Urban Trek: Elbow Park-Mission-Beltline

This in-the-city hike will have you exploring a number of Calgary’s well established neighbourhoods. There’s many fine old homes to see, historic commercial blocks and lots of very un-city like green spaces to take in. It’s sidewalks and meandering paths, busy streets and quiet wooded parks. Along the way comes the realization that Calgary is not all that flat. There’s more than a few ups and downs along our route, making this one a great workout. Feel the burn! This route is similar to some others we’ve seen (can’t remember where, online, that Calgary Walks Book?), but I’m certain we mixed it up a bit.

At mid-point for us, it’s a stop into a watering-hole to honour an old friend who passed on a few years back.

Start at Sandy Beach Park. Hit the Elbow River pathway and go right, then soon after take the wide trail to you left that heads up to the top of the valley. A lot of our urban hikes are in the winter and so if you do this one similarly, be mindful of icy spots along here and the rest of the route. Come to River Park. It’s an off leash doggie area and we made a lot of new friends this day. Views of the city skyline from here are awesome! There was lot so hoar frost on our visit, so beautiful and delicate. Just the warmth of one’s breath will cause them to melt. Head south atop the wooded slope.

Trend east following the fence line and at a little draw, drop down a bit on a marked trail, then it’s up into the community of Elbow Park. Keeping easterly in direction, follow Crestview Road then soon in come to Sifton Boulevard where you’ll join up with a wide pathway. To your right it’s the (steaming on our visit) Elbow River, and to the left, some of Calgary’s finer homes. Real nice ones too and many quite historic. Just before Elbow Park School, head north on 8th Street. At a park, take to the stairs on the left, all billion of them (or so it seemed) and then go hard right onto a dirt trail at the top. You’ll have a good view here, at the apex of the toboggan hill, of all the fun happening further below. They were getting some good speed and distance on the well packed slope.

Drop down (what, already) and continue east on 32nd Avenue. You could bypass this up and over by sticking to the park, but why would you. Challenge yourself man.

Go north on 7th Street and after two blocks take the path heading up the hill on the left. Continue behind the Glencoe Club (snooty rich guys and their big-*** swimming pools). We’d never be allowed membership. Come to Hillcrest Avenue, then it’s right on 25th Avenue, always heading east, then on 4th Street go left. You’re in the historic Mission District now, a place with trendy eateries and a vibrant street life. Except this chilly day. A lot of buildings along here are from Calgary’s first boom period, from just over a century ago. The Tivoli is now home to boutiques and some bistro that serves kale, or something like that, but famously in the 1970s was the city’s bluvie-movie theatre. Trenchcoat central!

Pinball @ Pinbar! Resist the urge.

We have a rule on these city walks – if we pass a non-chain convenience store, we have to stop for lotto. We keep saying it’ll give us a lucky edge, even if we’ve yet to win anything. And now everyone thinks we’ve got gambling problem with us in denial. To that we say “we could stop anytime…you’re making too much of it…mind your own damn business!”

In the Beltline now, go right at Memorial Park. There’s some cool stuff here, including a “Carnegie” Library. Then it’s left on 2nd Street and a quick right on 11th Avenue. This is the old warehouse district now. There’s some fine old buildings from a hundred plus years ago here and be sure look for some old signage on one.

We make a quick diversion to Bottlescrew Bills on 1st Street and 10th Avenue. We had chum who lived in the apartment tower above and this was his go-to pub. He passed on a few years back and so in his honour, we come belt one back around the anniversary of his passing. His thing was Jack Daniels, a straight shot gulped down, which we could never understand. It’s like drinking brake fluid or something. But we do it anyway as we did with him far too many times, in this very spot, when he was alive. We’re speaking of John Sharpe, who when we had our clothing firm long ago, was our principal photographer (real old school) and who like us held an interest in shooting old abandoned places. We hung out a lot and learned much. So many good times.

“To Sharpe!” The old miserable ******. God he was a pain in the ass, but a dear friend all the same. Slam it back…then it’s that post JD cringe face. They have good eats here so we made it our lunch stop. The old Bally Power Play pinball, from the 1970s and which you’re author remembers playing often back then, was sadly out of service. Had quarters at the ready and everything, but was denied.

Head south on 1st Street. There’s so many restaurants here and shiny condo towers. Come to Rouleauville, once the French-Canadian section of town. There’s a cool cathedral here and right beside it, the old CNR Train Station now home to a ballet troupe. Recall breaking into that building in the 1970s, when it empty at the time. They filmed some of the movie Silver Streak right here. If you’re into flicks shot in and around the city, and/or trains, it’s a great one to watch.

Right on 18th Avenue, then left on 2nd Street. Pass the old Holy Cross Hospital. Right on 25th Avenue, retrace your steps up Hillcrest Avenue, then back to the dirt path you earlier came in on. Soon in come to some stairs and drop down behind the sprawling Glencoe Club (fricken money bags and their crappy AMGs). Continue south on Glencoe Road which soon joins up with 6th Street. Look for old sidewalks stamps along here. We found a couple from the 1910s. There’s a house in BIGDoer yellow! Gotta snap a photo of that.

Right on 34th Avenue – more nice houses – not like our “hood” – and more quiet lanes – then left on 7th Street and at Elbow Park School, right on Sifton Boulevard. That (once) historic building suffered much damage in the 2013 floods and most of what you see is a new build.

Cross the footbridge over the Elbow and then turn right on Riverdale Avenue. More mansion type places and here master bathrooms have more square footage than all of BIGDoer HQ. Left on 10th Street, into a wooded area, then climb up. You’ve in Britannia now (no room for it in the title) and like many of the neighbourhoods seen today, it’s rather affluent and exclusive. So it’s a place we’d never be allowed to settle in, even if we had the $. We’re too trailer park.

Go right on Britannia Drive, left on Elizabeth Drive, right on Crescent Boulevard, left on Imperial Way, then right on 8th Street and continue south. Hey, there’s a ice cream shop at that retail complex. Just sayin’. Finally it’s right on 48th Avenue and soon in come to Britannia Slopes, a fabulous viewpoint overlooking the Elbow River and Sandy Beach Park far below.

In times of idle thought, we often wondered how far away one can unlock a car using a keyfob. Come on, it’s crossed your mind too. Just what would it prove? Nothing! But it has to be tested. Look at that, there’s the mighty BIGDoer-mobile way down there. Press the button and damn, it worked. We’re easily amused.

Drop down, cross the river, and you’re back from where you started. Let’s fondly review the day: a good hike…check. Lots of interesting things to see…check. Good times with whoever you’re trekking with…check. Getting fall down drunk at Bottlescrew Bill’s and forgetting about all this walking nonsense…optional.

They’re saying…

”There are so many interesting things right here in our backyard. Thanks for sharing them! Keep up the great work!” Gerry Deemter.

More urban outings…
Bow River Loop + Inglewood & Ramsay.
Urban Trek: 17th Ave SE.
Calgary’s Best Walks #20 (sorta).

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

Date of adventure: December, 2019.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Distance: 13km.
Height gain maximum: 50m.
Height gain cumulative: 250m-ish.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports.

It begins!

A great view of the city up here.

In River Park now.

So delicate, so fleeting.

A fine day for a walk.

It’s the little things.

Soon to enter the neighbourhood of Elbow Park.

Along Sifton Boulevard.

The day was cool and crirsp.

The Holy Bird House.

A good workout here.

Elbow Park Toboggan Hill.

Creepy Santa sees you when you’re sleeping…

So many green spaces in Calgary.

Lots of fine old houses along this route.

The old Tivoli.

Resist the temptation.

It’s the rule.

We don’t have a gambling problem!

At Central Memorial Park.

Love old signage.

Into Bill’s to honour an old friend.

It was out of service, sadly.

Old #7.

A former train station.

At Holy Cross.

Up and down all day.

On a quiet street.

A very old sidewalk (1912 or 13).

We have so many strange rituals.

Daydreaming at the Elbow.

That’s one heck of a burl.

A very un-city like setting.

It worked!

Heading down Britannia Slopes.

Crossing over one last time.

One crazy route – star = start.