Snowshoeing is a beloved Canadian activity. Indigenous communities have used it for hundreds of years to get around when the changing winter weather blew knee-deep snow across the prairies. Today, snowshoeing is less a practical way to get around and more of a winter pastime. If you’re a nature lover, it’s an activity where you can get lost in the heart of the woods, no matter the weather.
Luckily, here in Calgary, we don’t need to leave the city to go snowshoeing. With over 5,000 parks in our city limits, we’re in one of the best cities in the country to try it out for yourself. Here are all the very best places to snowshoe — without leaving the comfort of Calgary.
The largest expanse of city parkland is an excellent place to snowshoe while taking in the downtown Calgary skyline. There are over 60 km of trails to access, plus many more hectares to tread through on snowshoes. You can traverse through slopes and coulees and take in the grand expanse of space; it’s a true natural gem, a place where you can feel alone in the heart of the city.
This crescent-shaped park in north Calgary is a winter sports paradise, with well-maintained cross-country ski trails and plenty of hills for sledding. Known as the “North-Hill Coulee,” this is the perfect place to experience nature in the city. The stream and wetland that run along the centre of the park freeze over in winter, making it a stunning winter wonderland. Plus, with cross-country ski trails and tobogganing hills, you and the whole fam can spend the entire day here enjoying winter-approved activities. Bring your snowshoes!
A northern Calgary green haven, Prairie Winds Park boasts exceptional tobogganing hills and lots of space for snowshoeing. There’s also winter skating and a spy hill to climb, and with a variety of tall hills, it’s a great spot to snowshoe up a few hills and look out over a wintery Calgary.
This well-preserved, natural area at the mouth of the Elbow River has plenty of flat marshland that’s perfect for snowshoeing in the winter. Two hundred thirty-seven hectares in size, it’s an area of cultural significance to the adjacent Tsuut’ina Nation. You’re bound to see a chickadee or two as you snowshoe, and the flat geography makes this an excellent trail to try for beginners.
This vast provincial park is in the heart of Calgary, and it’s a true natural gem. It offers recreational opportunities to every outdoor enthusiast, including snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in winter when the weather permits. You’re bound to see some wildlife on the trail, including songbirds and red squirrels that nest in the park’s trees and fallen logs during winter. If you’re looking for a scenic location to snowshoe that brings a hint of the mountains to the heart of Calgary, this is it.
This 93-hectare environment park lies on the banks of the Elbow River, and it’s an idyllic, peaceful place to strap on the snowshoes. There are stunning views of the Elbow River that freezes over in the coldest conditions. With well-maintained trails and a boardwalk that meanders through beautiful, snow-covered trees, it’s a slice of paradise within the community of Discovery Ridge. You can snowshoe amongst the oxbow wetlands of this natural area, taking in the sights and getting some exercise along the way.
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