Edmonton 
All along Edmonton’s massive urban parklands, you’ll find some amazing views.
Stop and enjoy these views, take a break, or come simply to sit! These views are usually coupled with sitting areas, some with more than one. And as much as these Edmonton benches can be great rest stops, they can also make great a peaceful destination for meeting up with a friend over coffee, for reading, writing, drawing, or simply relaxing on your own.
To find a lot of Edmonton’s scenic viewpoints with sitting areas, you can travel the river valley trails; however, many are also on the large banks of Edmonton’s major ravines (Whitemud, Blackmud). The ravine lookouts can be an even quieter place to stop, with less trail activity around you.
Constable Ezio Faraone Park
Many people in Edmonton appreciate Ezio Faraone Park for its exercise and recreation opportunities with trails, the Royal Glenora Stairs, and the wide-open field area.
There are benches located all along the hilltop, which overlook the High-Level Bridge, the south banks of the river, and the University of Alberta.
The park area, beside the Legislature building, faces southeast and offers beautiful sunrise views over south Edmonton.
Bernadette Gallagher
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South Legislature Grounds
The benches around the south Legislature Grounds give you a range of peaceful places to sit and enjoy beautiful Edmonton views.
On the southwest side, you can look out over the river valley and High-Level Bridge through the mature trees. On the southeast side of the building, you’ll find a peaceful and beautiful seating area in the Lois Hole Memorial Garden and another facing the building.
These benches are under some massive trees, which provide great shade during a hot walk or bike ride!
Bernadette Gallagher
Queen Elizabeth Hill
Take your pick from a couple of downtown-facing benches on Edmonton’s Queen Elizabeth Hill on the south end of the Walter Dale Bridge.
The impressive skyline views give you all of the most iconic structures: the Leg. Building, the new-ish Walterdale, the High-Level Bridge, the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald, and the Edmonton Convention Centre. Visit at night to see all the LED lighting that decorates downtown Edmonton.
Strathearn Drive NW
If you want great views of Edmonton’s skylineand the lush and scenic river valley within views, you can see it all from Strathearn Drive. From the pair of benches, you look out over downtown Edmonton, the river, the Muttart, and Gallagher Park.
Your view faces north, but stretches east and west to the sides, making this a great viewing area for a sunrise or sunset over the river.
Lansdowne Drive NW and Whitemud Creek Ravine
Before taking a day to explore the ravine or before following the trails to the river, you can stop at a breathtaking view of south Edmonton. Lansdowne Drive has a great southwest-facing view of the entire Ravine, Snow Valley, and possibly a great sunset.
Rowland Park Lookout
You can get a sweeping skyline view from the Rowland Park Lookout, which faces north over the river. The stellar skyline views show off downtown and the huge amount of urban parkland which surrounds it.
Edmonton’s Chinese Garden
Along with the Chinese Garden’s flowers, green hills, and ornate structures, this area also offers a serene lookout via its stone benches. You can peer out over the new LRT bridge, the river valley, Louise McKinney Park, the Muttart pyramids, and Gallagher Hill.
River Valley Road NW (between Groat and High Level)
The benches along River Valley Road are all along the popular cycling/walking path and provide more close-up views of the water.
One bench, across from the Victoria Parking lot, sits on a wooden platform which brings you out over the bank by a couple of feet, while others sit on the grassy hill.
They provide scenic places to stop for a rest during any sort of trail recreation.
Government Hill (via Wellington Cres.)
You can access the great views of Government Hill by car on Wellington Crescent or by foot on the river valley trails which eventually lead into the MacKinnon Ravine.
The benches are covered in the shade of Old Glenora’s large trees, with one sitting area facing southwest toward Terwillegar and another facing southeast with downtown peeking out at the side.
The Edmonton Footbridges
Pedestrian access in our river valley has greatly improved over recent years, especially with the addition or upgrade of river crossings with our unique footbridges. Each bridge is a bit different in appearance, and each bridge offers unique river views. The benches along each bridge make for a perfect pit stop on a long hike or bike ride and a peaceful place to read, write, or enjoy a cup of coffee on your way to work!
