Biking in Fish Creek

After dipsy-doodling along the edge of Fish Creek for a couple of kilometers, we grunt up a steep hill and, just as promised, my riding partner stops at the top, gets off his bike, takes out his phone, and starts snapping photos like it’s going out of style. “I love this spot,” he says, as I struggle to catch my breath, the golden, late-day light washing over the aspens. “It’s like you’re a hundred miles from the city and yet we’re ten minutes from home.” I gaze up at the mountains, the rolling foothills, the baby-blue sky, and can’t help but agree. His statement sums up what I love the most about Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Penner

Unfortunately, being busy with work, kids, the yard, and so on, I don’t get out to the mountains enough. Perhaps you can relate. Life just gets in the way, doesn’t it? However, like many people, I can often sneak away for an hour, or two. And when that opportunity presents itself, I typically hop on my bike and hit the trails in Fish Creek Provincial Park.

“For Calgary cyclists, it doesn’t get better than Fish Creek Provincial Park,” says Erik Larson, Owner of Pure Cycle, a full-service bike shop located steps from the park in Canyon Meadows. “For years, Fish Creek has been a popular biking destination and continues to be a favourite with cyclists. With recent trail improvements, a number of new trails added to an already solid network, a brand new mountain bike skills park, and a great away-from-it-all atmosphere, you just can’t beat it. There are numerous communities that are located right next to the park and access is so easy. In my opinion, Fish Creek Provincial Park is one of Calgary’s best attributes.”

Another awesome thing about it, from a biking perspective, is the variety. There are plenty of relatively flat paved trails that will appeal to people seeking a leisurely spin. The new Fish Creek Mountain Bike Skills Park near Sikome Lake, built in conjunction with the Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance, which includes pump tracks, jump trails, berms, and other features, is super-fun for BMX riders and mountain bikers who like testing their skills on a variety of man-made features. And, of course, the many single-track trails (see pg 22), most of which are located west of Macleod Trail in some of the most remote areas of the park, are the place to go if you want some adventurous, cross-country riding.

Indeed, hopping on a bike and going for a spin can take on many different forms. Not everyone likes to put on pads, get airborne, and ride on the redline. Likewise, not everyone likes to smell the roses and take a gingerly spin that barely gets the heart pumping. Regardless of what you’re looking for, and who you’re riding with, you’ll find it in Fish Creek.

Photo Courtesy of Andrew Penner

For me, and countless others, it’s not just about the exciting trails, the beauty of the park, and the outdoor recreation. It’s also a way to get somewhere! Cycling into the park to reach the beach at Sikome Lake (it’s the place to be in summer), Annie’s Cafe (to meet a friend or relax after a ride), or the Bow Valley Ranche (popular with photographers) is just an easy, affordable, and healthy way to get you from A to B.

And, of course, utilizing the network of trails in the park to access local businesses - or hundreds of other destinations in numerous communities near the park! - only makes sense. Personally, I’ve been able to bike to my barber, mechanic, music teacher, dentist, doctor, not to mention many friends and other businesses, via the trails in Fish Creek Provincial Park. So, if you’ve been itching to incorporate bike travel into your daily routine, make no excuse, it can be done!

However, while riding my bicycle from A to B as a mode of transportation is often ideal, for me, and countless others, the adrenaline rush and the amazing workout of a cross-country ride on sweet single-track is what it’s all about. Fortunately, thanks to a couple hundred kilometers of single-track trails - many with spine-tingling views to greet you when you make it to the top! - when I have a couple of hours to kill, I know a place just ten minutes away that feels like it’s a hundred miles from the city.