This was one of the first lakes in Calgary and is therefore the oldest…read more It is very big and beautiful though. I am a big fan of this lake. They also have a room that is great for hosting events. In addition, they also have an ice cream truck that comes to the lake. The lake has boats you can rent such as paddle boards or peddle boats. Very fun and nice lake.

One of the best places to be during a hot summer day in Calgary!…read more For Mckenzie lake community residence or guests of a community resident. The lake is a nice size for people to cool down in and they have free rental equipment like life jackets, balls, paddle boats, etc. Multiple playgrounds, tennis courts, and lots of beach to tan on and plenty of big trees for shade!

This is a really great park I don't really understand why there's a stereotype that it's full of…read moredrug addicts and homeless people and you have to watch out where you want because it's full of used needles... That has never been my experience so I suggest you give it a try and don't listen to the stereotypes

Edworthy Park is an Aboriginal heritage site with a rich history that I first discovered while…read moretaking a summer course in University. Unfortunately now it's mostly regarded as a glorified dog park and not always fully appreciated. I'm surprised anyone would call it small though, it's rather large, and actually contains the most edible plant life in Southern Alberta in one little space. This is a herbalists dream park really, and I know many people who have come here to study plants. Try not to take anything from the land without making an offering though; bad form. When it's nice out, I love to come here with a book and a cup of tea from Lazy Loaf, put on some headphones to drown out the yuppies with strollers doing outdoor aerobics, and read next to the river. When it's cold outside, I like to come here in the winter and watch the river freeze over, then thaw in the spring. I love you, Edworthy, a little bit. *Review 14/30 of Yelp's 30 day Challenge 2012

I don't think I can write a review about Calgary and leave out this very important geographical…read morevein. The Elbow River gets its water source from Elbow Lake located 7000 feet above sea level. The lake is 150 m from Hwy 40 at the Elbow Pass. The ER is part of the Bow River Basin and is an important source for Bragg Creek, as a source of water, transportation, irrigation and household use. It runs 25 kilometres and eventually runs into and merges with the Bow River. I write about ER, because just as important as a park, this river provides Calgarians with one of its most enjoyable services ... recreation. There was not a hot day that went by this summer that I didn't see dozens of dots of inner tubes, rafts and umbrellas floating beneath my mother's balcony. Families, large groups of friends, couples, dogs, and rafts attached to other rafts, inner tubes acting as bars... all floating by. It was one of the most beautiful spectacles I have ever seen here in Calgary. I had just moved from a long stint in Mexico, where finding a water area that is clean is so very rare, so moving back to Canada and witnessing the joys of Canadians just mindlessly floating down the river made me oh so proud. We have it so good here eh!

It's the weekend and it's hot. You and your friends are looking for a way to cool off. If you've…read morebeen in this city for any amount of time, rafting should be the first thing that's comes to mind. There are a few different spots you can embark on your rafting adventure down the Elbow, on the weekend we happened to start out at the Glenmore Resevoir. It was a leisurely float, the river wasn't all that high, but there were a couple of decent deep spots to jump out for a quick swim. I prefer the Elbow to the Bow for floating... Better scenery and a little less scary when there's a lot of runoff. Rafting tip: Make sure your bottom is well cushioned, preferably with a nice big floaty. Floating down a shallow river can get a little rocky otherwise.

Nice, neat, and relaxing. We were at the Farmers market and looked up on parks nearby. I'm so glad…read morethat we went here. It was covered with snow but the walk way was clear of snow. You could walk upto the Bow and listen to the relaxing sound of water. This is not an off leash park. I met a few furry friends who were on leash, of course. Park is better than a mall, no doubt:)

A really nice park on the Calgary / Bow River pathway system. All season. Skating in the winter…read more People seem to like Kayaking here as well. I've seen several people on the bigger pond kayaking around. Always good for people walking, jogging, spending time with family, kayaking, and taking pictures. Lots of people walk their dogs here, and as an In the fall, the changing colours are lovely to see here. It goes quickly though, so make sure you get down there when the leaves start to turn as they won't wait for you. It's a good area to see birds too. Geese are here it seems all year round. I think there are other seasonal / migratory birds which pass through the area as well. White American Pelicans summer along this stretch of the river during the summer. I've seen whitetail deer in this area a number of times. It's highly probably that there are occasional coyotes in the area and so like in many Calgary parks, be watchful of your dog. It's a wonderful park if this is your area.

For those who are wondering about Nose Hill Park... it's a large park within the city (15 min drive…read moreaway) that covers 11 square kilometers! There are a LOT of trails up there which make it great for hiking and biking. I've gone multiple times this year and really enjoy it. There are also chances to see wildlife while up there (I've seen a coyote, but haven't seen the white tailed deer yet). It is also a great place to see the city from, and an amazing sunrise location! Super cool seeing it rise and light up the sky surrounding Calgary. Note that it typically is pretty windy up there.

When I first got to Calgary, I assumed Nose Hill Park would be like NYC's Central Park or Toronto's…read moreHigh Park in that you could easily walk into it. Sure, there might be certain entry gates, but they'd be easy to find. Nope! Not in Calgary, which is technically a walkable city, but has the soul of a highway interchange. The charming streets of Caglary's downtown have six lanes of one-way traffic, so of course there are several lanes of cars speeding around Nose Hill. There are quite a few pedestrian tunnels, just don't expect them to be easy to see with your eyeballs if you're in the area or think they'd be marked on Google Maps. Obviously, it's easy enough to get into the park. Lots of people manage it every day! If you have a car, if you get anywhere near the park you can enter any number of clearly marked parking lots. If you're on foot, however, you need to plan ahead in order to find a tunnel or an overpass. Don't assume there will be a way to enter the park or any sort of crosswalk. Once you've made it into the park, it's surprisingly lovely. There are gorgeous views of downtown, the Rockies on a clear day, and the surrounding farmland. Once you're in the park there's a ton of signage and clear paths. Plus, it's hard to get lost when you can see the whole city! Several of the parking lots offer toilet facilities and trash cans. It's interesting to see the grasses and wildflowers shift throughout the year. There's a surprising diversity of terrain for what appears at first glance to be a big hill. There are also historical sites within the park. There's a large off-leash dog area. If you're hoping to pet some stranger's dogs, alas, there is too much space and not enough dogs for it to not be a little weird. If you step off the trails, pay attention for poo and gopher holes. We're in Calgary, so the weather can turn at any moment. There are very few trees, so you'll be in the sun the whole time. Be prepared for it to be windy.

Calgary, this is your best kept secret…read more Now, please understand that part of me, wants to keep it that way; the other parts want to share with you... the nature that exists within the confines of the city limits. The Weaselhead Natural Reserve (natural area) is truly, a remarkable place. First and foremost, it lays over a map area that is the delta to the Glenmore Reservoir. It's meandering Elbow River flows through a changing channel that has left deep clefts in the surrounding hillsides and marked it's way across the eskers that exist below Calgary. Whether ye be a biker, a hiker, a runner, a dog walker, a stone skipper, a tree lover, a calm river flowing reveller or any number of combinations of said activities and the inclusion of your own, this place runs the realm on all the above. I've been visiting the Weaselhead for over 20 years. I've seen it change and am still amazed at how, with each visit, it brings me to a new place... most times, within the same places; down the same paths, only to discover something entirely new. And for me, to see the changing face of a natural space over time, is much like understanding one's own life... And indeed, the Weaselhead, is capable of assisting with these types of meditations; in as much as it is capable of showing you what "the now" looks like. Spend an afternoon, evening, early morning... all will do, and you may find yourself, drawn back, much like I was... mythical within reality.

Beautiful park. We took the road less traveled and walked through the small forest trails rather…read morethan the paved biking trails. Look up Jack Rabbit Trail for directions. Gorgeous, relaxing, not too strenuous. Tip though - there are tons of Mosquitos in August, so bring bug spray!

riley park is a lovely destination spot during any time of year! i love it here so much and love…read morethe cricket set up here!! go GCC

A very nice huge park. For some reason this park reminded me of QE park in Vancouver BC. tis big…read moreand there are few events happening here during the summer time. Like you can join in on bocce games and other games. You will need to check Facebook for that. Free drop in are welcome. On top of that there are nice plants and thing to look at during the summer making it really nice and relaxing to walk in. Overall, I like coming here. After the good walk, you can go down to Kensington and get yourself a treat.

Fish Creek Provincial Park is a place that the city of Calgary is so lucky to have . It is a…read morenatural reservoir that runs right through the city of Calgary. People can walk bike swim . There is two restaurants there and animals love it in there. I would never spend time personally alone in fish creek because it can be dangerous. Homeless people live in the park under trees, etc. That's why it got a 4 because if you are alone - it is not safe. I would always go with someone and never at dark !

Great place to visit with family. Has a variety of trails and entrances which makes it easy to…read moreaccess from different parts of the city.