Department of Youth, Alberta Public Works, the Canadian Hostelling Association, the Scouts Association, Alberta Travel, Elk Island National Park and Grant MacEwan.
Naming the Trail
The trail was named in a contest in 1967 by D.B. Remington. Waskaheegan is Cree for "house", in reference to the nearby Fort Edmonton Trading Post.
The Regional Trails Committee
At the same time in 1967, the Regional Trials Committee was formed to promote the Trail in the Edmonton Journal and setting up a set of group bylaws.
The Waskahegan Trail Association
WTA was 'born' at 7:40 pm, March 20th, 1969 at a meetings of the Regional Trails Committee. Work in earnest began in 1973 with 100KM of trail being built and the first guide book published.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Waskahegan Trail'.
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