Central Alberta 
The areas south of Edmonton are not just farmland and prairies. In the summer months, Leduc, Leduc County and its lakes, the bordering North Saskatchewan River, and the small towns along the highways, all provide numerous opportunities for summer fun!
Telford Lake/Credit: City of Leduc
You’ll find a variety of ‘nature-escapes’ whether on the water or on the trails, the popular Summer Village of Pigeon Lake, historical and cultural experiences, and several events to attend like rodeos, Devon Days, or the Farmers’ Markets.
Get on the Trails
You don’t need to leave the city of Leduc in order to experience nature on the trails. Within city limits are a number of parks and trails, including Telford Lake where you can rent kayaks for the afternoon. For a simple walk, you can loop the lake on the 10km path. This is also where you can find the Telford Lake Multiway which connects you to Leduc’s other 75km worth of walking and biking paths.
City of Leduc
Stroll Block 50 in Leduc
Leduc’s 50th Avenue runs conveniently across the QE2 Highway and finishes off at the large Telford Park. This main street is where you’ll find a large hub of local Leduc businesses including stores, boutique shops, restaurants, and places for a quick bite. The Block 50 organization often hosts outdoor street events too.
Where:50th Avenue and 50th Street, Leduc
Learn to Water Ski
Shalom Ski Park has transformed a small part of North Saskatchewan shores into a water-ski course and playground. Never water-skied? No problem. You can start by signing up for water ski lessons and coaching through Shalom. Once you’re confident in your skills, you can join their club to use the facilities with your own skis. They now offer kids’ lessons, too!
Where:20750 57 Avenue SW, Leduc County
Float the North Saskatchewan
Some may be comfortable finding a boat launch area west of Devon and floating to an end point all on your own. However, if you need a bit more guidance, you can catch the River Lifestyle Co. at Voyageur Park in Devon- they have space to launch, provide tube rentals, and offer transportation to their tubers (no tube rental, no shuttle). They’ll provide options for float distances, and tube rental type.
River Lifestyle Co
Where: Voyageur Park, Devon
Swim or Relax at Ma-Me-O Beach
Pigeon Lake’s village at Ma-Me-O is a perfect place to spend a day lazing at the beach or on the water, swimming, or picnicking with family. It is a short drive from Red Deer, Rocky Mountain House, and Edmonton, and has numerous stores and restaurants to check out via the Village at Pigeon Lake. Remember to leave early for your day here, as parking fills up quickly on hot days.
Where:6B Village Dr, Westerose
Picnic at Pigeon
The Village and main beach area on the southeast shores of Pigeon Lake, with the Provincial Park area on the opposite northwest shores. Here you’ll find two quiet day-use areas where you can host a beachside picnic among the trees. You and pick from sunny or shaded spots and take advantage of amenities like firepits and washrooms.
When: year-round
Where:Township Rd 470, Alberta
How much: free
Get Tickets to a Music Festival
There are two music festivals to attend this summer in Leduc County and luckily their dates do not overlap! The Beaumont Blue & Roots Festival happens mid-June, and the Pigeon Lake Music Festival is scheduled for the end of July.
Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival
Beaumont Blues & Roots Festival
When: June 17-18, 2022
Where:Four Seasons Trail, Beaumont
When: July 29-31, 2022
Where:473008 Range Rd 10, Mulhurst
Spend the Day Fishing
The North Saskatchewan River, Pigeon Lake, and Coal Lake PRA are all popular fishing spots within Leduc County. To fish the North Saskatchewan, head to Genesee Nature Area, Burtonsville Island Nature Area, or book with Lunker’s Fishing Adventures, located just west of Devon. Lunker’s takes you on a fun-filled outing including river and lake fishing, or overnight trips.
Alberta Family Fishing Weekends (fish without a license):
- The weekend following Canada Day in July. In 2022: July 2 & 3
Farmers’ Market Shopping
You have five different Farmers’ Markets to hit up this summer in Leduc County. Support local and shop the markets for fresh produce, fresh meat, artisan goods and crafts, clothing, and much more.
- Beaumont Alberta Farmers Market
- Beaumont Centre Ville Market
- Leduc Farmers’ Market
- Devon Lions Farmer’s Market
- Sunnybrook Farmers’ Market
Tour a Distillery
Sip, taste, and savour the local goods from Righand Distillery, who offers tours at their Nisku location. They sell both award-winning vodka and gin, cream liquor, mead, whiskey, and their signature sparkling gin tea.
Where:2104 8 St Bay B, Nisku
U-Pick Flowers at Farm Fresh Florals
No matter the occasion, if any, u-pick flowers are a great way to freshen up your house, your event, or your celebrations. Farm Fresh Florals offer u-pick services for a huge variety of wildflowers, as well as a gorgeous setting for your afternoon picking.
When: opens in July
Where:48446 Range Road 23, Sunnybrook
Tour the River by Boat
Tour Leduc County from a whole new perspective! Black Gold River Tours start their reservations in May-early and have a variety of adventures from which you can choose: River Run, Dash & Splash, Hidden Treasures, Gold Rush, or Scenic Edmonton.
When: May to October depending on river conditions
Where:18 Pembina Street, Devon
How much: $269-$549 per boat of 1-6 people
Book Comfort Camping
While the Provincial Park glamping sites in Leduc County are fully booked for the summer, you can still find a few other glamping options nearby. Bear Creek Cabins are 15-minutes away from Ma-Me-O Beach and offer both cabins and campsites, as well as onsite family activities. Urban River Adventures offer their own unique glamping through geodomes or tents right on the North Saskatchewan and provide tours/extra activities. Jubilee Park Campground opens on May long weekend with lakeside comfort camping units on Wizard Lake.
When: May-September 14
When: May 15th – October 2nd, 2022
When: opens May 20, 2022
Golfing
For those looking to spend a day on the greens, Leduc County is a haven; there are golf courses around every bend of the river, and then some.
- Eagle Rock Golf Course
- RedTail Landing
- Leduc Golf & Country Club
- Coloniale Golf Club
- Devon Golf & Conference Centre
- Blackhawk Golf Club
U-Pick
You’ll want to start looking for u-pick farms around Leduc County in late June. This is when you can start picking your own berries at The Berry Farm. You’ll have to wait until early July to visit the Big Rock Berry Farm, Steven’s Strawberries, or the Sunnybrook Hill Sour Cherry Orchard.
When: Late June to late August
Where:
Paddling: Canoeing, Kayaking, or Standup Paddleboarding
You have a few options within Leduc County for all of these activities, including the North Saskatchewan River, and the surrounding lakes.
Lakes suitable for paddling:
- Pigeon Lake (rentals available)
- Miquelon Lake
- Coal Lake
- Wizard Lake
- Telford Lake (rentals available)
Visit the Museums
Explore three major parts of Alberta’s history this summer with the Leduc-area museums: the Canadian Energy Museum near Devon, the Leduc Heritage Grain Elevator, and the Reynolds-Alberta Museum near Wetaskiwin. All three offer a rainy-day activity for your summer, as well as a plethora of information regarding those three major industries: energy, agriculture, and transportation.
Hit the Trails on Horseback
Thunder Ridge Trails Ranch is open for the season as of May 21st! They offer 60- or 90-minute rides through the quaint scenery of forest and farmland with an experience guide, your own horse, and of course a helmet.
Where:27072 Township Road 504, Leduc County
How much: 60 Minutes $68 per person, 90 Minutes $88 per person
Camping
As with comfort camping, the two large Provincial Parks in the area are fully booked for summer RV and tent camping. Fortunately, there are numerous private campgrounds near lakes and the river that can host you for the week/weekend. The campgrounds include locations like Wizard Lake, Sunnybrook, Genesee Natural Area, the Devon River valley, and Joseph Lake.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ3ppl4g5OW/
Get out on Jet Skis
Thanks to Pigeon Lake Boat Rentals, you can experience a thrilling water adventure suitable for kids and families. Beginning in summer, they rent jet skis by the hour, along with a variety of other watersport rentals like small motorboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatables.
Where:5610 Lake Dr, Mulhurst
How much: $80 per hour
Experience Live Auto Racing
Rad Torque Raceway has several events scheduled for Summer 2022, all of which centre around the thrilling sport of auto racing. These include drag races, car shows, and other types of top-speed races. You can also book suites for larger groups and celebrations.
Where:50342 Range Rd 253, Edmonton International Airport, Leduc County
How much: prices vary for each event
Experience Authentic Farm-to-Table Dining
The Old Red Barn, an event and dining facility in Leduc County, has a full schedule of dining experiences for summer 2022. The dinners feature local producers and restaurants and are set on long tables to encourage socializing. Each dinner also features a cool and different atmosphere/décor setup.
When: July 17-October 4
Where:The Old Red Barn – Township Rd. 490 and Range Rd. 225, Leduc County
Stone Barn & Cultural Village
Stroll the grounds of William F. Lede Park to discover Stone Barn & Cultural Village. It has fully landscaped gardens, and a historic Stone Barn, which represents the original dairy barn that stood on the same site. You may even get to enjoy outdoor concerts by Edmonton Symphony Orchestra.
City of Leduc
Where:4613 44 St, Leduc
Festivals & Events
Plenty of events and outdoor festivals take place once days start to get warm. Here are some of those announced to date:
- Leduc Black Gold Pro Rodeo — May 27 to June 5, 2022 @ Leduc Recreation Centre, 4330 Black Gold Drive, Leduc
- Beaumont Days — June 10 to 12, 2022 @ Various Venues, Beaumont
- Devon Days — June 9-12, 2022 @ Town of Devon
- Rural Roots Fair — August 27 & 28 @ Beaumont Ag Society Fairgrounds, 24358 Township Rd 505, Beaumont
- Maclab Centre Events
Major events in Leduc region may also be listed in To Do Canada Edmonton Calendar.
