Edmonton 
Parkland County covers a wide expanse west of Edmonton. And as its name suggests, this part of Alberta is surrounded by and filled with beautiful parks, natural areas, and chances for outdoor recreation. And a visit to Spruce Grove, one of the biggest cities in Parkland County, your trip will get the best of the parklands and natural areas while having access to any city service you’d need: hotels, restaurants, shops, and markets.
Spruce Grove sits between Highways 16 and 16A as an easy-to-access stopover during a drive down the Yellowhead. But this central Alberta city makes it inviting to get off the main Highways, stay a while, and explore. Plus, all of the surrounding Parkland County and its scenic recreational sites offer more ways to extend a stay in Spruce Grove.
Spruce Grove’s Best Trails
Credit: University of Alberta Botanic Garden
One of the must-visit trails around Sprue Grove is also one of the shortest. However, the simple trek down to Constable Chelsey Robinson Day Use Park also brings you to Parkland County’s newest riverside park. A visit here offers picnic and hiking opportunities while also bringing you closer to some other great hiking areas.
- Take time to wander the ~4km of trails that loop around the Clifford E. Lee Nature Sanctuary, south of Spruce Grove, and keep eyes or ears open for the numerous bird species that call the forests or wetlands home. There are a handful of viewing platforms adjacent to the trail, which provide better views over the ponds.
- The Bunchberry Meadows Conservation Area is a trail area located between the North Saskatchewan River and the U of A Botanic Gardens. Explore over 8km worth of hiking trails and pack a picnic to enjoy after the trip.
- Fill a day with time on the trails at the Chickakoo Lake Recreation Area northwest of Spruce Grove. This peaceful park offers 11km of nature trails open to hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. Plus, the park also provides excellent birding opportunities, and small ponds or lakes with hand/canoe launches.
- Enjoy recreation, art, and the beauty of all sorts of nature with the U Of A Botanic Garden, a short drive south of downtown Spruce Grove. The experience includes a chance to wander through several different types of gardens, all of which represent various types of ecosystems or parts of the world.
Spruce Grove Grain Elevator
The Spruce Grove Museum preserves the local history through artifacts, displays, and community events. Highlights include the 1958 wooden Grain Elevator—now a designated museum and the last of its kind on the CN Rail line west of Edmonton. Open May to September, the site also features Machinery Row, Red Barn, and hosts summer events celebrating Spruce Grove’s agricultural heritage and homesteading past. Visit Monday–Friday (10 a.m. –5 p.m. ) and Saturday (9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ) at 120 Railway Avenue.
Summer Recreation Around Spruce Grove
Parkland County, which surrounds Spruce Grove, is home to a beautiful array of recreational sites and opportunities. From ways to cool off in the summers, lakes and ponds to paddle, to more thrilling watersports, there are many ways to fill a day spent outside.
Sun Flowers Edmonton Corn Maze
- Take part in a variety of family-friendly activities and recreation at the Putting Horse Ranch on the north side of Spruce Grove. The Ranch offers an 18-hole putting course, a concession, and time with the ranch horses (social time and riding).
- Throughout late summer and fall, one of the top ways to usher in cooler prairie weather is with a visit to the Edmonton Corn Maze. The massive corn maze is designed differently every year.
- The Yellowhead Highway, west of Spruce Grove, runs parallel to the north shores of Wabamun Lake. The side of the lake closest to Spruce Grove is the same location as Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, while the village of Wabamun is directly beside the park. Get a scenic campsite option with Wabamun Lake Provincial Park, and the resorts or campgrounds that surround the lake.
- Enjoy the waters of Wabamun with a swim around Moonlight Bay at the Provincial Park beach, or get on the water with the park’s paddle sport rentals. Find more rental options, including for powerboats, next to the Provincial Park at the Wabamun Lake Marina and RV Park.
Spruce Grove Summer Dining
Spruce Grove has a wide variety of local eateries, cafes, and pubs that offer a mix of different cuisine types. From international fine dining and takeout options to Spruce Grove’s local brewery, patios, or cafes, the city will have several options for each meal.
- There are two local markets that pop up in the city each summer! Shop the year-round Farmers’ Market (every Saturday), which is often set up outdoors on nice summer and fall days, or the Vendor Market at Spruce Grove’s Summer at the Centre. In addition to the market, Summer at the Centre will offer live entertainment, food trucks, and a beer garden.
- Enjoy a date night, celebrate a special occasion, or simply treat yourself with one of the city’s fine dining restaurants like Porta Romana Restaurant and Barbaretta, or more casual restaurants like The Beer Hunter, or the RavenWolf Brewing Co. The nearby River Cree Resort & Casino offers a combination of both at their Italia Restaurant, The Kitchen, and Tap 25 Sports Bar.
- The local takeout and fast food of Spruce Grove provide an exceptional variety for a quick snack, picnic foods, or a sit-down meal. Try the eats from 2 For 1 Pizza & Pasta, Famous Chicken, Jack’s Drive-In, The Pizza Spot, or Hash the Browns.
- Sip on the caffeinated beverages or sample the sweets of local cafes and bakeries in Spruce Grove, like Bubble Tea & Coffee Lab, Dulce Mexico Café & Bakery, Gather Bakery, Perks Coffee House, or the Great North Cookie Co.
Cultural Events & Attractions
This summer, and every summer in Spruce Grove, there are many weekends filled with local events, celebrations, or festivals. The local events celebrate everything from arts and culture to food and drink, and overall enjoying summers in the Grove.
- Get more live music and outdoor fun with the Grove Gatherings this summer at different parks around Spruce Grove. The live performers include musicians, comedians, a magician, a dancer, and more.
- The Grove Rotary Ribfest is a free, three-day summer festival in Central Park featuring top BBQ, live music, local vendors, family activities, and a beer garden. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Spruce Grove, it also supports vital community programs like Our Community Pantry and Neighbourlink Parkland through event proceeds.
- The 2025 season at Spruce Grove’s Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre kicks off this September 20th with several more fall performances to catch.
- There will be more live music and entertainment opportunities this summer and fall near Spruce Grove at the River Cree Resort & Casino, which has a full calendar of upcoming shows and events.
Where to Stay in Spruce Grove:
As a small city situated near a large city and numerous other towns, Spruce Grove offers a wide range of accommodation options. This includes almost any hotel in the northwest of Edmonton, several nearby campgrounds, and adorable private rentals that bring your stay into the heart of Spruce Grove.
- Spruce Grove is home to several private rentals from local and on websites like Airbnb, VRBO, or Hipcamp. Among these rentals are cabins and cottages, large luxury homes, glamping sites, RV or trailer rentals, ranch stays, and more.
- Along the Yellowhead Highway, or 16A, which runs past the north and south sides of Spruce Grove, are several options for hotels, including the various regular chains, plus a few campgrounds. Park an RV at the powered sites of Diamond Grove RV Campground, park a tent, RV, or pop up a tent at the Stony Plain Lions RV Park & Campground, book a cabin or RV site with the Spring Lake Resort, or head further south to the Mink Lake Campground.
- Plus, the west side of Edmonton, including St. Albert, is home to dozens of hotel options surrounding West Edmonton Mall and the main highways.
