Summer vacation is here, it’s a beautiful sunny day, and a road trip is calling! Fortunately, we don’t have to go far because Calgary is surrounded by great parks and fun destinations. Choose a direction and you’ll be rewarded with a new adventure every weekend this summer.
\nBelow are some fun day trips to get you started this summer.
\n \nJohnson Lake near the Town of Banff is a popular location and hardly a secret. Planned right, though, you can beat the crowds. Arrive early (bring your breakfast with you or stop at the Highway 40 Tim Hortons en route), enjoy a short hike around the lake, and then spend the afternoon on the beach. Make sure you pack swimsuits, beach toys, and paddleboards. It’s also great for an evening picnic – and you’ll have the beach to yourself!
\nOff-the-beaten-path Challenge: On the other side of the lake, see if you can find the hidden Hermit of Inglismaldie cabin.
\nCanmore is no secret, but once you start exploring by bike, you’ll find hidden playgrounds, beautiful pathways few Calgarians know about, and stunning scenery that outshines the popular Banff to Canmore Legacy Trail.
\nThere are more than 20km of easy pathways, starting from the downtown area of Canmore that can be hiked or biked.
\nMillennium Park is a good starting point, where you’ll find a large parking lot along with a dirt pump track. From Millennium Park, we like biking to the West Canmore Park Playground, which is directly opposite Millennium Park on the other side of the river. Bike towards the Bridge Road bridge and cross over to the other side there – you can check out your route on Google Maps before you start. From the playground, you can continue biking on the paved West Bow River Pathway towards a beautiful meadow and historic mine site. A ride from the playground to the Three Sisters Mountain Village is an approximate 13km return.
\nAlternately, from Millennium Park, bike west without crossing the river until you come to Engine Bridge, one of the filming locations for the popular “The Last of Us” series. Cross the river here and return on the other side for a beautiful and easy 2km loop.
\nYou can continue biking along the Bow River past Engine Bridge as well (on the near side) on easy wide dirt pathways that will take you on an adventure around Canmore, past Larch Island, along Policeman’s Creek, over to the skateboard park, and back through the main downtown area for ice cream!
\nAll trails are relatively flat. They are great with a Chariot or bike trailer, and very doable by youngsters on balance bikes.
\nSolitude in Kananaskis is easy to find if you travel further south. Driving south on Highway 22, you’ll arrive in Diamond Valley where you can head west on Highway 546 towards Sheep River Provincial Park.
\nYour family will love stopping at the Sheep River Falls Day-Use Area for a picnic and to see the beautiful waterfall. Popular hikes in the area include the Foran Grade Loop (near the Sandy McNabb Campground), Dyson Falls (Indian Oils Day-Use), and the Missinglink Mountain Trail (Gorge Creek Day-Use).
\nFurther south on the 22, you’ll arrive in Longview where you can head west on Highway 541 toward Highwood Junction. This creates a lovely scenic drive with Highway 40 if you continue over Highwood Pass towards the Kananaskis Lakes.
\nPopular hikes along Highway 541 and Highway 40 include Cat Creek Falls (Cat Creek Day-Use), Pickle Jar Lakes (Lantern Creek Day-Use), and the Mt. Lipsett Trail (parking along the side of the highway).
\nConsult the All-Trails app or website for information on each hike and don’t forget your Conservation Pass for parking.
\nOff-the-beaten-path Challenge: Stop in at one small town cafe, ice cream shop, drive-in, or visit the Eau Claire Distillery in Diamond Valley, where they have a family-friendly licensed restaurant on site (along with tasting flights for the adults).
\nFor cyclists, park at the giant dinosaur beside the Visitor Centre and follow the paved riverside pathway to the Royal Tyrrell Museum (a 14km round-trip ride). This beautiful bike ride is largely unknown by families but makes for an incredible day trip.
\nFor a scenic drive with fun stops along the way, make a loop with the North and South Dinosaur Trail, crossing the Red Deer River on the Bleriot Ferry and passing by the museum, the Little Church, and Horse Thief Canyon (with all the badlands scenery of Horseshoe Canyon minus the crowds). Alternatively, head south of town on the Hoodoo Trail, which passes by the Star Mine Suspension Bridge and the Hoodoo Viewpoint, ending at the Atlas Coal Mine (where you can book tours).
\nHeading south, you’ll also pass by the intersection with Highway 10X, which takes you to the ghost town of Wayne, where you will have to cross over 11 one-lane bridges to get there! In Wayne, you’ll find a family-friendly saloon and a challenging disc golf course (bring your own discs, and maps are available at the saloon).
\nTake a day trip north to Red Deer, where you’ll find a variety of fun activities for a summer day! Water lovers have options including the Discovery Canyon Water
\nPark just north of the city (where you can rent tubes for the day) or the outdoor swimming pool (with waterslides) at the Abbey Centre in the nearby town of Blackfalds.
\nGo midweek for both (and as early as possible to beat the crowds).
\nJust to the west, Sylvan Lake has an inflatable water park that kids of all ages love. Make reservations for the Aqua Splash online before your visit.
\nFinally, the Canyon Ski Resort has launched into a premier all-season destination with an alpine pipe coaster, aerial park, net trampoline park, zipline, and summer tube park. The kids will be begging to make this an annual trip!
\nHave a fabulous summer exploring around Calgary.
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Tanya is a freelance writer and mom to a spunky boy. She loves hiking, camping, skiing, and all things mountain-related. She is the author of the blog Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies, rockiesfamilyadventures.com. You can find her on Instagram @MountainMomYYC.
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