Parts of Calgary’s iconic Douglas Fir Trail will soon open to visitors after three years

With summer on the way, parts of the popular Douglas Fir Trail in southwest Calgary are set to reopen to the public as work continues in the area.

A section of the southwest Calgary trail has been closed since November 2023 due to erosion, drainage issues, and slope instability. While work continues, the City says a full reopening remains dependent on future funding.

In a recent update from the City of Calgary, three areas of the trail are finally reopening as conditions have improved and seasonal hazards have decreased.

The first area, on the western section of the trail, was previously closed over the winter due to icy conditions and concerns about its proximity to an active project site. It will now reopen on a trial basis.

The second area, which has been closed due to a lack of a safe detour or clear exit route, is also reopening with a designated turnaround point in place.

Lastly, the third area in the eastern section of the trail previously led into a closed construction site, but will now include a looped route allowing users to stay within open areas of the trail while still accessing the surrounding pathway system.

The City did not give a specific date on when it expects each section to be open by, just that the reopening will be on a trial basis to help provide clearer access routes, reduce confusion for trail users and support compliance with posted closures near the active construction area. The closures will continue to be monitored and may change depending on site conditions, construction activities and user compliance.

Other parts of the trail will remain closed, including areas near active slope stabilization, access to the construction zone and sections where trail conditions remain poor. The City is asking trail users to follow the posted signage. Slope stabilization work is expected to be completed by December 2026.

The City says it plans to seek funding through the next budget cycle from 2027 to 2030, with the City Council expected to decide during budget deliberations in November 2026. Until then, a full reopening timeline for the Douglas Fir Trail remains uncertain.

You can learn more about the project online.

Originally published on Daily Hive. 

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