Calling all Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» nature enthusiasts and city explorers, we have the inside scoop on the city’s best nature spots from Kelsey Woods, local copywriter, outdoor enthusiast and founder of Parks of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³».
Kelsey’s passion for the outdoors started in childhood. She grew up on a farm in rural Alberta, camped and hiked with her family and played soccer her whole way through grade school. In 2019, she started the Instagram account as a passion project to discover what Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» had to offer in terms of nature spots, rugged pathways and cool art installations. Today, @parksofcalgary is a growing small business and an excellent resource to connect like-minded people with Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s urban wilderness.
Wondering where should you head next? Explore Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s must-see spots with advice from our go-to Parks of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» guide, featuring photos and reels from the ever-growing @parksofcalgary Instagram page!
Animal Watchers
One of the most exciting things about spending time outdoors is the chance to see local fauna. Luckily, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» has plenty of vast parks full of natural animal habitats including , , and Kelsey’s visits to Carburn Park have led to the largest amount of her wildlife sightings, including deer, beavers and muskrats, while her community following has shared captivating photos of , , , and from countless spots around the city.
For bird watchers, the provides a safe haven for 270 species of birds -- or maybe you’ll get lucky and spot too!
YYC hidden gems
Discover these unique wonders of nature and local art pieces all across the city!
Nostalgia alert: Someone painted a service door in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» to look like the door from Monster’s Inc, and Kelsey found it. Check out for the exact location and travel back in time.
One of her favourite local discoveries is the , a quiet wood-chip covered trail lined with pine trees as you stroll along just above the river’s edge.
It’s not only Vancouver that has gorgeous spring has stunning crab apple blossoms each spring -- bring your camera and spot these, brilliant pink hues!
If you want to visit a notable local art installation, shows two halves of a moon in the northwest community of Rocky Ridge.
Take a stroll down the for some solitude and a mini waterfall – Kelsey says this location is amazing all times of year, but particularly in fall.
Calling All Hikers
Whether you’re planning an all-day outing or want to squeeze in your nature fix before dinner, Kelsey has trail suggestions for everyone:
Half day paths
Griffith Woods Park, the inside the and the nearby Weaselhead Flats are all excellent options. Don’t forget about for wide open spaces and a mountain view.
Full day paths
is the second-largest urban park in Canada, and it’s located right here in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³». Outdoor enthusiasts can surround themselves in the woodsy wonderland while they spend the day (or multiple) exploring all 80km of provincial park pathways. These trails, home to and countless other trails are for perfect for walking, hiking and biking.
Kelsey also shares hikes and experiences found outside of the city for those seeking longer adventures. Check out this in and .
IG’able Parks
Spend the day outside and record some shareable content for your social feeds or photography hobby!
Looking to capture a view of the city skyline? Check out . also has a beautiful vantage point from the hill north of Memorial Drive. East Village has several throughout the community which decorate bridges, containers and small structures.
is a wetland along the Bow River with plenty of chances to spice up your feed with beautiful trails and the Bow Habitat Station. Summer bonus – you can learn to . You can also opt to explore all the 33km along the Bow River Pathway.
has picturesque views from the stream flowing through the ravine — people went crazy when Kelsey shared this hidden gem. We hear the view is absolutely magical in the fall and you may even see some local moose or coyotes.
Fun for the whole family
Take your entire family to one of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»â€™s family-friendly outdoor spaces!
has picnic tables, a playground, boat rentals, a wading pool and other amenities. has a picnic area and community orchard with pear and apple trees. is a great spot for summer parties with its picnic areas, fire pits and BBQ stands.
Take a dip at , a man-made sandy beach popular with swimmers in the summer (admission is required).
Dog-friendly parks
Your furry friends will love running around the off-leash areas of , , Carburn Park, and River Park Off-Leash Dog Park!
Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» beaches
Yes, you read that right! Kelsey’s goal over the past year was to discover more beaches within or around city limits. Head over to Sandy Beach Park, Carburn Park or Sikome Lake.
Here’s where you can lounge by the water or pick up a watersport this summer without booking a plane ticket to a coastal city.
is a favourite spot for paddleboarding at the stream behind the shallow lagoon and for renting canoes and kayaks. Griffiths Woods Park has shallow waters, making the water warmer for swimmers.
A short 30 minutes from the city centre is , full of public beach areas where you can bring your paddleboards and floaties or take your kids to the playground.
If you’re looking to raft down the Bow, Kelsey highly recommends to rent some floating equipment for the day!
Let’s Gather Outside
Goodbye winter boots, hello summer shorts! There’s no denying the bliss of gathering outdoors with your family, friends and loved ones especially after sitting inside during a long winter. Check out these parks to add some fresh air and natural scenery to your next party, celebration or get-together.
Larger gatherings
Next to the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» Zoo is , a park with a vantage point overlooking views of the Bow River and downtown Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³». The park includes a children’s play area, hiking and biking trails, public plaza with seating areas, and a wetland with a chance to spot some local birds.
Your kids will love the wading pool, spray park and playground at Prairie Winds Park. This park also features soccer fields, tennis courts and baseball diamonds for all sports lovers.
Bowness Park also has lots of picnic tables, firepits and parking space. Across the street, Baker Park has plenty of sitting spots and, fun fact, this park is the most popular spot in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» for outdoor weddings!
More secluded gatherings
near the Kensington neighbourhood has plenty of space to put down your picnic blanket, play a game of Spikeball, walk through the Senator Patrick Burns Memorial Rock Garden and take a peek at the in Sunnyside.
is in the northwest area of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³» along the river with picnic tables in a private atmosphere.
Bring your bike
Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or enjoy a light bike ride on a sunny day, there are some great bike trails to try no matter your biking level.
has many bike trails for all levels, including the . The is paved and has great city views offering a good mix of sun and shade with plenty of places to sit and rest during your ride.
The is a longer all-levels 27.4-km bike path on the north side of the city, also with city views and spots for birdwatching.
Mountain bikers can stay within city limits and head out to from Cougar Ridge.
According to Kelsey, adventure seekers should check out Twelve Mile Coulee Natural Environment Park or Bowmont Park if they’re interested in non-paved trails and off-roading.
With all the countless physical and mental health benefits to being outside, we hope that you have the chance to soak up some sunshine at, no matter your favourite park or outdoor activity!
Make sure to follow Kelsey’s adventures on Instagram as she continues to explore and share the many greenspaces within and close to Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³».
