In a recent poll, we asked our followers to discover their go-to local spots for a caffeine fix near trailheads. From the wealth of responses, we've curated five delightful cafes conveniently close to hiking routes in the river valley. Before you begin your adventure, we recommend checking out their websites for current operating hours.
Each trail listed below welcomes our four-legged companions, provided they're leashed. As you enjoy your coffee and trek, we want to remind everyone to maintain responsible hiking practices, including properly disposing of any single-use coffee cups in designated trash bins along the trail. Let's savour the great outdoors responsibly!
Roam Cafe
10130 112 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5K 2K4
Roam Cafe is an amazing coffee shop and craft roaster on the edge of downtown Edmonton. It offers great coffee and exceptional service.
The downtown loop of River Valley landmarks is a short walk away. This trail is rated as moderate, with a few big hills. For more details on this trail, check out our blog TrailTrek How-to: Downtown Loop of River Valley Landmarks
Ch Cafeteria
14802 Stony Plain Rd, Edmonton, AB T5N 3S5
A locally-owned coffee shop and chocolate store. Their specialty Cafe de Olla coffee, made with cinnamon and brown sugar, comes highly recommended. They even have dog biscuits when your furry friend accompanies you on an adventure.
Just across the street on the opposite side of Stoney Plain Road is the Mackinnon Ravine Access, which leads down to a paved trail that runs 8 km to Louise Mckinney River Front Park if you do the entire length of the trail. For a shorter option, take the trail for 2.5km to Government House Park and turn around at the river.
Little Brick Cafe
10004 90 ST NW, EDMONTON, AB, T5H 4P4
A locally-owned coffee shop in the heart of the river valley. They have a rotating selection of coffee beans from roasters from the West Coast, so there is always something new to try.
A five-minute walk from Little Brick can access the Dawson Park Trail that follows along the river for 1.8km to Dawson Park. To extend your walk, check out our blog TrailTrek How-to: Dawson Park to Capilano Bridge.
Mill Creek Cafe
9562 82 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB T6C 1B9
An independent family-run café that loves homemade.
Steps away from the Mill Creek Cafe are the Mill Creek Ravine trails with a beautiful trail. To learn more about this trail, read our trail trek blog: Mill Creek Ravine.
Culina on the Lake - Closed for Park Construction
Hawrelak Park Pavillion 9330 Groat Rd NW, Edmonton, AB T6G 2A8
Edmonton's first licenced lakeside patio is in Hawrelak Park inside the Pavillion. Culina on the lake is the perfect place to grab a coffee and walk one of the many trails around the park.
One option is the William Hawrelak Park Riverside Walk, which begins by picnic site 2 and loops around the river on a double-wide trail for 4.7 km.