Calgary has an extensive pathway system and this urban trek makes use of the section running alongside the Elbow River. The adventure begins at the Glenmore Dam, winds its way north and heads into the community of Mission on the edge of downtown. The river is always in view or otherwise close by and most of time, the pathway runs though parkland or greenbelts. A few sections make use of city sidewalks, however, but only for short sections.
You start high up on an escarpment and then drop down to river level. If one desires they could go all the way into downtown, but in our case, some nagging health issues (Connie and her chronic muscle cramping) nixed that plan. We did it on a cold, cold winter’s day and in spite of the chill, this foreshortened outing was still a blast.
Calgary Elbow River Pathways: an in-the-city hike on a cold and crisp day. By Chris and Connie.
Start off by the dam. There’s a little parking spot on 14th Street where it dead-ends, (marked Glenmore Bridge Road SW on Google Maps) and that’s just north of Glenmore Trail. You can only approach it off 14th street northbound and the turn off at the cloverleaf is not so obvious.
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A continuation of 14th Street once continued across the Glenmore Dam and on the other side it met up with 56th Avenue. You could drive it once (one way alternating, we think) and this arrangement ended in the 1970s. Now the old road is part of the pathway system.
The dam dates to the early 1930s and the resultant lake used recreationally – boating and fishing – and it also helps supply Calgary’s water needs. Glenmore Park almost surrounds the Glenmore Reservoir and it’s a wonderful greenspace.
Cross the dam and to the left enjoy views of the reservoir, frozen from the deep freeze and featureless on our visit due to fresh fallen snow. To the right, the Elbow River is far below and from here it continues on to downtown Calgary where it meets the Bow River.
You can easily see downtown from this vantage point and it’s actually not that far away as the crow flies. However, due to the winding nature of the river, which the pathway follows, it’s still many, many clicks distant.
Once across, take the first pathway turning right and it takes a line atop an escarpment beside the water treatment plant. There’s some nice viewpoints here, looking up or downstream. That’s the Calgary Golf and Country Club below – established well over a century ago and quite exclusive. You’ll never see the Biggart and Doering names on the member’s lists.
At the dog park (50th Avenue) turn right and take the pathway heading down to river level. Enter Sandy Beach Park (picnic sites, playgrounds, walking paths) and soon after cross over the Elbow River on a pedestrian bridge. This structure replaced a much older, and narrower bridge destroyed during the 2013 floods.
Come to a natural area, pass a small dog park and enter the affluent community of Britannia. Lots of grand old houses here and fine cars. We feel so out of place. Continue along Riverdale Avenue – look for the big tree burl (it’s a huge deformation) and now back on the pathway duck under Elbow Drive. The bridge in places looks in bad shape from below and soon after enter Stanley Park.
This makes a good lunch stop, if you’re so inclined, and if not continue on. To say this day was a chilly one would be an incredible understatement, and it hovered in the -23c range the entire trip. No real windchill, thank goodness, but an otherwise biting cold. Nothing beats hot homemade broth and soon we were oblivious the sub-zero temperatures.
Back in motion, keep to the pathway close to the river. Across is the exclusive neighbourhood of Elbow Park – we step foot in there and the cops won’t be far behind. A steep slope rises to the right.
Enter the community of Rideau Park and soon after cross over the Elbow River again on the Rideau Pedestrian Bridge. Then, come to James Woods Park and turn right. “JH Woods Park is named after Col. James H. Woods who donated the land for use as a park in the 1920s.” – City of Calgary Parks. The pathway keeps between the river and busy Elbow Drive.
Enter the community of Mission and as before keep close to the Elbow. The neighbourhood has French (Quebec) roots and it’s reflected in the bilingual street signs seen here. Stop, Arrêt or both – Calgarians will still run them. Long ago the community was once it’s own town separate from Calgary (as the Village of Rouleauville) and that legacy in some ways remains. It’s close to downtown, but has its own distinct identity.
Pass 4th Street bridge (getting some work done on our visit) and then bend left with the river.
In behind some apartment blocks, come to 25th Avenue, cross over on a road bridge, and take to the pathway on the east side (heading north). It’s shoehorned between the river the a wall of condo blocks. Check out this Then and Now shot here: Crossley Slides: A Corner in Erlton.
Somewhere along here, back when we were kids, there was a big tree here with an attached rope swing for launching one’s self into the river. Every kid in Calgary knew of it back then and on a summer weekend it could be a busy spot. You’d see friends and school mates here all the time. The Elbow is usually pretty shallow, but thanks to an eddy in the river, a deep swimming hole developed here over time.
The tree is no longer standing – perhaps it’s that one half rotted logs on the river bank – and now it’s only a memory.
Enter Lindsay Park (once a railway yard) and where the river bends right, head up to the old train bridge. Cross over the Elbow River one last time and come to the former Canadian National Railways Station. The building dates back to 1905 and functioned as St Mary’s Church Parish Hall until 1911, when acquired by the Canadian Northern Railway for its newly built line into Calgary.
In about 1920 Canadian National took over and used the station into the early 1970s (even if the tracks remained in place for some time after). The building stood abandoned for a time, but since the 1980s a ballet company has occupied the space. The station, in an abandoned state, appears in the 1976 train-themed thriller Silver Streak with Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. Just had to add that.
After exploring the old station, and perhaps taking a look at St Mary’s Cathedral next door, continue back the way you came. In our case, Connie’s cramping had flared up badly by this point, so we used transit on the return leg. This got us close to our car.
You could also head back to Lindsay Park and following the Elbow River Pathway into downtown, if you so desired. That was in fact our original plan, with the bus trip back, but sometimes things don’t work out. This would add perhaps a few kilometres more, but it’s up to you.
We hope you enjoyed this outing and we sure did. Even in spite of the bitter cold and those cursed health issues. There’s a nice variety of things to see, it’s a good walk and there’s a bit of history to take in. Till next time…
“These two are amazing!! I love following their adventures and the photography is…jaw dropping. Enjoy your working vacation, Chris and Connie!!…” Dayna Kent. (this job really is like a vacation).
If you wish more information about this adventure or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!
Date of adventure: January, 2025. Location: Calgary, Alberta. Distance: 8.5km one way. Height gain maximum: 40m. Height gain cumulative: 80m. NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own). Reference: City of Calgary.
Second Street West in Munson Alberta ~100 years apart (pre1920 & 2017). Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path.
BIGDoer-mobile photobomb! We miss that old Jeep...I mean Chevy. - The Then photo is from an old postcard. - Munson dates to 1910s & was founded with the coming of the Canadian Northern Railway. - 2nd Street here was at the edge of town back then & it's the same today. - If you know of an old photo (your own or public domain) that should get the BIGDoer Then & Now treatment, send it our way.
Be sure to cheer on the Team & make some noise in the comments! We can't function without your encouragement or your kind gifts (see the comments). _______
17.5km completed is cause for celebration!🥂 It's the first long distance hike in years that didn't almost kill Connie.
Since her battle with Breast Cancer, she's struggled to keep mobile, but finally there's a light at the end of the tunnel. After all the tests and doctor visits, it wasn't the post Cancer therapy or medication as thought, but a previously undiagnosed limb length discrepancy. A bit of physio & a shoe-lift is all that was needed.
She circled the Glenmore Reservoir like she owned it & now we can hear the mountains calling again. Look out Kananaskis, we're coming this summer.
The lonely Howe House out in the Special Areas of Alberta & it's been empty for over 75 years.
- It dates from the late 1920s (front step reads 1929) & was abandoned after only a couple decades. - The Howes raised 6 kids here. - It's in an inhospitable & sparsely populated section of Alberta. Then as now. - Their nearest neighbours were over the horizon. - That single tree is only one for kilometres around. - Photos are from 2016.
The floating trains of Slocan Lake, Rosebery BC early 1950s from the Crossley Slides (unrestored).
- The Canadian Pacific used barges to serve an isolated branch from Rosebery to Nakusp. - Remarkably this lasted into the late 1980s. - A similar service operated on Kootenay Lake. - Barges came from down lake in Slocan City & a connection with the CPR's contiguous network. - That's probably the tug Rosebery, which was retired not long after this photo capture. - The Nakusp area seemed to have a hold on Crossley & there's many photos from around there in the collection. Stay tuned!
An interesting scene in Calgary Bankview ca1920s & the same house in back today. 🏡 Who knows where time goes.
- It's a grand house & hasn't changed much! - Were not sure where the other house being moved came from or where it's going. - We searched high & low, but have yet to find it. It may be gone now, but we'll keep on it & post it here if discovered. - Those horses have quite the job ahead of them - Bankview is hilly!
Be sure to cheer on the Team & make some noise in the comments! Photo credit: University of Calgary. _______
(2024) The grain elevator in little Coderre Saskatchewan at 100 years old. Who knows where the time goes.
- Built in 1924 for Saskatchewan Co-operative Elevator Co. - A couple years later that firm was folded in the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. - Closed in 1990, just after the rail line was pulled up - It was used as a seed cleaning plant for a time after, but is now empty. - There used to be three other grain elevators here in Coderre. - It was standard practice to place the town's name on side of each grain elevator - you always knew where you were. - This photo was captured while scouting out the Coderre Hotel for the Beer Parlour Project but we failed to convince them.😔
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