Cochrane Pathways: Glenbow – Riversong

Here’s a couple interconnected loops in the Cochrane Pathways system and they make for a nice in-town hike. There’s lots of variety and this includes a couple pleasant stretches along the Bow River. The terrain is easy going, with the trail mostly passing through green spaces and parks, plus a few stretches beside roadways. The trail’s sometimes gravel and other times pavement.

The big parking lot off West Rock Road, west of the Cowboy Trail (Highway #22) and a bit north of the Bow makes a good starting point. Head north, cross the road, and enter the off-leash park. Connie is some kind of pooch-magnet and we’re soon followed by a large pack, all happily yelping while completely ignoring calls from their handlers. Cows always seem to come to her too, but we’re getting off track here.

Cross Highway 22 at the lights and proceed north on the pathway. It meets up with the Canadian Pacific Railway’s transcontinental mainline, then bends right and parallels the tracks. On coming to Big Hill Creek, turn right again and enter a long linear natural area surrounded by homes of the Glenbow Neighbourhood.

The trail proceeding left ducks under the tracks and enters Cochrane Ranche. Our wish for a train to show was granted and being amazingly-long, it took quite some time to pass. Not that we see it as a bad thing, but if you’re waiting at a crossing in downtown Cochrane, it sucks.

The trail keeps close to the creek, bridges it couple times and there’s a couple road crossings along this stretch to be mindful of. There’s playgrounds, picnic areas and wooded groves here where one can slow down and relax amid nature.

Enter Riverfront Park on coming to Griffin Road and pass under using a walkway built over Big Hill Creek. Continue on through woods for a short distance, then turn left and cross over the creek. The trail straight and heading down towards the Bow River, will be used a return leg of this hike.

For the next couple clicks the path keeps close to the river. The far bank is high, steep and heavily wooded, where as on this side, in contrast, it’s near river level for the most part, flat and backed onto by a residential neighbourhood. There’s plenty of good lunch spots along this stretch and benches to rest upon.

At River Avenue, turn right and cross the Bow on the old bridge. While open to road traffic, the road on the far side soon dead-ends and sees few cars. It was an important vehicle crossing in the old days, but when bypassed not really needed much anymore. The structure is almost a century old, is of a rare Pennsylvania Truss design and made by the storied Dominion Bridge company at their plant in Winnipeg Manitoba. The builder’s plate is still there and the structure something amazing in our eyes.

Dominion built hundreds of spans similar to this one, for use across the prairies and many are still in use on secondary roads and the like. One day, we’re going to have to do a Bridge Hunting piece on this one.

Take the paved pathway going left and follow it between a row of houses (in the very new neighbourhood of Riviera) and the Bow River once again. At an opening between homes at just over one km in, turn right and cross Riviera Way, then follow it up for a time. This is the only real elevation of the day, but it’s nothing much and a fairly gentle grade. You’re in the Riversong Neighbourhood now, and on our visit in 2021 (yes, we’re behind in posting), many homes were still under construction or some not yet even built. Take a left on the pathway running beside Bow Bend Way and point north.

Look at all the earth being moved over there and by the time you read this, some new neighbourhoods are likely to have been started on the right side of the road. Only a few years ago, this was cow pasture and wooded slopes.

They’re certainly making these communities more pedestrian friendly, but Cochrane sure ain’t the quaint little village it used to be and instead a booming Calgary bedroom community. The place is booming and perhaps all that charm will be lost.

All the elevation you just gained will be lost as the path makes its way back down to the Bow River. Cross Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge, opened in 2020, and then continue south on the pathway.

Enter another dog park (Rover and Spot found us again) and follow the river upstream as it bends west. There’s no Bolers in the Bow River’s Edge Campground that backs on to the trail and damn, we had so much hope. Pass the old bridge (leaving the doggies behind), and follow the route in that was used earlier. After crossing Big Hill Creek, go left and keep close to the Bow.

A gravel flat under the Highway #22 Bridge is used a boat launch and plenty busy on our visit. A few hundreds metres on, point uphill and arrive at the parking lot where it all started.

In spite of coming in at fourteen kilometres we swear this trek was shorter, but we double checked and sure enough the GPS was right. That it’s mostly flat in nature I guess skewed our perception. We had a blast and saw some nice scenery. We spotted a Boler in the wild and witnessed a passing train. Then we drank a little wine, ate a little cheese and marvelled at a really old bridge.

Overall it was a fantastic day and that’s a great feeling.

Know more (new tab): Cochrane Alberta Pathways and Bow River Cochrane Alberta.

They’re saying…

”Well written and well researched. You feel part of the adventure!” David Fionn Clarke.

More fun and good times like this…
Town Walks: Claresholm Alberta.
Turner Valley – Black Diamond.
Vulcan Alberta “Trek”.

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: June, 2021.
Location: Cochrane, AB.
Distance: 14km total and with two interconnected loops.
Height gain maximum: 60m.
Height gain cumulative: 100m.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own).

It begins…

In the Glenbow neighbourhood.

Relics from another era down by the CPR mainline.

Ducking under the tracks for a look.

Mid-train of a real long one.

Paralleling Big Hill Creek.

There it is.

A little interpretive signage.

Into Riverfront Park.

The creek flows underneath.

Along the mighty Bow.

Oak trees are not common in Alberta.

Lunch with wine in a pleasant setting.

Made by Dominion Bridge Winnipeg long ago.

It mostly sees foot traffic now.

Memorial to a loved one?

In Riviera, a very new neighbourhood.

In Riversong: Boler!

Flower time.

On Jack Tennant Memorial Bridge opened in 2020.

On the north side of the river now and in the doggie park.

The bridge crossed earlier.

Wolfwillow grows well along river banks.

Under Highway #22.

Cochrane Pathways: Glenbow – Riversong.