Canadian Trails
Calgary’s Best Singletrack
Cool summer mornings among towering trees are more than possible within t he Cit y of Calgar y, which is home to a great select ion of singletrack trails.
Edworthy Park
Edworthy Park is where time present meets time past. One of the most easterly stands of Douglas firs shades the inner-city park, providing shelter from the blistering heat of summer. The trail is humid, much like a trail on the coast, with natural springs draining the north-facing slopes above, crossing the path between sections of human-made stairs and bridges.
Some of the Douglas firs within this stand, first acquired by the city in a land transfer in 1962, are 500 years old, with large diameters and soaring heights. Running here feels unlike the other parks in Calgary. It’s not the predominantly high-prairie foothills Calgarians are accustomed to. The Douglas Fir Trail is an approximately 5.5-kilometre out-and-back run in Edworthy Park that parallels the Bow River while gaining 250 m over rolling terrain. Halfway through the run, the trail emerges from the forest to a lookout with a surprising view to the west of the Bow River and the Rocky Mountains.
“The Douglas Fir Trail is a hidden gem,” says national ski-mountaineering champion Kylee Toth. “It has the feel of running on a beautiful forest mountain path, but it’s minutes from urban amenities. It is not for the faint of heart – there’s some solid elevation gain. Still, the river views are an awesome reward for the effort.”
Nosehill Park
One of the largest urban parks in North America, Nosehill Park covers 11 square kilometres. Its hundreds of kilometres of informal trails roll through endangered fescue grasslands. Located on a plateau and elevated above the city, it’s not uncommon to spot deer and coyotes on your run while relishing the views of the Rocky Mountains and the Calgary Tower.
“This vast grassland hill in central northwest Calgary has endless narrow singletrack trails that wind throughout,” says ultrarunner and multiple record holder Dave Proctor. “It’s easy not to run the same trail twice and still compile 40, 50 or even up to 60 kilometres. Sticking to the south and east edges, it’s easy to rack up some serious vert and hammer the quads on the steep descents, all while being treated to stunning vistas of downtown Calgary.”
Fish Creek
Another of Canada’s largest city parks, Fish Creek Provincial Park is located along the banks of Fish Creek in Calgary’s south end. Slightly bigger than Nosehill at 13 square kilometres, it offers a different vibe to running in the prairie grasslands. Most of the park is in a forested state and, starting close to the Marshal Springs entrance, there is a fantastic selection of singletrack trails that weave through a diverse mix of aspen parkland, spruce forest and riparian balsam poplar trees. Similar to the Douglas Fir Trail, Fish Creek is another location where you can escape to the shade of the forest. You’ll see evidence of beaver activity, with trees gnawed through to be used for their dams. Also, keep your eyes open for the hundreds of species of birds that call the park home.
The AllTrails and Trailforks apps are excellent resources for running in these parks. See you on the trails!