Living In Calgary: Best Hikes in North Calgary

Now that 2011 is here, it may be time to take a hard look at what you are wanting out of your life. Making a New Year's Resolution can be fun but tough, I prefer to do goals rather than resolutions, but that's just me!


According to 43Things. com, the number one resolution for 2011 is to loose weight! (PS - If your looking for a great place to keep track of your goals or resolutions, 43Things.com is a great community for this!)


So... To loose that 5, 10 lbs or more that your wanting to, getting outside and being active is a great way to do this. Below is a list of the best walking and hiking paths in the North end of Calgary. These came from a great local site www. fitfrog. ca where Lorie Beattie has compiled a quality book of all the great walks, hikes and bike paths in Calgary. You can order any of these books here!


So here are the best Hiking and Walking paths in no particular order! To get the full info on each hike, check out www. fitfrog. ca



Hike 1: Twelve-Mile Coulee, NW


This wild walkabout takes a dip into a coulee that runs parallel to Stoney Trail. The treed valley bottom hides you from the city's hustle and sets you up for some exciting hill climbing if you need some hiking training! If you'd like a leisurely stroll than you can forget the hills and enjoy the creek walk. Eventually you'll climb to views of the Rocky Mountain ranges, Canada Olympic Park and Calgary's city core.
From the end of Tuscany Mews, follow the paved path until you see a set of stairs that head down into the coulee. Follow them and cross the creek. Follow the creek to end of the coulee at which point you'll see Canada Olympic Park. At the end of the coulee you can backtrack along the creek or climb west up the hill to a fence. Hike north along the fence. When the fence makes a sharp turn left drop down into a side coulee and then all the way down to the main coulee.


Hike 2: Nose Hill Berkley Gate, NW



Grasslands, coulees, wildflowers and mushrooms as big as your head! Nose hill has great views, wildlife, and an abundance of wildflowers. There are no maps for the trails of Nose Hill but there are many landmarks to use so you find your car at the end of the trek. Use the power lines, the airport view, the mountain view and the city core view to keep you on track.



Hike 3: Bowmont Natural Environment Park, NW



No matter what the season this is one of my favourite places to hike in Calgary. Single track dirt paths take you along the escarpment overlooking the Bow River. You descend into Waterfall Valley and you'll think you've left the city! The summer wildflowers are breathtaking and so are the hills!
Hike east through the fence from the parking area. Continue on the paved path under the CPR tracks. Once past the next parking area on your right and over the road I suggest getting off the pavement and following the narrow dirt paths along the escarpment edge. You are rewarded with Bow River views to the east and mountain vistas to the west. The icing on the cake is when you drop down into waterfall valley! Hard to believe you are in the city. You can continue as far as Home Road or make a loop and head back to your car at any point.



Hike 4: Edworthy Park & the Douglas Fir Trail, NW

This is another of my favourite places to get away from it all and to sweat profusely! I often meet many a hiker who is training for Nepal on the hill behind the south parking lot. The Douglas Fir Trail is beautiful in the summer and fall and treacherous in the winter and spring due to huge ice flows that cover the stairs. Dogwood and violets are some of the shady summer wildflowers you'll see on this trek. It is a birders paradise so bring your binoculars. At dusk in the Fall I saw three Great-horned Owls fly across the path in front of me and then the coyotes started to howl. A wilderness trek in the heart of the city!
From the north parking area, you cross the walking bridge and follow the paved Bow River pathway over the tracks to the south parking area. Hike east along the paved path and watch on your right for the Douglas Fir trail sign. A hill of stairs leads us into a Douglas fir forest. Follow this signed route to Crowchild Trail and then loop back on the paved pathway or backtrack through the trees for more stairs. Once back at the south parking lot make sure to try the steep hill that overlooks the parking area.



Hike 5: Riley Park / Crescent Heights Loop, NW


This route is a perfect combination of neighbourhoods and parks. Riley park has cheery gardens in the summer. The downtown view from Crescent Heights is spectacular and in the winter the Christmas lights along Crescent Road make this a festive trek. And for those of you keen to work up a sweat you'll enjoy the stairs across from Princes Island. If you climb the Crescent Heights 130 times you will have climbed the elevation of Everest!
Hike east towards 10th street, cross over and continue under the LRT tracks. Follow the stairs to the top of the escarpment and continue uphill, heading east. The best route for hills and stairs is to follow this green space to 7A St. and then east on Crescent Road. McHugh Bluff is the name of the green space that appears on your right. Zigzag on dirt paths up and down this hillside until you reach the stairs across from Princes Island. Do them a few times or make a loop of stairs and paved path and then loop back through Princes Island to Kensington and Riley Park.



There you have it... Now get out and enjoy Living in Calgary!