Carburn Park

• Parking: Lot on site
• Washrooms: By the Parking Lot
• Paved and dirt path

View from the parking lot.

Who Owns This Place?

As I stepped out of my car this morning, I found myself standing in front of a pristine lake, perfectly reflecting a huge weeping willow in the still surface of the water.  Carburn Park is actually a reclaimed gravel pit along, remade into two lakes, replanted with native trees and shrubs and networked with paved and dirt trails.  Its teeming with life.  I shared my walk with a beaver, rabbits, countless birds galore, and three deer - two adults and one fawn that leapt out of the tall grass just a couple feet from the trail.  

The inspirational tree.

On the far side of the lake, I took a detour along a dirt path leading into the bush towards the river bank.  The scars left by the flooding of 2013 were everywhere; piles of gravel left by the slowing river, debris still clinging to branches well above the current water level, uprooted trunks, and one especially craggy tree, broken in places, but very much alive, proudly bearing scars that told the story of it's life.  I hope one day I can say the same about myself.

Welcome to my park!

When I turned to go back, I couldn't find the trail back to the main path anywhere.  Eventually, I dived into an indent in the bush, assuming this little path would eventually bring me back the way I came.  But when I looked down, I saw only hoof marks - not sneaker tracks.  A deer run.  And deer don't usually run to the parking lot.  Ugh!  Thoroughly lost, I spent longer than I had planned "exploring" the area between the river and the lakes.

As I worked my way out of the bush, I almost felt as if I was invading the privacy of the plants and animals who lived there.  We assume that the land within the city limits is ours, paving paths and planting flower beds.  But after this morning's adventure, it no longer felt like I had caught a glimpse of some animals in our park, but rather that the wildlife had graciously allowed me to visit their space. 

The Sound of Silence - Almost

Horseshoe Trails

• Parking: Along the west side of the road, south of the Alpine Club parking lot.
• Washrooms: None
• Rough dirt path

Once again, today’s walk was an accidental discovery.  We were looking for Grotto Canyon Hiking Trail, but alas, a closed road stood between us and what I believed would be the trail head.  But there, just up the road a bit we found a sign that mapped out a network of trails right nearby.  Why not give it a try?  After all, how could any walk through Kananaskis country be anything less than spectacular?

It turned out to be a well maintained trail, with very clear maps posted at almost every junction.  We did leave a little cairn of stones at one questionable crossroad to help us find our way back, but that probably says more about my insecurity than the quality of the trail!  There was a lot more up and down than I had planned on, but my walking partner was game, so we took our time and headed deeper into the bush.  As we twisted this way and that along the slope, the endless pine forest gave way here and there to little grassy meadows and patches of juniper with their musky blue berries. 

Juniper berries.

On our way back, we took a little detour to the creek bed below the path; a jagged line of dry, chalky stones drawn down the slope between the trees.  We stopped here for a quick snack, enjoying the view of the Three Sisters and listening to the cries of a couple of hawks floating on the air currents above us.  It was here that I noticed the quiet of the place.  My city walks have had some great soundscapes, but always with an undercurrent of traffic noise.  I suppose I’ve learned to tune it out.  But here, on that mountainside, even with the squirrels chattering and the birds calling, I could feel the quietness of the place . . .

That is, until the helicopter full of sightseers buzzed by.  Argh!  But really, I have to admit that I’m too much of a city girl to brave a “true” wilderness adventure, so I suppose I’ll have to make my peace with the odd helicopter!

Mountain Lakes

Grassi Lakes Trail, Kananaskis

• Parking: On site
• Washrooms: Outhouse on site, near the trail head
• Your choice of a rough dirt path or service road

My first glimpse of the falls.

Today's walk has been described as a "popular family hike", and around noon on a weekend it was extremely popular.  There were a couple hundred cars in the lot and long cues for the washrooms, but once we got on the trail I forgot all about the crowds.  

 

At the fork in the trail, a helpful sign points out your two options: "Easy or More Difficult".  To the right is a service road, navigable by a sturdy stroller.  To the left is an adventure.  For the most part it's a rough but well established dirt path, at points crossing springs and patches of loose rock.  Near the summit (the path does climb a fair amount) I ended up using my hands to help climb the stone steps set into the slope.

 

The left trail is more challenging, but very much worth the effort.  There are great vistas of Canmore and the lake, springs tumbling down the hillside, and of course the waterfall.  You hear it long before you see it, crashing hundreds of feet down and disappearing into the trees below.  

The colors of Grassi Lakes.

The falls themselves would justify the trip, but you end your climb at the Grassi Lakes - crystal clear water you can't help but dip you hands in, and neon green plants just under the surface that give way to the sky blue of the deeper water. Combine all that with the forest and mountains that surround this pair of perfect lakes and, well, it's eerily beautiful.  

Sharing Spaces

Prince's Island Park and Wetlands

• Parking: Paid public lot east of Calgary Curling Club
• Washrooms: none



Bow Tower reflected in the wetlands.

• Paved and dirt path

Today I immersed myself in a deliberate marriage between nature and city life, walking through the wetlands of Prince's Island.  The main park is a landscaped island on the Bow River, and hosts a variety of summer festivals and celebrations, but at the east end there's a quiet wetland area.  

Bird song and the rushing river blend with the sounds of downtown's morning rush hour, public art stands side by side with wildflowers and office towers frame the views of the ponds.  Maybe it's my familiarity with this park, but this little wild oasis seems to fit quite comfortably in the urban landscape.

I had planned to walk farther than I did, but now I find myself stopping more and more often on these walks, watching, listening, smelling. 

 I think I'm learning how to slow down and be still.

Wild flowers alongside . . . 

I remember reading a sign in Nose Hill Park: "Take a moment to stop and look" it read, "You may see a deer . . .".  I stopped - just for the requisite moment - and hilariously, I did see a deer.  Right on cue!  It was my first step towards slowing down.  Today, I stood under a poplar tree for a while, watching some birds.  I don't know what kind of birds they were or what they were doing exactly, but it was really nice just being there, enjoying the moment. 

Public art..

Thank You Eric Musgreave!

Confederation Park

• Parking: Small lot off 10t Street
• Washrooms: just west of the parking lot
• Paved path

One of the many bridges criss crossing the creek.

After yesterday's visit to the newly opened St. Patrick's Island, with it's tentative new plantings and squeaky clean picnic tables, still smelling of lacquer,  Confederation Park seemed to glow with the solid confidence of a grand old park in its prime. 

Paved trails thread through sun-dappled lawns and mature trees on both sides of the creek that runs through the center of the coulee.  Quaint wooden footbridges span the water, and offer lovely spots to watch the many ducks and song birds, who are quite unconcerned with the humans wandering around.  

One of the many birds fluttering around the bridges.

It's an expansive park.  The trails pass ball diamonds, tennis courts and playgrounds, but there is so much room that the different activities never seem to crowd each other.  Even the picnic tables and benches are carefully spaced to offer a bit of privacy, and it's easy to find a spot that feels like your very own.

In the middle of the park, I found a plaque commemorating Eric Musgreave, who "conceived and created" this park as the "largest private Canadian 1967 Centennial Community Project".  What a gift!  Eric and the hundreds of volunteers who built this park have given the city of Calgary a wonderful public space, and have inspired me to contribute to our community in my own way.

New Kid on the Block

St. Patrick's Island  

• Parking: paid parking on the east side of the park
• Washrooms: east side of the park
• Paved and dirt path

Between the wetlands and the river.

I came across today's walk by accident this morning.  I had planned on visiting Fort Calgary and the Dean House, but found both under construction.  So I walked west along the river, and across the new George C. King Bridge (formerly the St. Patrick Bridge) to find a brand new park!  St. Patrick's Island has been under construction for three years, and just opened on July 31.  

They've packed a lot into this new space.  The west end has been developed as a more "natural" area with wetlands and trails meandering through old trees, but things get more and more civilized as you more eastward.  I climbed a huge hill for a clear view of downtown, and stopped to explore a great new playground. There's plenty of benches and picnic tables,  and even wooden loungers on the "Sun Deck".  Very chic.  

Bow River meets Elbow River.

On the south side of the island I found more forested trails, and an inlet which was easily accessible along a gently sloping rocky beach.  A fun place to explore the water without the worry of the river's fast current, and a great view of the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers. 

I'm glad I visited this park early. I imagine it will be a busy place once word really gets out.   Whether you're looking for a place to play with children, enjoy a nature trail, meet friends for a picnic or just lay in the sun, there really is something for everyone here at St. Patrick's Island.  

Look Up

Inglewood Bird Sanctuary

• Parking: On site
• Washrooms: In the Nature Center
• Paved and dirt path

The path circling the pond.

A deer met me in the parking lot this morning - how welcoming!  I circled around him, and began the most relaxing walk so far.  As I followed the path through a meadow and around a pond, the storm clouds of these last couple days broke up, and I witnessed the transition from completely overcast to a clear summer sky.  I would have missed these amazing clouds if I hadn't been staring up for most of the walk, searching for all those birds.  I could hear them everywhere, but only caught glimpses of their silhouettes flying against the sky.  Next time, I'll bring my binoculars!

Looking up between the branches.

The Sanctuary is a beautiful place, though, and there is so much to see.  Calgary Parks reports that there are over 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals and 347 species of plants in the area.  It's been closed for over two years as they've worked to restore the site after the floods of 2013, but the section that re-opened this summer seems to have regrown beautifully.

Remnants of last night's storm.

After completing the circuit, I sat on a bench by the pond and closed my eyes.  I'm no ornithologist and I have no idea which bird was making which sound, but it was fascinating to really listen to the calls.  I know we celebrate "bird song" as pure, natural music (or at least a good background for meditation) but not every call was a pleasant one.  But these chirps, peeps, caws, screeches, and yes, even some lovely warbles and trills, made that sunny bench my new favorite spot to rest my tired walking legs!