Discover the joy of spring with your family on Calgary’s most beautiful bike trails. It’s time to pedal, picnic, and play!
\n \nRide 1: Playgrounds, parks, and picnics one-way
\nRide the train to this high-elevation linear ride that begins at the Crowfoot LRT Station. Navigate some busier roads past the Crowfoot Crossing Shopping Centre before connecting to Arbour Lake side streets and a paved pathway up and over Stoney Trail to the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway paved pathway. A coast downhill hosts big mountain views and leads you past the Royal Oak wetlands, and you can’t miss the unique and impressive Latter-day Saints temple that dominates the skyline in Rocky Ridge.
\nContinue on the pathway past Twelve Mile Coulee, a popular mountain bike area, under Stoney Trail and into Bowness Park. Stop for a people-watching picnic lunch at the lagoon before you continue eastward on a mix of paved Bow River Pathway and quiet Bowness side streets, like the tree-lined Bow Crescent, a 3km side street that hosts a mix of modern and heritage homes sitting on expansive properties along the Bow River. Back on the paved pathway past Shouldice and Edworthy parks, enjoy river views and perhaps stop for an ice cream, coffee, or lunch. The Bow River Pathway is one of Calgary’s most popular multi-use routes, so be prepared for busy trails on sunny afternoons from April through October as you get closer to the downtown core.
\nContinue east to the Peace Bridge, where the architectural masterpiece has become an icon and popular selfie and graduation photo spot. Cross Memorial Drive into vibrant, mural-intensive Sunnyside. A community with character, take on a slow pace to enjoy the many homes painted in primary colors, garage art in back alleys, and folk art throughout the neighborhood. Navigate to 10 Street and Kensington Road for a bite to eat or some shopping, before heading to the Sunnyside LRT Station and riding the rails uphill back to your starting point.
\nStart: Crowfoot Crossing Shopping Centre, Nose Hill Drive, and Arbour Lake Road, NW
\nLRT Start: Crowfoot or Tuscany LRT Stations
\nFacilities: Bathrooms in cafes and public washrooms are along the ride in Bowness and Edworthy Parks.
\nDistance & Difficulty: 26km (mostly downhill or flat, paved pathways and neighborhood streets)
\nDetours, Destinations, & Suggestions: Stop by Cadence Café on Bowness Road or detour along 19 Street for Made by Marcus, Amato Gelato, or a hot beverage at Vintage or Pocket Coffee. There are many tasty options along Kensington Road and 10 Street NW. Plan a picnic at Bowness Park, Shouldice Park, or Edworthy Park, and stop in Bowness Park for water park fun, a mini train (in summer), and canoeing (canoe rental on site in the summer).
\nRide 2: Big sky, wildlife and wildflowers on Nose Hill Park, NW
\nViews begin immediately as you follow the paved pathway onto the Nose Hill plateau, the highest point in Calgary in one of the largest municipal parks in Canada. Ride the mostly gravel pathways trails on top of the plateau or choose a more physically-challenging route that descends to John Laurie Boulevard and then climbs back up. There are many options to choose from that offer a mix of paved and gravel pathways and aspen-filled coulees. Get the lay of the land and soak up some Rocky Mountain views while considering your ride. For navigational purposes, it is helpful to pay attention to the landmarks on the hill, such as the mountain ranges in the west, the airport in the east, the power line that crosses the hill in the north, the antenna that stands near the quarry, and the downtown office towers. Using landmarks also helps you make sense of the trailside maps, since grasses can cover trails, and deer and coyotes can create new ones.
\nAt 11 square kilometres, Nose Hill Park is one of the largest municipal parks in Canada. From afar, Nose Hill seems plain, a bump on the horizon. It is only when you are on the hill that the abundance and variety of vegetation is visible. Over 200 flowering plants color the hill’s landscape throughout the summer and into the fall. Among the prairie grasses that dominate Nose Hill, you’ll also find mushrooms, mosses, and many animals. In the fall, shrubs and grasses become a kaleidoscope of rich red, burnt orange, and golden yellow. Learn more about the plants on Nose Hill from the Alberta Native Plant Council through @albertaplants on Instagram or at anpc.ab.ca. Wildlife is abundant on the hill, and I often see groups of white-tailed deer and the occasional waddling porcupine at dusk. Dogs love the extensive off-leash areas, and birders should be excited to hear that 91 bird species have been seen on Nose Hill – bring your binoculars!
\nAs you circle around the east side of Nose Hill, be sure to stop, reflect, and enjoy spectacular views from the Siksikaitsitapi Medicine Wheel. Built in 2015 by members of the Kainai Nation, this modern landmark is a tribute to the historical and spiritual connection between people and the land, and it marks Nose Hill as part of the traditional Blackfoot territory. This new circle was arranged beside a half-buried circle of stones that was left behind by Indigenous scouts thousands of years ago. An important cultural site, everyone is welcome in the circle to reflect, meditate, or pray. It is suggested that you enter from the east side and leave to the west.
\nStart: Official Nose Hill parking lot at Shaganappi Drive and Edgemont Boulevard
\nFacilities: Bathrooms at the parking lot
\nDistance & Difficulty: Various loop options from 2km to 16km. Stay on the top of the plateau for an easier, less hilly ride
\nDetours, Destinations, & Suggestions: Grab a picnic lunch at Friends Café in Edgemont and sit atop Nose Hill for a mid-ride lunch; Visit the glacial erratic for a bit of bouldering near the 14 Street and 64 Avenue parking lot. Enjoy the single-track mountain bike trails on Nose Hill (info at Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance website (cmbalink.com) or visit the Medicine Wheel.
\nRide 3: Blossoms, bakeries, playgrounds, and murals: the Elbow River, Bow River, and St. Patrick’s Island ride SW to SE
\nWheels start to roll along the paved Elbow River Pathway past picnic areas, an impressive playground. The ride connects to Riverdale Avenue, where riders enjoy a picturesque pedal past stunning riverside homes with blossoming fruit and lilac trees in the springtime. The entire length of the Elbow River Pathway is a wonderful mix of nature and neighbourhoods as you cycle past Stanley Park and through Rideau, where a stunning private garden marks a shorter ride option by crossing the Rideau Park pedestrian bridge and looping back through Elbow Park. A longer ride to the RiverWalk along the Bow River in the East Village continues along quiet side streets into Roxboro before crossing into Roxboro off-leash park in search of the hidden connector gravel trail at the base of the escarpment that leads to Erlton Street. Jump off your bike at the entrance to Roxboro Natural Park and climb the set of stairs to phenomenal views.
\nThe ride continues through Erlton and Lindsay Park, under Macleod Trail towards Stampede Park and below Scotsman’s Hill. Continue along wide pathways to the MacDonald Avenue bridge where you cross to the west side of Elbow River and head north past Fort Calgary and the East Village playground to your potential bakery, coffee, or lunch stop at the Simmons Building. Cross the Bow River to St. Patrick’s Island and visit another fantastic playground and the water feature at Trout Beach. Stop and look up into the trees to watch for nesting Great Horned Owls in the treetops in the spring.
\nYou can backtrack along the Elbow River Pathway for your return, or shortcut through the East Village, past the Central Library and the back alley balloon mural on 8 Avenue and along the 4 Street SE cycle track. Continue under the train tracks past my favorite mural in the city, the Corridor of Connection. Follow the 12 Avenue cycle tracks west and turn south on the 2 Street SW cycle tracks through Mission. Take the quiet side streets through Elbow Park for some route variety or head back to the Elbow River Pathway. Elbow Park is one of Calgary’s oldest communities. Considered a suburb shortly before the First World War, it is now in the heart of the inner city. Rolling along here in May and June is a palette of purple, pink, and white with the blossoming lilac, apple, crab apple, and cherry trees. Continue to the paved pathway along Sifton Boulevard and across River Park to 14A Street before coasting downhill along the paved pathway to your starting point.
\nStart: Sandy Beach Park (4500 14A Street SW)
\nLRT: Erlton Station
\nFacilities: Bathrooms at the parking lot, in Lindsay Park at the
\nSports Complex, at the East Village Simmons Building and on St. Patrick’s Island.
\nDistance & Difficulty: Short ride to Rideau bridge: 7.5km (few hills, paved pathways, quiet side streets) or the long ride to the East Village Riverwalk: 20km (few hills, paved pathways, cycle track return option)
\nDetours, Destinations, & Suggestions: I recommend a stop at Apprentice Café in Ramsay for homemade ice cream, the best affogato in the land and delicious focaccia sandwiches (focaccia made in-house, including a gluten free option!). A playground across the street is the perfect spot to eat said treats. Other pit stops include the Sandy Beach inclusive playground, Stanley Park for picnic, bakeries, and cafes along 4 Street in Mission and at the Simmons Building on the Riverwalk along the Bow River. You can also go for a picnic at St. Patrick’s Island, or stop at the Trout Beach natural water park and playground, the Central Library, and see the many murals on the cycle track return.
\nCheck out a map of the the rides for you to follow on Google My Map: tinyurl.com/ch2uyvfn
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Lori is the author of Calgary’s Best Walks: 45 urban jaunts and nature strolls, and Calgary’s Best Bike Rides: 50 urban cycle tours and pathway pedals. She is the owner of Fit Frog Adventures where she leads year-round urban walks, hikes, and snowshoe days. Lori presents about all things walks and biking. Connect with her, see upcoming events, and get signed copies of her books on Instagram @lorifitfrog and at fitfrog.ca and at bookstores and cool shops throughout Calgary.
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