Calgary’s Best Walks #14 (sorta)

A number of factors, nagging injuries being one, have kept us in the city for some time now. Still, we get out and have fun. It really doesn’t take much to amuse us and we find adventure where ever we are. Lately, for the hiking end of things, we’ve been doing a number of routes seen in the book “Calgary’s Best Walks” by Lori Beattie. Here we follow #14. Well kind of – icy sidewalks (a bad problem right now) had us doing a number detours and lunch stop took us off the route for a time. Anyway, the author seems to encourage one to go their own way. So we did.

There’s lots to see in this adventure. Most of the time it follows quiet residential streets in neighbourhoods dating back to the 1910s-1950s period. Lots of fine old houses will be passed. For a time the route travels along one of the river pathways. If you are looking for some chow, 14th Street or North Hill Mall both offer up some possibilities. We chose the latter.

Calgary’s Best Walks #14 (sorta): a ton of fun urban trek. A Chris & Connie Adventure!

Park along 9th Avenue Northwest where it dead-ends, just east of 22nd Street. Head east into a green space taking the path that heads up and diagonally. Soon on hit 19th Street and continue east along 10th Avenue. Here we’re in the neighbourhood of Briar Hill/Hounsfield Heights. Dwellings here date mostly from the mid to late 1950s. Many old sidewalk stamps are seen along this section.

Scroll down for photos and to comment

Turn left on 18a Street, right on 11th Avenue, left on 18th Street, right on 12th Avenue and then left on 17a Street. Confused yet? You’ll gain a bit of elevation here. Come to the LRT tracks, flank around to your left at the Lion’s Park Station and find a place to cross the tracks and right after 14th Avenue. If you have the munchies, and we did, enter North Hill Mall. Lots of places to eat here – yum Koryo Korean BBQ. Love the cold beans, a very un-fast food like choice. Enjoy.

Head to the east end of the mall and take in the recently closed Sears. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Suspect with the loss of this anchor store, this end will eventually turn into a ghost town. North Hill Centre, as it’s officially called, dates back to the late 1950s and was once touted as Canada’s largest shopping centre. It’s considered modest in size now. In those early days, Sears was known as Simpson-Sears.

Exit to the south then head southwest towards a pedestrian walkway. Going up and over both road and LRT tracks, head south on 16a Street. Hit 11th Avenue, go left, then immediately right on 16th Street. It soon bends left, becoming 10th Avenue. Next, turn left on 15th Street. Head down steeply.

On bottoming out enter the community of Hillhurst, which dates back just over a century. Walk tree lined streets, a most pleasant experience, and take in many historic homes. Look, a snow ape! On coming to Kensington Road, turn left and then right on busy 14th Street. That heady smell is Chicken on the Way.

Intercept the pathway and head west. The Bow River’s all choked with ice. Over there’s the recently vacated CBC/Radio Canada Studios. They’re been there since I was a kid. Parallel Memorial Drive – it’s a bit noisy here, but you’ll get away from it soon enough. Take the pedestrian bridge on your right and enter the community of Westmount. Lots more old homes to view. So much character in these older communities.

Go north on 21st Street, right on Broadview Road and left on 20th Street. Cross Bowness Road, once an important thoroughfare, but today quiet and with minimal traffic. On coming to Kensington Road, turn right then on arriving at 19th Street, go left. We’re now in West Hillhurst/Upper Hillhurst, a neighbourhood full of World War Two era “Victory Homes”, built for soldiers returning from conflict and their families. They are characterized by their small size. Connie grew up in one here.

Go left on 5th Avenue. More itty-bitty homes, including one which must be a contender for the city’s smallest (we say this a lot). Come to Grand Trunk Park. At the one end is Grand Trunk Cottage School (circa 1910). There used to be several of these in Calgary (one other still stands), temporary faculties, used till a bigger more permanent school could be built in an area. When no longer needed, they’d be resold as homes. This one’s in good shape and was last used as clubhouse for a group, but appears empty today. We’re going to come back to this one.

Cross the park heading northeast, and on coming to 23rd Street continue directly north. Coming to 7th Avenue head right, then on 22nd Avenue left. Finally on hitting 9th Avenue turn right and shortly after come to your ride, a pleasant stroll at an end.

There’s more “Calgary’s Best Walks” outings in the pipeline. Still, I think they’ve run their course this season. Pretty soon we’ll be heading out into the woods for some wilderness adventures. Yeah! But we’ll probably do more from the book come next winter. They’re well thought out and a ton of fun, and great diversion when we can’t get out of the city.

Urban walks are great but spring has is thinking of the woods…
Mt Ware.
Rummel Lake.
Mount Mann.

If you wish more information about this trail, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: January, 2018.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Distance: 8km loop.
Height gain maximum: 80m-ish.
Height gain cumulative: 100m-ish.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate.
Technical bits: Your Sears Card won’t work.

Calgary's Best Walks #14

Starting out…

Calgary Briar Hill

In the neighbourhood of Hounsfield Heights/Briar Hill.

Calgary Houghton Heights

Just strollin’ along.

Burns & Dutton

Burns & Dutton stamp from 1959 – they’re called Burnco now.

Lion's Park LRT Station

We’ll have to cross the LRT tracks here at Lion’s Park Station.

Northill Mall Sears

Sears, once a retail juggernaut in Canada, is no more.

North Hill Centre Calgary

Up and over…

California Republic Ball Cap

California Republic…

Sun Shine

Small details…

Calgary Hillhurst

In the community of Hillhurst, we find a new friend.

Calgary Hillhurst Community

That’s one big snow ape.

Calgary Bow River Pathway

On the Bow River Pathway.

CBC Studios Calgary

The former CBC Studios.

Calgary Bow River

The river’s choked with ice.

Calgary Memorial Drive

Busy Memorial Drive.

Calgary Westmount Neighbourhood

Crossing Bowness Road.

Kensington Road Calgary

Putting the “block” in apartment block.

19th St NW

Along 19th Street Northwest.

19th Street NW

Hi Neighbour!

Connie BIGDDoer.com

Where Connie grew up.

Christmas Elf

The Christmas Elf.

Small Houses Calgary

Lots of modest sized “Victory Homes” in this community.

Calgary Walks Cat

Another kitty.

Grand Trunk Park

At Grand Trunk Park.

Grand Trunk Cottage School

The century old Grand Trunk Cottage School.

West Hillhurst Calgary

In West Hillhurst, centre, one tiny home.

Christmas Bulb

Reminders of Christmas…

Chris BIGDoer.com

Back at the BIGDoer-mobile.

Cat Prints

Saw many cats today.

Best Walks #14 Sorta

Our take on Calgary’s Best Walks #14 – star=start, heart=chow time.

8 responses

  1. Jenn says:

    Nice cottage school!

    • It is. I’ve been passing it for years and never paid it much mind. Then one day, click, hey, it’s one of those schools. My diseased brain is slow to catch on some times.

  2. Curlew says:

    The ‘Cottage School’ looks like the school that was on 18A Street in Millican Estates. Nice photos ….

    • Ahhh, interesting. I know there was a number of these cottage schools in the city and perhaps the one you mentioned was an example. They were all built to a similar pattern. There’s another still standing, in Capitol Hill, which we hope to photograph sometime soon. Glad you liked the piece.

      • Curlew says:

        The Millican ‘Cottage School 1910’ was yellow with white trim. Grades 1-2-3 were on the lower floor, and 4-5-6 were upstairs. I started school there in 1953 ….. went to Grade 3. The copper ‘Confederation’ plaque 1867-1927 that hung in the lower classroom now hangs in my home on Vancouver Island. I digress …… apologies.
        Enjoy your adventures very much, thanks!

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