Okotoks Loop

Here’s a fun town-hike to consider. We’re in the community of Okotoks Alberta, taking in a big loop through parks and green spaces, quiet wooded areas and busy streets. For those into history, there’s a number of heritage buildings along the way to see and overall it was for us a most enjoyable outing. Hope the same for you. Our secret: slow it down, look around, be curious and with each step magically watch the day’s troubles go bye-bye. Epic this or that is great, but don’t forget the little things.

Park at the Lions Campground just south of downtown, head north past a playground and on hitting the Sheep River Pathway, turn right. A network of paved trails will be yours for the next few clicks and that they’re cleared of snow in the winter, sure is nice. Come to a footbridge and on crossing over, turn right on the Heritage Pathway. Parallel the river for a time, frozen solid and displaying a welcome hint of colour on our visit, on what was otherwise a horribly drab day (mostly). Soon after you’re in the trees and it’s here we found Love and Joy.

Winding this way and that, come to a train bridge. We’re into to stuff like this and so doddle here a bit more than we should. It’s an old hunk of metal (maybe a century or so in age), and we could drone on and on about the engineering aspects, but then we’d get nothing else done. We hoped for a train to show, but of course, none did. We could sit next to the tracks for a whole day and see not one, then ten minutes after leaving, the Royal Canadian Pacific Heritage Train would pass.

Welcome to stinky-town! Pick up the pace on passing the sewage treatment plant, cross under a busy road, then exhale on coming to Riverside Park. Go left and meet up with North Railway Street, where you turn left again. Pass by Seaman Stadium, then for the next bit it’s commercial and industrial blocks. Not much to see here, but it’ll soon be behind you.

The road does a sharp bend north, then gently arcs left. You’re close to the the train tracks here – still nothing though. Being a secondary line it’s not super busy, this stretch of track.

Enter a residential area and not long after come to a nice group of historic buildings. There’s the old post office and a fine brick structure with some vintage signage on one wall. Across the street, it’s the CPR train station, now an art gallery. If you’re into old movies (or ones with a railway theme), look for it in the film Silver Streak. In one scene Gene Wilder’s character is seen sprinting to catch the train, with it as a backdrop. Next door, it’s the town’s museum, a place, oddly, we’ve never been in.

You’re still on North Railway. Just past the Town Square where the road bends left it changes to Elizabeth Street and this announces your arrival in downtown. There’s an interesting mix of buildings here, old and new and maybe some window shopping to do. On these urban hikes we often like to have lunch at a local eatery verses bringing our own chow. You know, in support of the economy. With Mr Spud closed, our planned stop (so not planned all that well), we had to search out other choices. There’s many options here in downtown, so that was no problem (this was pre-Covid). So wanted a bowl of Wor Wonton but a steak sandwich will do too.

Then it’s more stores and boutiques.

Coming to Northridge Drive turn left on the far side and in quick succession cross the tracks then the Sheep River again. Interestingly Northridge becomes Southridge once on the other side. Mid-bridge a wind blows down the river and for a moment of two, we’re near frozen. It was a “balmy” -15c-ish this day, so no big deal, but we swear it dropped to double that or more here. Brrrr. Once back in the trees on the far bank, it was fine again. Hit the Sheep River Pathway and head west. Looking up, it’s a strange question mark-looking cloud, that hung around for an oddly long time. It’s a sign. I swear.

Come to junction then turn right into the woods, perhaps the most serine section yet. There’s something about being with nature that’s so calming. Stay on this track as it loops around and on doubling back upon itself it enters a residential area. Lots of new houses here, the land not long ago, someone’s pasture. We found old fence lines and stuff in the trees. We pause and watch some kids playing hockey…it’s a breakaway! The crowd goes wild. I think they’d have a chance pitted against the Oilers.

Back on the Sheep River Pathway again, but now heading east, in a click or so you’re back to where you started. No, it’s over. It’s not a bad little walk. Got in some good exercise and saw lots of interesting things. We always have a good time and love to share the experience.

There’s more city walks and wilderness hikes coming down the line. Stay tuned.

They’re saying…

”Love the variety and always look forward to seeing the places they visit.” Brian Brandon – River City Classics and Eamon’s Garage.

Similar but different…
Okotoks Pathways – Sheep River Valley Loop.

More like this…
Turner Valley – Black Diamond.
Vulcan Alberta “Trek”.
High River Loop.

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

Date of adventure: December, 2019.
Location: Okotoks, AB.
Distance: 12km.
Height gain maximum: Literally nothing – well a wee bit near the end.
Height gain cumulative: See above.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports.

On your mark. Get set. Go!

Over the Sheep.

From a single block of wood.

A hint of colour.

The world could use a little more.

And choose Joy.

Charlie Brown would be proud.

Winding this way and that.

Strolling along.

The little details.

Goodness, it’s so dull and overcast.

Because we’re into bridges, a second shot.

All quiet at the fitness park.

Just random stuff.

Then all of sudden, blue skies!

Love the old signage.

Look for it in Silver Streak.

Long ago, the town’s Post Office.

Okotoks Museum & Archives.

This is horse country.

Cheap, yummy eats & friendly service, but closed.

The Stockton Block.

About to leave downtown.

It’s almost totally frozen.

A strange question mark looking cloud.

Back in the woods.

Passing a kid’s playground.

How your little doggie views the world.

A breakaway!

Wishing it’d never end.

Twelve glorious clicks of fun – star= start.