McKinnon Flats is a recreational area down by the Bow River and a little southeast of Calgary. More than anything it’s a launching point for personal watercraft, but there’s trails to walk or bike as well. Nice place for a picnic too, or to take in nature.
The access road is closed to vehicles in the off season but you can explore McKinnon Flats on foot (or two wheeler) all year long. We did it late in the fall and with very few people about. No snow surprisingly, but crisp and cool. With everything covered in a delicate hoarfrost, it was beautiful and that made it all the better.
McKinnon Flats Perimeter Loop: drop down to the Bow River and back up again. Having fun hiking with Chris and Connie.
It seems there’s a number of interconnecting trails here and they can be pieced together to make a big loop. It’s all dirt singletrack and perhaps the best pace to begin is up high above the river.
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The trail keeps to the top of the valley for a while, then drops down to the treed flats and then back up again. There’s nice scenery and lots of solitude. Along the way there’s interesting rock formations and remains of an old homestead to explore.
It begins off Range #274 – just drive south and you’ll hit McKinnon Flats. It’s at the very end of the road and where pavement turns to gravel there’s a place to park. Walk down the access road a bit and just beyond the entrance gate trails head off both left and right. Ahead, the road bend left and descends down into the valley.
We choose to do this loop anti-clockwise and so went right here, but it makes no difference.
The trail continues through the grass and in places it’s waist high. There’s cultivated fields to your right and to the left, the land slopes away down to McKinnon Flats. Continue on, admiring the view below of the Bow River Valley and it’s cut a deep scar across the prairie here. Listen to the birds and feel the gentle breeze.
Pass under the power lines and soon after the trail makes a hard left and almost doubles back on itself. The descent begins but it’s easy going. In places the slope drops off steeply to the right so don’t trip or fall off your bike here. If icy, it could be a nasty stretch.
There’s several offshoot trails, but keep to the highest one which will eventually get you above the rock formations. Pass the remains of several fences, and these are connected to the homestead spoken of earlier. There’s more interesting remains to come.
Drop down to hoodoo like formations of sandstone and wander about. These were sculpted by time and the elements – it’s all pretty and geologically fascinating too.
Descend further and follow a trail down to the river. This waterway starts in the Rockies, passes through Calgary along the way and then joins up with the Oldman River in Southern Alberta. At that confluence they become the South Saskatchewan River. The fishing’s good on the Bow and it’s used a lot for recreation.
A side-channel makes a nice lunch or rest spot. This area along the river’s edge was the site of an archaeological dig a few years back. “As a result of the 2013 flood…a ten metre strip from the front of the site’s river terrace was removed, leaving a 400 metre exposure in the river bank that contained cultural evidence.” – Albertashistoricplaces.com.
They found bison bones and fire pit remains, among other things. These flats were a nice sheltered spot to set up camp and probably used often.
At the parking lot and boat launch, turn left onto the road and follow it for a bit. But first, spin back towards the river and take in the view. Where as the north side of the valley (here) is grassy, the south slope seen across the Bow is heavily forested and the terrain quite a bit steeper.
Just before the road bends left and begins heading up, turn right onto the trail. In moments pass the remains of the McKinnon’s LK Ranch. There’s an old tractor here and the stone foundation of a barn. An orderly line of shrubs mark the location of the farm house.
The ranch dates to the 1890s but the buildings once located here were a few years newer. While the property has been used for recreation since the 1980s, this group of buildings stood until recently. Fire did in some of them.
The old tractor used to be hidden away in the bush, but was put on display close to the homestead site. Take time to explore and imagine what used to be.
The McKinnon’s had extensive land holdings and raised 13 kids in their spare time.
The trail starts climbing but never too steeply. There’s a couple others branching off to the left (up) but keep to the lowest one if you went to follow our route. Once a little higher, look back to old homestead site and you’ll know why the McKinnon’s settled here. It’s gorgeous down there among cottonwoods and so peaceful.
The slopes along here are a mix of natural grass and with occasional shrubbery. At a draw turn left and head up. A trail continues straight on along the slope, but it must dead end later. Once at the top, the trail bends left (west) and like earlier, keeps to the valley lip next to cultivated land. Rocks removed from those fields are piled near the trail in places.
Stroll along in the deep grass and look down at the river below. It’s just so nice…and near the city yet. The trail soon arrives back at the access road, and from here it’s a short stroll back to the car. It’s a pleasant little hike (first time for us) with some nice scenery. We really enjoyed our time here and hope you do too.
If you wish more information about this adventure or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!
Date of adventure: November, 2024. Location: McKinnon Flats (SE of Calgary). Distance: 8km loop. Height gain maximum: 90m. Height gain cumulative: 130m. NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own).
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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