Riel Recreation Park — Attraction in St. Albert

This is the only "official" boat launch that gives you quick and direct access to Big Lake - unless you want to paddle upriver from downtown St. Albert or portage from other spots.

The actual address is :

2 Rodeo Drive, St. Albert, Alberta, T8N 0Z8

Once you arrive, the boat launch itself is located behind the BLESS cabin at the end of the parking loop - look for the short dirt path leading down to the river across from the paved trail.

The Launch is an aluminum rolling dock which stays at the same height throughout the season - they sometimes adjust it according to the water levels. The path down there/area itself is all dirt so expect it to be mud on rainier days - why they haven't thrown some rocks down there yet is beyond me.

This launch can definitely get busy during the Summer months so come prepared to wait in a "launch" line during peak hours so keep that in mind for parking as well. If you can't find parking in the roundabout, you may have to drop your boat off and park in the gravel parking lot across from the RV park - its a short walk.

Bylaw has also been known to sometimes ticket vehicles that park on the side of the road in front of the RV park and Soccer/Rugby Fields - so be advised.

The conditions on Big Lake and the Sturgeon river are highly dependent on precipitation year round. Conditions later in the paddling Season (August, September) will usually be worse than May/June - however that can change if we receive decent rain. Plant life and low spots can cause extreme difficulty when the water levels are low.

Its a lovely beginner paddle with lots of wildlife and at times mosquitoes. People leaving bad reviews about the conditions of the water have no idea how much it can actually fluctuate from year to year and month to month - but don't expect Lake Louise out there it's mainly a marshy wetland!

You can check out our website/socials for updates as well as boat tours and rentals! @ruralrivers

Have...

We recently did a bike ride on the St. Albert trails and made a stop at the Riel Rec. Park. There are picnic tables next to the parking area with fire pits and bonus there is wood available for use. I brought along a few craft beers and noticed that this area permitted alcohol which worked out great. The park is very large with lots of room for families to sit, play, eat and have a fire. If you decide to drive it might be tough to find a parking spot as it is a very busy area. This is also the area where St. Albert had the ice skating trail this past winter. I have been to this location previously but to kayak as the city has installed a seasonal dock in the river. There is also a wooden covered canopy for cooking, so it is a great multi-use location. It is worth...

Nice enough ground but nothing special. Big negative: we were told that to buy a (no-doubtedly-overpriced) beer, we had to ascend to the 2nd level pub in the clubhouse. But when we tried to go up, an elderly gent who seemed to fancy himself a burley bouncer turned us back. We weren't allowed to access that area without the premium ticket! The premium ticket was $33 (the regular entry ticket was $10), and this was for the privilege of buying an overpriced beer! Hahahaha - good luck League1 Alberta if this is your strategy to attract people...