Waskahegan Trail
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Waskahegan Trail is a walking/hiking trail that runs through and around Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is 235 km and runs through a mix of public and private land. Landowners are paid nothing. Their permission is given on the understanding that it can be withdrawn at any time for any reason. The trail is managed by a volunteer board, the Waskahegan Trail Association (WTA).
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[edit] Current Route
A complete map of the trail route is available to Waskahegan Trail Association members. Membership information is given in the References section.
[edit] Edmonton Section
Although the trail is more or less circular in shape its starting point is in north east Edmonton at the intersection of the river and 144th Avenue. From this point it runs SW to the Whitemud and Blackmud Creeks ending at Ellerslie Road, the first gap.
[edit] Nisku/Leduc Section
This gap ends at Saunders Lake (directly east of the Edmonton International Airport), south to Coal Lake in the Wetaskiwin area, then east along the Battle River from Gwynne to Camrose.
[edit] Coal Lake Section
[edit] Pipestone Section
[edit] Battle River Section
[edit] Camrose Section
[edit] Beaver Hills Section
North of Camrose is the second gap after which the trail continues north from Miquelon Lake Provincial Park through Ministik Lake Bird Sanctuary, Hastings Lake area, and the Cooking Lake - Blackfoot Recreation Area to Elk Island National Park.
[edit] Blackfoot Section
[edit] Elk Island National Park Section
[edit] Ross Creek-Fort Saskatchewan Section
It then continues west along Ross Creek to Fort Saskatchewan. The third and final gap is between Fort Saskatchewan and the starting point in Edmonton.
[edit] Trees and Tall Shrubs in the Waskahegan Area
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[edit] Mammals of the Waskahegan Area
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[edit] History
[edit] Founding of the Trail
The beginnings of the trail started in 1967 with Fred Dorward, the trail's founder, pitching the idea to the Oil Capital Kiwanis group who provided funding and support. Other people and organizations involved at this time were the Edmonton Regional Planning Commission, Edmonton Parks and Recreation, the Alberta Department of Youth, Alberta Public Works, the Canadian Hostelling Association, the Scouts Association, Alberta Travel, Elk Island National Park and Grant MacEwan.
[edit] Naming the Trail
The trail was named in a contest in 1967 by D.B. Remington. Waskaheegan is Cree for "house", in reference to the nearby Fort Edmonton Trading Post.
[edit] The Regional Trails Committee
At the same time in 1967, the Regional Trials Committee was formed to promote the Trail in the Edmonton Journal and setting up a set of group bylaws.
[edit] The Waskahegan Trail Association
WTA was 'born' at 7:40 pm, March 20th, 1969 at a meetings of the Regional Trails Committee. Work in earnest began in 1973 with 100KM of trail being built and the first guide book published.
[edit] References
WTA Website The Waskahegan Trail Guide Book, 2000 ed.
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