First pick
Mill Creek Ravine Park
Park or garden
141 ha24.1 km of path
5 h 20 minto walk all 24.1 km of path
5.1 km south-eastfrom the centre
The TrapRidge RunnerOff-Leash Path+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Ham1ltoner1n · CC BY-SA 4.0–Not graded
Outdoors in Riverdale · parks, protected land & trails
Within 33 km of Riverdale: Elk Island National Park
For a provincial park, Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park lies 13 km off. Within 10 km of the town, 0% of the land is protected, against 2.3% around a typical Canadian town. 2 mapped walking routes pass within 2 km, among them the Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw and Edmonton Pedway Network.
Protected land
0%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
1
within 10 km, 1 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
33 km
Elk Island National Park
Nearest provincial park
13 km
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park
Walking routes
2
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
1
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Against other towns
How Riverdale compares with other Canadian towns
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. Outdoors isn’t graded in Canada. The page compares each figure with other towns and leaves it there.
Protected within 10 km0%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town0%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas1Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes2Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches1Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Of 40 towns its size, none has less protected land around it than Riverdale
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (5,386 to 5,597 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Riverdale0%
Towns its size2%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Riverdale1
Towns its size2
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Riverdale2
Towns its size0
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
Where Riverdale trails its peers is protected land nearby; 34 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue QC | 43% | 33% | 45 | 0 | 10 |
| 2 | Inverness County, Subdivision A NS | 29% | 40% | 156 | 2 | 35 |
| 3 | Electoral Area H, Central Kootenay BC | 25% | 28% | 28 | 1 | 4 |
| 4 | Hudson QC | 20% | 1.1% | 52 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Juan de Fuca (Part 1) BC | 14% | 50% | 64 | 12 | 71 |
| 6 | Island Park-Wellington Village ON | 12% | 2.9% | 35 | 1 | 5 |
| 7 | Greenboro West ON | 9.7% | 0% | 22 | 0 | 1 |
| 8 | Burton NB | 9.5% | 2% | 36 | 0 | 7 |
| 9 | Garner ON | 6.5% | 0% | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | Carillon / Saint-Pie-X QC | 5.4% | 0% | 20 | 0 | 4 |
| 11 | Espanola ON | 4.5% | 0% | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 | Countryside ON | 4.4% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Woodlands AB | 3.9% | 9.6% | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 14 | Gananoque ON | 3.3% | 1.5% | 11 | 0 | 7 |
| 15 | Saint-Boniface QC | 3.1% | 0% | 13 | 5 | 4 |
| 16 | West Meadowlark Park AB | 2.5% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | New Glasgow PE | 2.2% | 3% | 20 | 12 | 17 |
| 18 | Huron South ON | 2.1% | 2.4% | 23 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | North Gower - Kars ON | 2% | 3% | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Carlton AB | 2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Metcalfe ON | 1.9% | 0% | 13 | 0 | 3 |
| 22 | Stirling ON | 1.3% | 1.5% | 17 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | Burrows Central MB | 1.1% | 0% | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Saint-Jean-de-Matha QC | 0.7% | 0.1% | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | West Lorne ON | 0.6% | 0.6% | 16 | 0 | 3 |
| 26 | Wolfville NS | 0.5% | 0% | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 27 | Cookshire-Eaton QC | 0.4% | 0.7% | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 28 | Mandalay West MB | 0.4% | 0% | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | Riverbend MB | 0.3% | 0% | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | Coral Springs AB | 0.3% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 31 | Belgravia AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 32 | Hillview AB | 0.2% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 33 | Larkspur AB | 0.2% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 34 | Southwold ON | 0.1% | 0.1% | 5 | 4 | 5 |
| 35 | Grand Falls / Grand-Sault NB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 36 | Wingham ON | 0% | 0.2% | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 37 | Stonewall MB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 38 | Crystallina Nera East AB | 0% | 0% | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Kilkenny AB | 0% | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 40 | Riverdale AB | 0% | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
The map
The green map of Riverdale
The neighbourhood’s parks, woods, protected land and paths, with its named places numbered.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
Walk in Riverdale: 26 named parks and woods
The biggest is Mill Creek Ravine Park, 141 ha. Biggest first, numbered as on the map.
26 named parks and woods, 326 ha in all
Parks & gardens 313 haWoods 13 ha
Most of it sits in Mill Creek Ravine Park and Dawson Park: 58% together.
Dawson Park
Park or garden
50 ha12.4 km of path
2 h 45 minto walk all 12.4 km of path
1.5 km northfrom the centre
Dawson Park AccessBaker's FollyDawson Access+5 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Forest Heights Park
Park or garden
29 ha7.2 km of path
1 h 35 minto walk all 7.2 km of path
1.3 km north-eastfrom the centre
McNally AccessForest Heights AccessUpper Ewok+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
Gallagher Park
Park or garden
22 ha1.8 km of path
25 minto walk all 1.8 km of path
Centralin the middle of Riverdale
Directionsto a point inside
Louise McKinney Riverfront Park
Park or garden
15 ha5.3 km of path
1 h 10 minto walk all 5.3 km of path
0.8 km north-westfrom the centre
Directionsto a point inside
Strathearn Park
Park or garden
17 ha3.2 km of path
40 minto walk all 3.2 km of path
Centralin the middle of Riverdale
Directionsto a point inside
Henrietta Muir Edwards Park
Park or garden
10 ha3.7 km of path
50 minto walk all 3.7 km of path
Centralin the middle of Riverdale
Edmonton QueenCloverdale AccessBirdhouse+1 path
Directionsto a point inside
Nellie McClung Park
Wood or forest
13 ha3.5 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.5 km of path
1.2 km south-westfrom the centre
Old Timers' AccessThe West CoastNellie McLung Lower Access+1 path
Directionsto a point inside
All 26 named parks and green spaces
Mill Creek Ravine ParkPark or garden · 141 ha · 24.1 km of path
DirectionsDawson ParkPark or garden · 50 ha · 12.4 km of path
DirectionsForest Heights ParkPark or garden · 29 ha · 7.2 km of path
DirectionsGallagher ParkPark or garden · 22 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsLouise McKinney Riverfront ParkPark or garden · 15 ha · 5.3 km of path
DirectionsStrathearn ParkPark or garden · 17 ha · 3.2 km of path
DirectionsHenrietta Muir Edwards ParkPark or garden · 10 ha · 3.7 km of path
DirectionsNellie McClung ParkWood or forest · 13 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsIrene Parlby ParkPark or garden · 4.1 ha · 1.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsDermot District ParkPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 1.1 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRossdale Park 1Park or garden · 3.7 ha · 0.5 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsRossdale Park 2Park or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.9 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsBonnie Doon ParkPark or garden · 1.8 ha · 0.7 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsAllan Stein ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsRiverdale ParkPark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsDiamond ParkPark or garden · 2.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsSilver Heights ParkPark or garden · 1.1 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsChinese GardenPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsBennett CentrePark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsBennett Centre ParkPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsIdylwylde ParkPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.3 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsMuttart ConservatoryPark or garden · 1.2 ha
DirectionsMcDougall ParkPark or garden · 0.6 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsGeorge F. Hustler Memorial PlazaPark or garden · 0.5 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsKinistinâw ParkPark or garden · 0.4 ha · just outside town
DirectionsAlldritt ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha · just outside town
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
In Riverdale, a park is close to every home
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (100%)Further (0%)
Riverdale100%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
That beats the typical Canadian town, where it is 83%.
Protected areas
Riverdale has 1 protected area within 10 km
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Riverdale0%
Within 10 km0%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
It is publicly owned.
Larch SanctuaryNature reserve · 24 ha · 9.7 km from the edge of town
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
Parks around Riverdale
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park
13 km north-west21 km²since 2005
National park
Elk Island National Park
33 km east194 km²since 1913
A provincial park is closer: Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, at 13 km.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
99 km of paths in and around Riverdale
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
99 km
in and around the town (14.1 km²)
Woodland
9.8%
about 1.4 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
RiverdaleTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths7
04.59 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
RiverdaleTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland9.8%
0%50%100%
It is more wooded than 52% of Canadian towns. Paths are denser here than in 98% of Canadian towns.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
Riverdale has 2 named walking routes
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
RegionalOther waymarked
Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw83.8 km
Edmonton Pedway Network3.2 km
The Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw is the big one locally: 83.8 km.
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Get out in Riverdale in May, August and September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Edmonton (City) (4.9 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.0 | 9.7 | 11.7 | 13.9 | 15.9 | 17.0 | 16.5 | 14.8 | 12.6 | 10.4 | 8.5 | 7.5 |
| High (°C) | -6 | -3 | 2 | 10 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 10 | 1 | -5 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 20 | 12 | 17 | 29 | 44 | 70 | 83 | 61 | 39 | 21 | 18 | 12 |
Highs peak near 24 °C in July and fall to -6 °C in January. Rain peaks with the heat: 83 mm in July, against 12 mm in February. Snow totals about 124 cm a year. The climate in Riverdale →
Beaches
Riverdale has 1 beach close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Accidental Beachin town
DirectionsBeach water tests aren’t published as open data across Canada, so swimming advisories come from the local health unit.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Viewpoints and waterfalls near Riverdale: 6 and 1
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
There are 90 playgrounds, more than of anything else. The highest named peak nearby is Bellamy Hill, at 686 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 6
Riverdale Lookoutin town
DirectionsFrederick G. Todd Lookout0.2 km from town
DirectionsPlus 4 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 3
Grierson Hill678 m · 0.2 km from town
DirectionsMcDougall Hill670 m · 0.4 km from town
DirectionsBellamy Hill686 m · 0.6 km from town
DirectionsWaterfalls 1
EPCOR Waterfall0.5 km from town
DirectionsNature reserves 1
Camel Humps Nature Reservein town
DirectionsPlaygrounds 90
Riverdale School Playgroundin town
DirectionsKenilworth Splash pad1.3 km from town
DirectionsPlus 88 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 4
104th Avenue Off-Leash Dog Park0.9 km from town
DirectionsPlus 3 dog parks without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
3 gardens within reach of Riverdale
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Chinese Garden PagodaGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsWilliam Hawrelak ParkGarden or park · 4.2 km from town
DirectionsMill Woods Sports ParkGarden or park · 7.7 km from town
DirectionsSources: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, and Wikidata (CC0), as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic places from Parks Canada’s Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel.
Next door
Next to Riverdale
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
Boyle StreetBonnie DoonHolyroodDowntownForest HeightsMcCauleyRiverdale
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverdale | 0% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Boyle Street 1.5 km | 0% | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Bonnie Doon 1.6 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Holyrood 1.7 km | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Downtown 1.8 km | 0.1% | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Forest Heights 1.8 km | 0% | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| McCauley 2.1 km | 0% | 0 | 3 | 1 |
No place nearby has double Riverdale’s share of protected land.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- Private land. Private conservation land is in the totals, not the lists. Many such areas are easements on working farms or woodlots.
- Protected land. The 10 km band starts at the town’s outline, not its centre, so a large municipality reaches further than a small town.
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Walking routes. Only named route relations count; a park’s own path network may not show unless it is mapped as a route.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
Questions about the outdoors in Riverdale
How far is Riverdale from a national park?
Elk Island National Park, 33 km from the edge of town.
Is there protected land near Riverdale?
Within 10 km, 0% of the land lies in protected areas.
Where can you walk near Riverdale?
The Amisk Wacîw Mêskanaw and Edmonton Pedway Network, among the routes mapped within 2 km.
Is there a beach near Riverdale?
The nearest is Accidental Beach, in town.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Riverdale?
On the normals, May, August and September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Which is the biggest protected area near Riverdale?
Larch Sanctuary, a nature reserve of 24 ha.
What is the nearest provincial park to Riverdale?
Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park, 13 km away.
Sources
The sources behind Riverdale’s outdoors figures
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Gardens: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden) and Wikidata gardens within 15 km, as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic gardens and parks from Canada’s heritage registers (Parks Canada DFHD, the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel).
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).