Calgary Walks: Immerse yourself in nature in the heart of the city
Lori Beattie is the author of Calgary's Best Walks: 95 urban jaunts, nature strolls and tasty pit stops (2025) and Calgary's Best Bike Rides. She leads walks with her company, Fit Frog Adventures. Join her at upcoming book events: June 29 at 1 p.m.: Free Bowness Library Walk; July 27 & 28: Historic Calgary Week walks; Aug. 9, A Sweet Stroll at the Leighton Art Centre. www.fitfrog.ca & Instagram @lorifitfrog
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Edmonton Journal
10 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Calgary Walks: Immerse yourself in nature in the heart of the city
Lori Beattie is the author of Calgary's Best Walks: 95 urban jaunts, nature strolls and tasty pit stops (2025) and Calgary's Best Bike Rides. She leads walks with her company, Fit Frog Adventures. Join her at upcoming book events: June 29 at 1 p.m.: Free Bowness Library Walk; July 27 & 28: Historic Calgary Week walks; Aug. 9, A Sweet Stroll at the Leighton Art Centre. & Instagram @lorifitfrog
Calgary Herald
10 hours ago
- Calgary Herald
Calgary Walks: Immerse yourself in nature in the heart of the city
Article content Lori Beattie knows a thing or two about walking. She's travelled every path and trail listed in her new updated book, Calgary's Best Walks. She explained why she loves to explore this city on foot in a Weekend Life column on March 29, and now we're encouraging you to follow in her footsteps. Over the next few months, we'll highlight one of the 95 walks in Beattie's book, complete with necessary details and tasty stops along the way. Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Families looking for a post-dinner stroll to relax or to let kids burn off some energy will enjoy a visit to Carburn Park. This trek is perfect for all ages, pups and people, with its water features, wildlife and mix of single-track trails and paved pathways. And when the trees are full, this extensive suburban green space becomes a refreshing nature getaway. Balsam poplars offer shade while shrubs like saskatoon, choke cherry, American silverberry, and Canada buffaloberry provide texture and colour along the trail. Pelicans, double-breasted cormorants and bald eagles all frequent this area, and many deer call the park home. Walk 83 follows the paved Bow River Pathway from Sue Higgins Off-Leash Park through Carburn Park, under Glenmore Trail, and up the escarpment to Lynnwood with views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown. Soon you'll enter Beaverdam Flats Park, where you can stick to the main path or venture off-trail onto shrub-lined trails that follow the river. Take the hidden path to Lynnwood Ridge, where you'll walk behind homes with stunning views. Chat with the homeowners along the ridge if you want to learn about the former Imperial Oil Refinery and the decades of environmental remediation in their community. And keep watch for the epic rhubarb plant. I made many pies and muffins from its stalks, thanks to the owner offering it up. Article content Article content Walk 84 stays high and explores the neighbourhoods of Lynnwood and Millican Ogden, one of Calgary's oldest communities. Named after the former vice-president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, it is arguable that Calgary would not exist had it not been for the CPR, the Ogden Locomotive Shops, and the founding of the town of Ogden. Be sure to detour down 18A Street to see many vintage homes dating back to 1910 and to chat with the friendly folks who live there.
Vancouver Sun
10 hours ago
- Vancouver Sun
Calgary Walks: Immerse yourself in nature in the heart of the city
Lori Beattie knows a thing or two about walking. She's travelled every path and trail listed in her new updated book, Calgary's Best Walks. She explained why she loves to explore this city on foot in a Weekend Life column on March 29, and now we're encouraging you to follow in her footsteps. Over the next few months, we'll highlight one of the 95 walks in Beattie's book, complete with necessary details and tasty stops along the way. Today we share Nos. 83 and 84: Millican-Ogden, Lynnwood and Sue Higgins, Carburn, and Beaverdam Flats Parks Discover the best of B.C.'s recipes, restaurants and wine. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of West Coast Table will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. AT A GLANCE: Families looking for a post-dinner stroll to relax or to let kids burn off some energy will enjoy a visit to Carburn Park. This trek is perfect for all ages, pups and people, with its water features, wildlife and mix of single-track trails and paved pathways. And when the trees are full, this extensive suburban green space becomes a refreshing nature getaway. Balsam poplars offer shade while shrubs like saskatoon, choke cherry, American silverberry, and Canada buffaloberry provide texture and colour along the trail. Pelicans, double-breasted cormorants and bald eagles all frequent this area, and many deer call the park home. Walk 83 follows the paved Bow River Pathway from Sue Higgins Off-Leash Park through Carburn Park, under Glenmore Trail, and up the escarpment to Lynnwood with views of the Rocky Mountains and downtown. Soon you'll enter Beaverdam Flats Park, where you can stick to the main path or venture off-trail onto shrub-lined trails that follow the river. Take the hidden path to Lynnwood Ridge, where you'll walk behind homes with stunning views. Chat with the homeowners along the ridge if you want to learn about the former Imperial Oil Refinery and the decades of environmental remediation in their community. And keep watch for the epic rhubarb plant. I made many pies and muffins from its stalks, thanks to the owner offering it up. Walk 84 stays high and explores the neighbourhoods of Lynnwood and Millican Ogden, one of Calgary's oldest communities. Named after the former vice-president of the Canadian Pacific Railway, it is arguable that Calgary would not exist had it not been for the CPR, the Ogden Locomotive Shops, and the founding of the town of Ogden. Be sure to detour down 18A Street to see many vintage homes dating back to 1910 and to chat with the friendly folks who live there. THE DEETS What you'll see: Birds, nature, river, wildflowers, views, gardens, cafe, neighbourhoods and parks, hills, historic Start: Walk 83: Carburn Park, 67 Riverview Drive S.E. or Sue Higgins Park, end of Southland Drive S.E.; Walk 84: Millican Ogden Community Association, 2110 69th Ave. S.E. Transit: Various bus options to Riverbend and Ogden Facilities: Bathrooms at Sue Higgins, Carburn Park, George Moss Park and at Brian's Café Distance and Difficulty: Walk 83: Sue Higgins, Carburn, and Beaverdam Flats Parks: Carburn Park start: 8.5 km; Sue Higgins Park start: 10.5 km (paved and gravel paths, hills). Walk 84: Millican-Ogden – Lynnwood – Beaverdam Flats loop: 7.5 km (paved paths, sidewalks, hills and stairs) Highlights, Detours & Destinations Swimming at the Ogden outdoor pool or paddling and picnicking in Carburn Park are wonderful summer activities. Birdlife is abundant on these walks along the Bow River. Check out to discover Calgary's best birding hotspots with maps and bird checklists. Sue Higgins Park is a massive fenced off-leash park with a beach for pups. TASTY PIT STOPS Soft serve ice cream and slushy combos at Rick's Grocery in Lynnwood have been a local favourite for 40 years. The new owners have kept the tradition going. A Lynnwood local recommended the creamsicle combo – vanilla ice cream and orange slushie. Brian's Cafe is a new addition to Ogden. Situated beside George Moss Park in the Mustard Seed's Ogden Hub 29, Brian's Cafe has excellent coffee and a welcoming atmosphere. With a goal of becoming a community hub, the cafe honours late community member and guest of the Mustard Seed, Brian Evasiuk. The cafe's 'giving wall' has pre-purchased drinks for anyone in need, or you can add to the wall and pay it forward. A short drive from Sue Higgins Park, The Italian Centre is one of my favourite Calgary shopping and eating experiences. Like stepping into Italy, the produce (often from B.C.), meats and cheeses are not only varied and fantastic but also so reasonably priced. The cafe hosts a pup-friendly patio where you can enjoy pizzas, sandwiches and decadent desserts. And the cappuccino is authentically Italian! Such a pleasant place to browse and then enjoy a pastry with friends. Rick's Grocery: 1603 62nd Ave S.E. Brian's Cafe , Ogden Hub 29: 74th Avenue and 23rd Street S.E. (open Tues.- Sat. until mid-afternoon) The Italian Centre: 9919 Fairmount Dr S.E. If you missed reading about last month's walk in the city, here's Beattie's option in the northwest. Walk Nos. 19, 20, 21 cover Dale Hodges Park, Bowmont Park, and the Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs. Offering a complete nature break, these interconnected walks lead to Rockies and Bow River views, waterfalls and an explosion of colour in Silver Springs. Begin on the paved Bow River Pathway and connect to Dale Hodges Park, a birders' paradise that is tucked between Silver Springs and the Bow River. Once a gravel pit, the area was transformed into wetlands through a unique collaboration between parks, water resources and public art departments. Walk the trails and boardwalks past marshes, wet meadows and Nautilus Pond and learn about the stormwater treatment process as it flows to the Bow River. This process is estimated to reduce sediment in stormwater by 50 per cent, helping to protect our river system. Calgary is home to over 200 bird species, some migrating and some residents, and many can be seen along the river and in the wetlands. Slow the pace in Dale Hodges Park to see mallards, cedar waxwings, yellow and red-winged blackbirds and maybe the tiny migratory northern saw-whet owl. One of the smallest owls in North America, the adults are the size of a robin. Continue past Nautilus Pond and onto the rollercoaster grassland pathways in Bowmont Park, one of my dog's favourite parks to explore with its mix of on- and off-leash. The hilly topography is perfect for hikers in training. Practice the 'mountaineer' or 'rest' step when climbing the hills. Take a step uphill, straighten the stepping leg by letting your heel come back to the ground and then take your next uphill step. If the hill is steep, you may want to count one second in between steps. This endurance technique lets you relax your calf muscles and breathe easily, so you have lots of energy for the long haul. You'll enjoy multitudes of wildflowers that cover the slopes and a bird's eye view of some of the impressive properties along the river in Bowness, as well as the mountains on the horizon. Walk 19 continues west into Waterfall Valley and descends to the river, while Walk 20 heads north to connect to Walk 21 in the Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs. This garden oasis hosts picnic areas amongst the fruit trees and gardens featuring over 100 species of roses, peonies, edible plants, herbs, a wall garden and a rock and crevice alpine garden. Be sure to walk there in August when the cheery sunflowers are in their towering golden glory. Cadence Cafe (6407 Bowness Road N.W.) is a hot spot popular for big breakfasts, a cup of fine coffee and freshly baked goods. Walk north out of Waterfall Valley to the tiny Cafe Le Matin (1, 5720 Silver Spring Boulevard N.W.). This mom-and-pop cafe has fresh, delicious food. Climb an extra hill if you plan on treating yourself, as portions are ample at both spots. Bon appetite! What you'll see: waterfalls, birds, nature, river, wildflowers, dogs, cafes, gardens Start: Walks 19, 20: The official parking area on 52nd Street N.W. (one-way); Silver Springs Gate N.W. or Bow Village Crescent N.W. (for south side access). Walk 21: End of Silver Springs Drive N.W. Transit: Various bus options to Silver Springs and Bowness Facilities: None at the trailhead. Bathrooms in the Botanical Gardens of Silver Springs Lori Beattie is the author of Calgary's Best Walks: 95 urban jaunts, nature strolls and tasty pit stops (2025) and Calgary's Best Bike Rides. She leads walks with her company, Fit Frog Adventures. Join her at upcoming book events: June 29 at 1 p.m.: Free Bowness Library Walk; July 27 & 28: Historic Calgary Week walks; Aug. 9, A Sweet Stroll at the Leighton Art Centre. & Instagram @lorifitfrog
