The city of Calgary is known for a fantastic park and trail system that is maintained year-round. From breezy cross-country ski trails around the city’s golf courses to fun ice skating and hockey on maintained outdoor rinks, there is no reason to stay inside this season. Here are some of the best places to find some old fashioned, outdoor winter fun, right here in the city.

 

Skate Away

Lace up your skates and discover why this iconically Canadian pastime is a great way to spend a winter’s day. The city of Calgary maintains several skating rinks for the public to enjoy. In the heart of downtown, Olympic Plaza is a great place to lace up with family and friends. Originally built for the 1988 winter Olympics, this was the site of the medal presentation ceremonies.

 

Bowness Park has ice skating with on-site rentals from the University of Calgary. There are also fun icy activities like crokicurl, ice biking, and a 1.6 km ice skating trail next to the Bow River for a scenic skating experience.

Other places for skating in the city include North Glenmore Park, Prairie Winds Park, and the University of Calgary outdoor skating rink.

 

Cross-Country in the City

You don’t have to travel to the mountains to enjoy a day of cross-country skiing. The city of Calgary and several local ski clubs track-set trails for Nordic skiing right here in the city. Check out Bowness Park, North and South Glenmore Park, Lakeview Golf Course, McCall Lake Golf Course, and Maple Ridge Golf Course for trails maintained by the city.

Private ski groups track-set trails at Confederation Golf Course and Shaganappi Point Golf Course. All of these ski trails are free to use. Keep in mind that there are typically no facilities at these track-set courses, so make sure to bring along some hot chocolate and snacks to warm up afterwards!

 

Winter Walks

A good old-fashioned winter walk is a great way to take in the scenery of the city’s numerous parks and recreation areas. Take a stroll through the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and see the birds who winter in our chilly climate. Prince’s Island Park is another great way to escape to nature near the heart of downtown. Take in the winter views and snow-frosted trees for some spectacular winter scenery.

If the weather outside is too frigid, Calgary’s Plus 15 Network is a series of above-ground tunnels that connect the downtown buildings so people can walk between them without getting frostbite. There are currently 86 bridges that cover over 16 km of weather-protected and climate-controlled walkways. The bottoms of these tunnels are a minimum of 15 feet above the street, hence the name “Plus 15” network.

Kate Barker