Patterson to Paskapoo Slopes and Cougar Ridge, SW
Offering unobstructed views of the Bow River Valley and the prairies beyond, this urban walkabout offers the perfect vantage point to get the lay of the land in Calgary. Navigating a mix of forested singletrack trails, quiet side streets and paved pathways, walkers soak up spectacular vistas.
Walk along paved pathways through saskatoon-filled ravines that lead to the community of Patterson. This hilly neighborhood offers the perfect view of Calgary’s compact downtown reaching skyward. Switchback downhill along blossom-lined paved paths before connecting to the earthy pathways along the Paskapoo Slopes. Soak up expansive Bow River Valley views before entering the aspen and poplar forest, where poplar fluff begins to cover the forest floor in late May. This fluff is poplar seeds that are produced by the female trees of the species, but it’s not the fluff or the seeds that make people sneeze. Most allergists agree that the real culprits are native grasses and other plants that are flowering just as the poplars are seeding.
For the past 50 years, the Paskapoo Slopes below Cougar Ridge have been maintained as a natural area park, a ski hill, and a mountain biking area. Walkers should keep an eye out for speedy cyclists enjoying the network of steep single-track trails that make for fun and sometimes challenging descents, as well as cardio-intensive climbs. There are multiple trails that cross the steep ravines and gullies, streams, and springs, and travel through stands of aspen and balsam poplar, dense dogwood, and riverine tall shrubs. These urban wilds make the slopes a popular habitat for deer, small mammals, and a large variety of migratory and breeding birds. You may also come across old cars, a glacial erratic that originated from the Jasper area and travelled on a glacier to arrive in Calgary, and a Buddhist Stupa. The unexpected shrine in the forest is one of the more unique finds in the wilds of Calgary.
Start: 77 Street and Cougar Ridge Drive SW, near the Calgary French School
Distance & Difficulty: 5.5km (hilly, paved paths and single-track trails)
Tasty Pit Stops: Plan to grab picnic supplies or enjoy a post-walk treat at Eclipse Bakery & Cafe on 85 Street. Persian style pastries, cakes, cookies, nut mixes with flavors like lime and saffron, along with sandwiches, sausage rolls, and loaves of sourdough bread, are all made in-house. Or, swing by the new Alforno Cafe on 77 Street. Pastries, sandwiches, and full meals are made in-house, along with freshly baked loaves of bread.
Millican Ogden, Lynnwood and Sue Higgins, Carburn, and Beaverdam Flats Parks, SE
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 textures and colors along the trail. Pelicans, double-breasted cormorants, and bald eagles all frequent this area, and many deer call the park home.
Begin at either Sue Higgins Off-Leash Park or Carburn Park, and continue along the Bow River Pathway under Glenmore Trail and up the escarpment to Lynnwood, to views of the Rocky Mountains and the downtown core. 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 at the train tracks 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.
Explore the neighborhoods 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 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.
Start: Carburn Park, 67 Riverview Drive SE or Sue Higgins Park, end of Southland Drive SE or Millican Ogden Community Association, 2110 69 Avenue SE
Transit: Various bus options to Riverbend and Ogden
Facilities: Bathrooms at Sue Higgins, Carburn Park, George Moss Park, and at Brian’s Café
Distance & Difficulty: Sue Higgins, Carburn, and Beaverdam Flats Parks: Carburn Park start: 8.5km; Sue Higgins Park start: 10.5km (paved and gravel paths, hills)
Millican-Ogden/Lynnwood – Beaverdam Flats loop: 7.5km (paved paths, sidewalks, hills, and stairs)
Tasty Pit Stops: Soft serve ice cream and slushy combos at Rick’s Grocery in Lynnwood has been a local favorite 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 Café is a new addition to Ogden. Situated beside George Moss Park in the Mustard Seed’s Ogden Hub 29, Brian's Café has excellent coffee and a welcoming, warm atmosphere.
Lori is the author of Calgary’s Best Walks: 95 urban jaunts, nature strolls and tasty pit stops and Calgary’s Best Bike Rides. Join Lori on year-round walks that she leads with her company Fit Frog Adventures. Learn more at fitfrog.ca & Instagram @lorifitfrog
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