Explore Central Alberta’s waters in several different styles this summer. If you’re in search of a water adventure near Edmonton, then you can take to the rivers and lakes of central Alberta for fishing, swimming, tubing, and all sorts of boating.
River Tubing Devon
Below are some of the closest water adventures around Edmonton that can be easily completed in a day. These include beach parks near the city with boat rentals, guided fishing trips on lakes or the North Saskatchewan River, several opportunities for self-guided boating or fishing, and river float or tubing companies.
If you want to make an overnight trip, there are numerous locations near Edmonton that offer exciting or relaxing water adventures.
River Tubing & River Boat Trips
Edmonton Riverboat
A ride on the North Saskatchewan River via Edmonton’s Queen Riverboat is one of the most iconic and classic water adventures to enjoy around the city this summer. The Riverboat has sailed around the downtown Edmonton part of the river for over 30 years and continues to offer riders the amazing views of the downtown skyline, and now a few newer bridges over the water. Choose between the regular cruise tickets, a dinner buffet ticket, or watch for the special Duelling Piano Riverboat Events.
When: now until September 30, 2025
Where: Rafter’s Landing 9734 98 Ave NW
How much: cruise tickets $35-$45 per person; dinner buffet cruise $60-$75 per person
Edmonton RiverWatch
The Edmonton RiverWatch is a research group that works to monitor the North Saskatchewan, educates Edmontonians on the river, and caters to kids with field trips and summer camp trips. Plus, RiverWatch offer public EcoFloat Tours, or raft trips on the North Saskatchewan. A second option is the package they’ve built with Talking Rock Eco Tours to offer a walking and float trip all in one afternoon. But possibly the most exciting thing from RiverWatch in 2025 is their Feast & Float events. The RiverWatch Feast & Float includes an interpretive and educational raft trip on the North Saskatchewan, followed by a long-table lunch on the riverbanks.
When: July & August
Where: Dawson Park
How much: $48-$115 per person
Edmonton River Float
Anything you need for a fun float, you’ll get with the packages from Edmonton River Float! The company, who operate out of Kinsmen under the High Level Bridge, offer tube, raft, and lifejacket rentals, paddles and safety equipment, and shuttle service. Plus, Edmonton River Float’s now have a Riverhawks Float package: or the chance to use the river to reach RE/MAX Field right on time for a home game.
When: July & August
Where: Kinsmen Park – 9100 Walterdale Hill NW
How much: tube rental and shuttle $$25-$40; river raft and shuttle $280 for up to 8 people; Riverhawks Float $29-$53 per person
Pembina River Tubing, Entwistle
The Pembina River Tubing experience creates a perfect day trip from Edmonton, especially on a hotter summer day. The Tubing Company operate out of Entwistle, west of Edmonton, where you get access to parking, as well as tube/shuttle service if you need. All visitors are required to pay for parking and to use the public lot from the Pembina River Tubing Company (no street parking available), but how you float is up to you! Rent one of their tubes and utilize the shuttle or plan your own trip with your own watercraft.
When: June-September 2025
Where: Entwistle
How much: tube and shuttle packages $35-$38 per person; shuttle only $18 per person; parking $8 per car
River Lifestyle Co., Devon
River Lifestyle Co
Devon’s River Lifestyle Co. offer river float experiences before the North Sask enters Edmonton, and around the city’s rural southwest. Tubes are available to rent, while the rental costs will also include a shuttle trip (not available separately). Upon booking, you’ll the choice between a shorter route of about 1-hour, or the longer float trip of 2-3 hours (overall time depends on flow rates and water levels).
When: now until September 1, 2025
Where: Voyageur Park, Devon
How much: adult tube and shuttle $25-$30; child tube and shuttle $20-$30
Rural Rivers, St. Albert
Rural Rivers has a few different ways to help paddlers explore the Capital Region’s waterways. Take yourself on a self-guided trip anywhere you choose with the rental options from Rural Rivers that are available for a day, a few days, or a full week. Secure your rentals and get all the detailed info on nearby routes from the Rural Rivers paddle experts. Rural Rivers now also offers guided tours of Big Lake, the Sturgeon River, or the North Saskatchewan. Stay up to date with them on social media to learn about the grand opening of their camping cabins, now under construction.
When: May-September
Where: 26105 Meadowview Dr, Sturgeon County
How much: 24-hour boat rentals $35-$150; 4-day boat rentals $80-$200; week-long boat rentals $95-$250
Tours $35 per person
Metis Crossing, Smoky Lake
There are several reasons to make a stop and visit central Alberta’s Metis Crossing. The cultural interpretive centre hosts daily activities, workshops, and their signature experiences, has on-site dining, and provides adorable accommodation options. Plus, the park’s grounds on the riverbanks are a scenic place for a walk or picnic. Among those signature experiences is Paddle into the Past, a 4-hour canoe trip on the North Saskatchewan River. This exciting and educational experience is available all summer as an immersive way to embrace and learn about Metis culture or history.
When: June-September
Where: 17339 Victoria Trail, Smoky Lake
How much: $74.76 per youth, $93.45 per adult
Fishing Tours near Edmonton
Lunker’s Fishing Adventures
Lunker’s Fishing Adventures has a variety of different trip types and lengths. Embark on a half or full-day fishing trip with Lunker’s or spend the night in a Lunker’s cabin to make the most of the experience. The experienced guides bring the guests out, by boat, onto different lakes near Edmonton where there are chances of catching sturgeons, walleye, jackfish, goldeye, and more.
When: May-September
How much: Overnight Trips $425-$725 per person
Full Day Lake Fishing $300-$600 per person
Full Day Sturgeon Fishing $300-$600 per person
Half Day Lake Fishing $875 for up to four people
Gull Lake Fishing Charters
There are water AND ice adventures available with Alberta’s Gull Lake Fishing Charters, which offer summer fishing trips and winter ice fishing trips. This summer, Gull Lake Fishing Charters has half-day trips available for booking , which include trips around the expansive lake on their hardtop fishing boat. The half-day fishing trips are available at a morning or afternoon start time.
When: July-September
Where: 64 Brighton Beach, Bentley, AB
How much: $350.00 per 1 or 2 people, $400.00 per 3 people, $450.00 per 4 people
Get Hooked Fishing Adventures
Edmonton’s Get Hooked Fishing Adventures offers a few different options when it comes to memorable fishing charter trips in the region. Choose between half-day or full-day trips and take your pick between Wabamun Lake fishing trips or fishing from the North Saskatchewan River. Those who book a full-day trip are also treated to a sit-down lunch with beverages included, while the half-day trips include drinks and snacks.
When: July-October
Where: Lake trips starting at $350 for 3 people
River trips starting at $400 for 4 people
Lake Boating & Paddling near Edmonton
Rundle Park, Edmonton
A paddleboat ride around northeast Edmonton’s Rundle Park pond is among one of the more peaceful water adventures to take this summer. And this adventure takes place right in the city. The boat rentals are available on-site from My Lakehouse who also operate the adjacent mini golf course. Boaters can save a bit on the ride and on minigolf by bundling the two experiences together.
When: May-September
Where: Rundle Park
How much: $23 for 30 minutes and $33 for 1 hour, with a 3-hour option at $75 (just $25/hour)
Elk Island National Park
Elk Island National Park’s Astotin Lake is a central hub for the park, featuring a large picnic area, several trailheads, the visitor information centre, and the boathouse. The boat rentals at Elk Island are run by Ridge Wilderness Adventures, who provide the choice to explore Astotin via kayak, tandem kayak, canoe, or SUP.
When: May 21-September 30
Where: Astotin Lake day use area, Elk Island National Park
How much: $23.50-$36 per 1st hour; $12-$16 per additional hour; plus, National Park admission
Alberta Beach
Alberta Beach is a small community on the southeast shores of Lac Ste. Anne with a public boat launch at the waterfront park. This is also one of a handful Kayakomat locations in central Alberta which allow for the virtual rental of physical kayaks that are waiting on Alberta Beach. Use the Kayakomat website to reserve your kayak and pay, and they’ll give you instructions on how to unlock the kayak on the Alberta Beach shores. The Alberta Beach location also has SUPs for rent. All rentals include your life jacket, PFD, and paddles.
When: May-September
Where: 4948 50 Ave, Alberta Beach
How much: $42-$63 per two hours
Aspen Beach Provincial Park
Gull Lake is a local favourite in terms of boating lakes around Edmonton, as the expansive lake has space for all sorts of water activities on top of boating. Aspen Beach Provincial Park has a sandy stretch of beach around the swimming area and a canoe/kayak launch at the Ebeling Beach day use area. This is also where the park’s Kayakomat Rental Station sits! This is a virtual kayak rental system which requires online payment and bookings. After you secure your rental, Kayakomat offers you a way to unlock your rental at the stand. Motorized boating is permitted in other parts of the lake, too; however, the lake’s low water levels in 2025 have made some of the launches unsafe or unusable.
When: May-September
Where: Ebeling Beach day use area, Aspen Beach Provincial Park
How much: $42-$63 per two hours
Shalom Waterskiing, Leduc
This may be the most unique water adventure available near Edmonton that made this list. Leduc’s Shalom Ski Park is the only place in the Capital Region to offer public waterski lessons, programs, and experiences. The Shalom Ski Park sits in the North Saskatchewan River valley near Devon, where the river’s shores help create the ski course. And the park has two major events coming up for summer 2025: the Junior Canadian Open (July 18-20, 2025), and the Waterski Canada National Championships (August 5-10, 2025).
When: Spring to Early Fall
Where: 20750 57 Avenue SW, Leduc County
How much: ski packages and ski school $85-$95 per session, with packages available for multiple sessions
Telford Lake, Leduc Boat Club
Originally, the Leduc Boat Club offered rentals and lessons for stand-up paddleboarding, but has since expanded its offerings! For summer 2025, the Boat Club offer those paddleboard rentals plus rentals for single and tandem kayaks, or canoes. Along with the rentals, the Boat Club operate numerous programs for all ages and skill levels, and “Learn to…” packages for canoeing, kayaking, or SUPing.
When: May 24-September
Where: 4801 44 Street, Leduc
How much: $20-$30 per hour
Wabamun Marina & RV Park
Choose from a wide array of services from the Wabamun Marina to help make your day or weekend at the lake a lot more enjoyable or exciting. The RV Park has seasonal rentals for those who want a lot of time on the lake, a full marina for those with their own boats, and a huge variety of boat and watercraft rentals. Take to the waters of Wabamun on a pontoon boat, speedboat, fishing boat, paddle boat, canoe, kayak, or paddleboard! Those renting speedboats may also add towable tubes to their rental.
When: May-September
Where: 4800 50 St, Wabamun
How much: non-motorized boat rentals $25 per hour or $50 per 4 hours
Motorized boat rentals $50-$125 per 1 hour, $100-$180 per 2 hours, $200-$400 per half-day, $300-$800 per full day
Wabamun Lake Provincial Park
Wabamun Lake on the whole, offers a great deal of summer fun between the Marina on one side, a smaller boat launch area to the south, and Wabamun Lake Provincial Park. The park’s day use area, beach, and hand launch are all on a quieter part of the park and separate from the motorized, fast-paced boating. Find the boathouse and rentals at the Wabamun Lake day use area on Moonlight Bay and enjoy a calm trip around the shores, swimming areas, and all of Moonlight Bay.
When: May-September
Where: Wabamun Lake day use area via Township Rd. 531A, Parkland County
The Best Paddling Lakes near Edmonton
There are a handful of rental shops in Edmonton that offer the chance to take a canoe, kayak, or SUP, out to one of the nearby lakes. On top of those bodies of water already listed, these lakes are also incredibly peaceful spots for any type of paddle.
The Best Motorized Boating Lakes near Edmonton
When you’re looking for some excitement on the water, space for skiing and tubing, or simply anywhere that allows motorized boating, you’ll have a few Edmonton region options.
- Among those already listed are Gull Lake, Wabamun Lake, and the North Saskatchewan River.
- Pigeon Lake is also a great place to explore by boat with the village of Ma-Me-O Beach offering a variety of services and food options.
World Waterpark Edmonton
Edmonton is home to the world’s largest indoor wave pool. World Waterpark inside Edmonton’s humongous mall features more than 17 unique water slides, hot tubs, and children’s areas. With an area of approximately 5 acres, the waterpark has everything you are looking for in a fun day out!
When: Year-round
Where: WEM, Edmonton
How much: $44 to $64
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YAY! A List Of Activities White Women LOVE! Since, They Have No Lives and Leisure and Travel Is Their ONLY Concern. Asides From Animals and Coffee. LOL!