Fall is another super short season here in the Foothills, but it’s one that many families have come to cherish. While the beautiful autumn colors can come and go in what seems like an instant, there are plenty of warm and sunny days to enjoy before the chill of winter sets in! Here are some of our favorite activities to do outdoors and indoors this fall around Calgary.
1. Have some fun at WinSport. Try the mountain bike park, with 25km of open and single-track cross-country trails, bobsled, zipline and more. There is something every member of the family will love. winsport.ca
2. Check out a skatepark. Wheeled sports, like biking and skateboarding, are unstructured recreation activities that are affordable, accessible, and naturally encourage free play and physical activity for family members of all ages. Our city has several permanent skateparks to encourage active, healthy, and creative living:
3. Ride at a bike pump track. Bike pump tracks are progressive circuits where riders use an up-and-down pumping motion to propel the bike forward instead of pedaling. Increasingly popular among Calgarians, pump tracks are perfect for practicing balance, learning skills, and improving confidence on a bike. Check out a local pump track in the following locations:
The origins of the pump track are rooted in the hardpack BMX tracks of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and recently, in the backyards of Australian downhill racers who created some of the first pump tracks around 2002. The first new era pump track on North American soil was built in 2004 at The Fix Bike Shop in Boulder, Colorado, by pro downhiller Steve Wentz.
4. Scale the walls at one of five Calgary Climbing Centre locations. Get vertical at Calgary’s biggest indoor climbing facilities with friendly staff, varied terrain and beginner lessons for all ages. calgaryclimbing.com
5. Try bouldering at one of the two Bolder Climbing Community locations in the southeast. Bouldering is a style of rock climbing that involves climbing short rock formations or artificial walls without ropes or harnesses, using thick crash pads for safety. bolderclimbing.com
6. Challenge obstacles at Breathe Parkour. Unleash your energy at their purpose-built Calgary facility while learning safe, essential movement techniques. They offer programs for kids as young as six years old. No experience necessary. breathepk.com
7. Become a ninja warrior at Fitset Ninja Calgary. Whether you’re a longtime Fitset Ninja member, or you’re just starting to dip your toe into the sport, open gym is the perfect opportunity to explore your ninja skills and put them to the test. calgary.fitsetninja.com
8. Take a walk through the Medicine River Wildlife Centre in Spruce View. The centre provides care for injured or orphaned wildlife with the aim of returning them to the wild. Enjoy a walk on the nature trail with an observation tower, play in the Wildlife Homes Playground, pop into the visitor centre, or bring a picnic. medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca
9. Visit the Cochrane Ecological Institute and Cochrane Wildlife Reserve. This reserve has the only breeding colony of the Swift Fox (endangered in Canada). Participate in public education events or volunteer for wildlife rehabilitation and research. The reserve also provides care and rehabilitates injured wildlife. ceiwildlife.org
10. Say “hi” to the dogs at Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary near Cochrane. Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary offers a variety of tours to the public to educate people about wolfdogs and raise awareness regarding wolf conservation. yamnuskawolfdogsanctuary.com
11. Visit the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory in Foothills County. One of Canada’s largest telescopes patrolling for asteroids. They are open to the public during special events. Learn more about when you can visit at ccalgary.ca/rao
12. Enjoy the view at the Calgary Tower. Be a tourist in your own city! Get a bird’s-eye view of the river, the mountains, downtown and beyond. calgarytower.com
13. Try virtual golfing at LaunchPad. You’re never too young to start playing golf, LaunchPad welcomes kids of all ages and is a great place to start learning! launchpadgolf.com
14. Get ready for skating season at the Olympic Oval. The Olympic Oval offers more than 50 recreational public skating sessions per month on their 400m oval ice. They also host several special events and free skates throughout the year. Skate and helmet rentals are available. oval.ucalgary.ca
15. Race at Speeders Go Karts. Speeders Calgary two locations are five-star entertainment venues, offering adrenaline-filled racing experiences perfect for challenging drivers of all skill levels. speeders.ca/calgary
16. Take a wander through Fish Creek Park. Only a hop, skip, and a jump from Calgary’s southern suburbs, Canada’s largest urban park covers more than 20km of protected river valley. Enjoy views of diverse landscapes including forests, grassland and the rushing water.
17. Take in the view at Nose Hill Park. A unique natural environment park located in NW Calgary, just 15 minutes from downtown. Stroll the large network of walking, biking, and running trails that wind through an important native grassland ecosystem. You may even see diverse wildlife and historical Indigenous archaeological sites, like tipi rings and a medicine wheel.
18. See migrating birds at Ralph Klein Park. The area also features a large man-made wetland for stormwater management, an Environmental Education Centre, a natural playground, walking trails, a community orchard, and various art installations.
19. Find wildlife at Beaver Dam Flats. Beaver Dam Flats is surrounded by various natural habitats that attract beavers and other wildlife. Make it a fun scavenger hunt and see if you can spot waterfowl, bald eagles, deer, coyotes, or porcupines.
20. Feed the fish at Bow Habitat Station. Bow Habitat Station is made up of a visitor’s centre, the Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery and the Pearce Estate Park Interpretive Wetland. Explore exciting activities, hands-on programs, and special events at the station that include fish feeding, tours, festivals, theatre performances, educational programs and more. bowhabitat.alberta.ca
21. Find muskrats and beavers at Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. Over 250 bird species and a variety of mammals call these 32 hectares of natural area home. See how many you can count and identify.
22. Enjoy a prairie vista at Haskayne Legacy Park. The park is adjacent to the Bearspaw Reservoir with the Bow River to the west and south. Traditional western ranchlands come alive with spectacular mountain and prairie views, located at the northwestern edge of the city of Calgary.
23. Take a drive to the Royal Alberta Museum located in Edmonton. The Wild Alberta gallery takes visitors across, over and under Alberta’s diverse landscapes. The museum includes an interactive space with a sand pit, a children’s gallery and other exhibits about Alberta's history. royalalbertamuseum.ca
24. Make a weekend trip to West Edmonton Mall. West Edmonton Mall is a must-do for any Albertan! Stay in a themed room at the Fantasyland Hotel, enjoy the slides at the World Waterpark, and check out the rides at Galaxyland, the mall’s indoor amusement park. wem.ca
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