Park Rides

Submitted by Kaldrin on

Hey all,

Back after the winter and several months out of the country. I've only been back in the saddle for a few weeks, but I've been going around the parks around town. I didn't know anything about Fish Creek park and went on a hunch when I spotted people riding there. I enjoyed the ride quite a bit. There's a bit of hills if that's your taste, a lot of flat paved paths and great scenery too. I rather liked the experience.

So, what other park rides are fun for the family? Aside from Memorial along the river, that's really the only nice path set up I've been on this year.

Forums: 

you can try a book called

Submitted by M100 on

you can try a book called Calgary's best bike rides and pathways by Lori Beattie. or other similar Calgary based books found in Local section at bookstores. they have all routes, maps, descriptions within.

glenmore reservoir loop

Submitted by critninja on

i am a big fan of this ride. basically, a loop around the reservoir. great ride, a few hills but really nice.

i also like riding along the bow from edworthy east to the bird sanctuary and back. easy ride, very nice.

Thumbs up

Submitted by scottmeyers on

Huge fan of the Glenmore resevoir loop. When I lived down town I would do that ride at least once a week. Now it is a good excuse to get back to the south and ride with friends.

If you like watching the

Submitted by scottmeyers on

If you like watching the planes fly over head check out west nose creek park. It is actually quite a nice setting with the exception of the air traffic unless that doesn't bother you. In fact ride the nose creek path system from the zoo all of the way north to West Nose Creek. It's not a bad little ride either.

irrigation canal pathway

Submitted by ride on

Another good ride is the irrigation canal pathway. You can start at the weir, cross over Deerfoot on the ped bridge, then ride all the way to Chestermere if you want. If you want to avoid the in-town part, park just off Glenmore Trail where it crosses the railway tracks east of Deerfoot, and you will soon find the pathway nearby. It's a nice open-sky feeling all the way to Chestermere.

Poplar roots

Submitted by Oggie on

Agree that the path is full of bumps, especially north of Glenmore Trail. Does not make for an enjoyable or fast ride.

Most bumps are from poplar roots buckling the asphalt because they didn't install a root barrier when building the pathway.

Not for road bikes

Submitted by PedalFaster on

Gee, I guess all you road bike speedsters just won't be able to bomb down that section of pathway. Too bad. The path beside the Elbow River is like that too but not much of a problem if you are going at a reasonable speed, kind of like pathways are meant for...?

Somebody is a little

Submitted by Oggie on

Somebody is a little cranky.

Nobody said anything about roadbikes or speed - I don't even own a roadbike. I merely stated that the section of pathway in question is in poor condition, as have others, and would not make for a pleasant bike ride at any speed.

Tired of pathway bitching

Submitted by PedalFaster on

Nick Motown said:

"I rode it a few years ago and got pretty tired of jumping my road bike or slowing down every 50 metres."

Clearly a roadbike reference.

While Oggie said:

"Agree that the path is full of bumps, especially north of Glenmore Trail. Does not make for an enjoyable or fast ride"

So in fact somebody did say something about speed... you.

Cranky, yes, because I hear more whining on this site about all the other pathway users, the bad conditions, the inability to go fast or navigate easily, and on and on about this shared resource of which we are just a small part. I honestly think people riding road bikes (or any other bike) at high speeds on the pathway is just as guilty and dangerous as drivers speeding on our roads. Perhaps I sound high and mighty for wishing people would follow the rules?

Getting pretty tired of pathway speedsters and bullies complaining about their inability to go fast, get to work easily, or get their daily workout on a pathway system that was never really intended for any of this.

Wish people would take to the roads safely, ride respectfully, take responsibility, and for goodness sake stop complaining about not having your own private paved highway to use. We have a fantastic road system with laws in place that define our ability to use them safely and rightfully. How wonderful it would be if all the complaining pathway cyclists would concentrate on this great paved paradise that we all pay taxes for (in much greater proportion than we do for pathways) and start advocating for it and using it instead of trying to take over a space that was never intended for (most of) the uses that you are all complaining about. I have yet to hear someone on this forum complain that the pathway system does not provide a nice place for a leisurely ride on any kind of bike, or that if they are riding under the speed limit that there is any real problem with obstacles or other users.

Talk about high and mighty. I'm looking for all you pathway complainers to get off your high horses and ride the roads for a bit. It isn't as dangerous or difficult as all that and, from the sounds of all the complaints about close calls and difficulties on the pathways, I wonder if it isn't the cyclists that the problem and not everyone else.

Have said as much publicly and put my name and face to it too.

+1 on all counts

Submitted by mike runs on

Agree completely.

I get tired of the negativity. IMHO we have one of the best systems of off-road pathways anywhere yet there are so many complaints about how its not built for speed or doesn't go directly where the user wants or there are runners or (gasp) children using it.

Could it be better - yes, of course. And our on-road system needs improvements. But I consider myself pretty fortunate to have what we already have.

I agree that speed doesn't

Submitted by Kaldrin on

I agree that speed doesn't have a place on a pathway that pedestrians also use, but shoddy workmanship has no excuse. Two inch bumps are literally a pain in the ass for me since I have a rigid frame and no suspension. I'd hate to ride standing up 60km...

High and mighty? I made a

Submitted by nick motown on

High and mighty? I made a comment about path conditions from a few years ago and you break out your plastic Sheriff of the Paths badge!

If you want to quit reading about negativity about Calgary's pathways, don't listen to what riders other than yourself have to say. I heard a good saying once, "Not everything you think is right." I may not be right, but given the number of complaints, isn't it just a wee bit possible you could be wrong on path conditions?

Have a beer and chill out or run for mayor.

Complaints are Justified

Submitted by bclark on

If people are complaining about the pathway conditions then there’s probably a valid reason. I don’t think most people are saying they want to break out the time-trial bike and sprint to downtown at 50 or 60km/h though. I think what they are saying is that they want something wide enough and straight enough that it can accommodate multi-users safely without bumps and holes every few hundred meters (as on some sections). Ride the roads? Yeah, okay, there’s definitely some roads out there that are relatively safe but if my choice is to sit in with traffic on my bike between Edworthy and Downtown on Memorial Drive or ride the pathway then I’ll choose the pathway: (a) because it’s safer, (b) because I’m not going to frustrate any drivers and (c) because then I don’t have to inhale as much noxious gas. Honestly, if people are complaining about the pathways so much it’s probably because the City isn’t really demonstrating much progress in accommodating the increase in pathway usage over the past 10 or so years. There is room for improvement and all user groups should be pushing for it.

hawkwood area

Submitted by mikewarren on

There is a nice path in a former coulee east of Nose Hill (some of it in Hawkwood). You can get from the north side of nosehill (e.g. country hills and shaganappi) to the south side. You can also get from past the north end of 14th street into this area via a tunnel under Country Hills.

As a weird bonus, you get to see giant bronze bunnies. From the Hawkwood side you can link into Nose Hill (now paved everywhere) or continue south (not really on paths).

mike at mike dash warren dot com

FCP as well

Submitted by crazycga on

My wife and I have ridden FCP quite a bit, and had some very close encounters with wildlife. She even made contact with a deer. The only problem with FCP is that with the sheer volume of people in it (Shannon Terrace side to Votier Flats is where I'm referring to) the wildlife can get spooked while you're watching it. It's a pretty area, for sure.

Wildlife

Submitted by mike runs on

For deer, Fish Creek Park.

For ducks and geese, anywhere near water. Anywhere the rivers are slow-moving, or the ponds on Princes Island or Carburn Park. As mentioned above, the little ones aren't very little right now.

For pelicans, near the weir.

I frequently see ringneck pheasants in Fish Creek Park, especially near Acadia.

Edgemont Ravines

Submitted by Oggie on

The ravines in Edgemont are another nice place to watch wildlife and includes a nice pathway system.

Bridlewood wetland in the deep south is a great place to watch waterfowl, frogs, etc. The ride to the wetland isn't the greatest though.

the weir

Submitted by ride on

At certain times of the year, the weir on the Bow River in Inglewood is a great place to go, as you can see an entire flock of pelicans there, trying to catch fish that get caught up in the weir's death roller.

yepers them ducklings sure

Submitted by M100 on

yepers them ducklings sure do grow up fast. (is it within a matter of weeks they go from fuzzy yellow to feathery brown?)

is there also waterfowl at harvest hills lake or country hills village (pond/lake?). where might be more exotic waterfowl birds be found? goldeneyes?

is there also a natural diet

Submitted by M100 on

is there also a natural diet you can feed them? (certain grasses or snack type grains?) just lil somethin for everybody.
are there feed stores here in Calgary that sell?

think they should also have a no feeding ducks sign on other side of Eau Claire, as lots people don't seem to know. (giving them bread; man made foods)

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