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Compiled by the Highway Journey Alberta crew
Final up to date on October 23, 2023
As one of many largest city parks in North America, Fish Creek Provincial Park stretches 20km on the south finish of Calgary, Alberta. It’s shut sufficient to town to expertise close by points of interest but additionally gives a dose of nature for these trying to escape the hustle and bustle of town. Inside shut proximity to town heart, Fish Creek Provincial Park is much like Edmonton’s River Valley Park; offering urbanites with quick access to an expansive outside park that includes miles of climbing and biking trails, water, and wildlife.
Fish Creek Provincial Park affords alternatives for leisure actions year-round, all throughout the Calgary metropolis limits! Learn on to search out out extra about Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that the land that Fish Creek Provincial Park sits on is the standard territories of the Blackfoot Confederacy, together with Siksika, Kainai, Piikani, the Tsuut’ina, the Îyâxe Nakoda Nations, the Métis Nation (Area 3), and all individuals who make their houses within the Treaty 7 area of Southern Alberta.
About Fish Creek Provincial Park
Don’t let the city location idiot you, this slice of heaven is an oasis, being the second largest city park in Canada, it’s a spacious park filled with trails and a big artifical lake for swimming. Fish Creek flows all through the size of the park, becoming a member of the Bow River on the east aspect. With greater than 100 km of each paved and unpaved trails, the park is a well-liked spot for a plethora of out of doors actions, together with, climbing and biking, picnicking, swimming, fishing, and wildlife viewing.
Services on the park embody a customer heart, an environmental studying heart, picnic shelters, group day-use areas, a restaurant, concession stands, Sikome Lake, a ship launch on the Bow River, and a golf course shut is shut by for these . Swimming is permitted at Sikome Lake, and fishing is permitted in Fish Creek and the Bow River.
There’s a customer centre with a wheelchair-accessible entrance onsite offering info and interpretive packages. Remember the fact that the park is a day-use space, so there isn’t any tenting allowed. Moreover, off-highway autos (OHV), horses and equestrian driving are additionally prohibited.
Getting To Fish Creek Provincial Park
By Automotive
There are such a lot of entry factors to Fish Creek Provincial Park within the south finish of Calgary, and every with a spacious car parking zone to make the most of. Maybe the best entry to the park can be through Macleod Path, because it goes straight by the center of it and is near extra of the paths and wilderness. Nonetheless, it doesn’t present entry to facilities just like the customer centre or Sikome Aquatic Facility, which each require entry through Bow Backside Path SE.
To get to the customer centre from Macleod Path, exit onto Canyon Meadows Drive SE, which might then lead straight to the favored bird-watching web site of Mallard Level, or flip off onto Bow Backside Path SE and head south till you see indicators for the customer centre on the right-hand aspect.
By Public Transit
Entry to Fish Creek Provincial Park is kind of simple because it’s throughout the metropolis of Calgary! If driving your self will not be an choice, town’s speedy transit system has a cease very near the park. In reality, the station is within the identify: Fish Creek–Lacombe station (additionally generally referred to as simply Fish Creek LRT station).
The station is positioned within the southwest quadrant of town by the residential neighbourhood of Shawnee Slopes. The station is west of MacLeod Path and simply to the north of James McKevitt Highway. On the south finish of the station, there’s a park-and-ride car parking zone in addition to a pedestrian overpass that conveniently connects to Fish Creek Provincial Park.
Fish Creek Provincial Park Customer Centre
Bow Valley Ranche Customer Centre at Fish Creek Provincial Park is open 5 days every week year-round (closed Saturdays & Sundays).
The constructing itself is wheelchair accessible and surrounded by paved pathways splendid for guests in wheelchairs or utilizing strollers, in addition to paved parking heaps. Bow Valley Ranch Customer Centre homes an info kiosk manned by Alberta Parks staff offering info and main instructional packages and occasions. Moreover, the customer centre has a theatre and exhibit space, washrooms with flush bogs, a water fountain, and a pay cellphone.
Fish Creek Environmental Studying Centre
The Fish Creek Environmental Studying Centre is an onsite facility for college students and personal teams to interact with Alberta Parks workers and be educated concerning the surrounding pure park. Using 5 school rooms, an amphitheatre, and shut entry factors to close by trails and pathways, the character college hosts college students in science schooling from Calgary and space faculties.
Though there isn’t any public entry whereas education schemes are occurring, the power is open to the general public for quite a lot of scheduled shows and occasions or accessible to hire when the house is out there.
Issues To Do At Fish Creek Provincial Park within the Summer time
Wildlife Watching
A lot of Fish Creek Provincial Park is forested with old-growth bushes and is house to quite a lot of pure wildlife, together with deer, coyotes, owls, and beavers, in addition to snakes and frogs. Greater than 200 hen species have been seen within the park, together with nice blue herons which might be interested in the river.
Whilst you plan to take time to meander all through the quite a few paved and unpaved pathways (there actually are so many trails!) within the park, be sure you additionally turn into aware of Alberta Parks wildlife security suggestions beforehand.
Mountain climbing Trails
Fish Creek Provincial Park has greater than 80 km of pathways – 30 km paved and 50 km of shale so the exploring alternatives are infinite! This map is a superb useful resource to search out the right route for you. Some areas have been closed to encourage pure vegetation and reclamation, so it’s crucial to remain on the marked trails.
A number of the hottest spots embody:
Shannon Terrace
Shannon Terrace Mountain climbing Path is a nature lover’s paradise, characterised by a woodsy ambiance that evokes a deep sense of tranquillity and pure magnificence. The path meanders by an space adorned with massive spruce bushes that create a charming forest cover. This woodsy panorama is ideal for climbing lovers, providing well-maintained trails that wind by the woods and supply alternatives to immerse oneself in nature’s wonders.
Shannon Terrace additionally boasts plentiful wildlife, from swish deer to playful squirrels and quite a lot of hen species. This path is a perfect selection for these in search of a profound reference to a wooded atmosphere, the place the scent of pine needles and the rustling of leaves within the breeze create a fascinating expertise within the coronary heart of the forest.
Hulls Wooden
Hulls Wooden Mountain climbing Path is a conveniently positioned pure retreat close to a Customer Centre, making it simply accessible to all. This path system affords a basic climbing expertise, with well-marked paths winding by the forested space. It caters to a spread of talent ranges, making certain that each novice and skilled hikers can take pleasure in its serene ambiance.
Hulls Wooden stands out for its tranquil and immersive forested atmosphere, permitting guests to reconnect with nature in a peaceable setting. Whether or not you favor a leisurely stroll or an invigorating hike, Hulls Wooden gives a harmonious escape into the center of the woods.
Mallard Level
Mallard Level Mountain climbing Path is a nature fanatic’s haven positioned alongside the picturesque Bow River. This path is famend for its wonderful fishing alternatives, with the Bow River providing a wealthy number of fish species. Birdwatching is one other spotlight, as the realm is house to a various vary of avian life. Whereas exploring the well-marked pathways, guests can soak within the serene fantastic thing about the Bow River hall.
Nonetheless, it’s vital to notice that there aren’t any picnic tables at this web site, and fires should not allowed, underscoring the dedication to preserving the pure atmosphere and making certain security. Mallard Level gives a balanced outside expertise, combining angling, birdwatching, and scenic walks by the river.
For a enjoyable choice: strive bringing your rollerblades and gliding on the paved pathways!
Swimming
There’s swimming inside Fish Creek Park at Sikome Aquatic Facility. The artifical lake has a sandy seaside space to arrange your towel spot and wade into the waters on a sizzling summer season day! With a water therapy plant onsite that assessments the water frequently to guarantee water high quality, you’ll be able to splash and play to your coronary heart’s content material! Please be mindful at Sikome Lake, there aren’t any lifeguards, so carry flotation gadgets and preserve an in depth eye on kids.
The ability opens for the season in June and often closes in September, relying on the climate. There are three completely different gates to enter from and likewise three parking heaps for parking with an overflow lot on the South entrance. There’s a charge to enter and admissions are processed on a first-come, first-served foundation with no group charges or reservations accessible.
Admission charges for 2023 are as follows:
- Household (max 2 adults and as much as 4 kids) $10
- Individuals with disabilities (Aides enter without cost) $2
- Grownup (18-64) $5
- Senior (65+) $4
- Kids + Youth (6-17) $3
- Youngster (0-5) Free
Entry to the seaside and water closes at 7:00 PM, so make certain to plan accordingly.
Picnics
The picnicking alternatives in Fish Creek Park are plentiful! There are numerous day-use areas with a number of picnic websites, together with picnic shelters, picnic tables and firepits near washrooms to have a soothing picnic lunch surrounded by nature.
Liquor is permitted within the Bankside and Hull’s Wooden Day Use areas solely. Take a look at the day use listings for particulars on particular places.
Fishing
There are two improbable fishing spots in Fish Creek Provincial Park; Bow River and Fish Creek. The Bow River is thought for being world-class for trout fishing and Fish Creek has rainbow trout, brown trout, and Northern pike.
Verify Alberta Information to Sportfishing Rules for bait restrictions and catch limits.
Boating
Boating on the Bow River is an effective way to view the pure panorama of Fish Creek Provincial Park in a brand new means! The boat launch is positioned off Bow Backside Path S within the boat launch day use space. Notice that there aren’t any picnic tables on this space, and fires should not permitted. Pit bogs can be found on-site and are open from April 1 – September 30.
The boat launch space is open from April 1 to October 31 and operates underneath the identical hours as day-use services all through the park (identical because the car parking zone). Be sure to test the facility schedule and plan accordingly.
Birding
Birding, or hen watching, is a well-liked exercise in Fish Creek Provincial Park as a result of sheer quantity and number of hen species that frequent the realm. The varied habitats within the Park provide refuge for all kinds of hen species. With out this pure space, many of those birds wouldn’t have the ability to exist in Calgary.
Greater than 200 hen species have been noticed (here’s a enjoyable guidelines of the completely different varieties you might even see!) from Nice Blue Herons, bald eagles, owls, and varied songbirds. Bear in mind: don’t feed the birds. They’re wild and get sufficient meals from the pure atmosphere. In reality, it’s illegal to feed all wildlife within the Park.
Biking
The paved bike paths all through the park make a motorbike trip a breeze to discover nature all through. If extra fast-paced bike driving is up your alley, there’s a handy mountain bike expertise park to leap on! For these , the talents park is positioned subsequent to the Burnsmead Day Use car parking zone.
Notice: biking is permitted on pathways within the park besides these within the Sikome Aquatic Facility and in entrance of the Bow Valley Ranch customer centre.
Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant
Bow Valley Ranche restaurant is a high-quality indoor eating institution and is listed as one of many prime locations to eat in Calgary. The restaurant is positioned surrounded by the gorgeous Fish Creek Provincial Park, simply north of Sikome Lake. The sprawling ranch home was in-built 1896 and all through its a few years, the home has all the time had a status for holding unforgettable events. Now, and since 2014, the restaurant focuses on utilizing sustainably grown, recent elements to create their beautiful plates.
Tip: preserve a watch out as a result of this location frequently hosts Foodies In The Park – a artistic pop-up restaurant the place individuals take pleasure in their meals inside glass domes.
Issues To Do At Fish Creek Provincial Park within the Winter
Even within the chilly months, many individuals select Fish Creek Park to go to! In style winter actions embody cross-country snowboarding and snowshoeing, nevertheless, needless to say the pathways should not groomed or maintained for cross-country snowboarding. Some pathways within the park are cleared of snow throughout winter for straightforward entry however don’t count on it all through. For instance, on the five-minute stroll by the forest from the customer centre, snow will not be faraway from the pathway within the winter.
Ice circumstances on Fish Creek are doubtlessly hazardous all through winter, so actions like ice fishing or strolling on the ice should not advisable. Moreover, tobogganing will not be inspired as a result of pure hazards comparable to fallen logs and rocks on the path edges.
However don’t let that deter you! Different well-liked winter actions embody: winter hen watching, using the hearth pits at a picnic shelter for a winter campfire, trying out the ice falls (positioned on the south finish of the park alongside the Stream Loop, close to Bow Backside Path), and heat up with an afternoon tea at Bow Valley Ranche.
There’s lots extra to do in Calgary!