Beautiful fall hikes in and around Calgary

beautiful fall hikes in and around Calgary You don’t have to travel far for spectacular scenery.

By Karen Ung

Fall has always been my favorite season. The temperatures are comfortable, the bugs are mostly gone, and as the leaves turn, the scenery is spectacular. Do not discount places close to home. There are some stunning locations in and around Calgary and in the neighboring Rockies; maybe even in your own backyard!

IN CALGARY

In town, there are many places to see colorful leaves.

Here are a few to visit:

Confederation Park. Confederation Park is great because you can get shots of the leaves and river without going far from the parking lot (if you have wee ones in tow). This park has beautiful, large balsam poplars and a few larches here and there (a treat as larches are usually only seen at high elevations).

Prince’s Island Park. A colorful oasis in the city due to the variety of plants. You can get ‘nature’ shots on the interpretive trail or get pictures with bridges or skyscrapers in the background.

"There are some stunning locations in and around Calgary and in the neighboring Rockies!"

North Glenmore/Weaselhead . Many stands of aspen trees around Glenmore Reservoir are pretty any time of year, but prettiest in the Fall. Weaselhead is a less visited area that has a wilder feel, lots of deciduous trees, and some shrubs that change color.

Fish Creek Park. A nice getaway within the city with lots of trees and seemingly endless bike trails.

Bowness Park. Bowness Park is fantastic in the Fall with leaves of all colors and a few larch trees! Follow the trail along the river for the perfect family photo spot!

Nose Hill Park . Nose Hill Park has groves of aspen trees that glow golden in autumn. Park at Many Owls Valley Parking Lot (Brisebois Drive and John Laurie Boulevard NW), the Edgemont parking lot off Shaganappi Trail, or 14th Street NW parking lot.

NEAR CALGARY

One of the best places to see beautiful autumn leaves near Calgary is Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Located a couple kilometres east of Cochrane, in the foothills, this hidden gem boasts 25 kilometres of hiking and cycling trails, rolling hills, and lovely views of the mountains. There are beautiful aspen forests and towering cottonwoods by the Bow River.

ONE TO TWO HOURS AWAY

Lake Louise Sightseeing

Gondola. Ride the gondola for 14 minutes, enjoy the view Bowmont Park from 2088 metres (6850 feet), enjoy some gourmet dining, visit the Wildlife Interpretive Centre (free with gondola ticket), and do a short hike or long hike on top of the world! The gondola tickets are a bit pricey, but can be combined with buffet or gourmet dining packages or bundles with hotel stays; either option makes the cost more reasonable.

Try the Kicking Horse Viewpoint Trail (1.7-kilometre return) to see larches and amazing vistas. If you’d like to hike farther, go for the Pika Trail (2.5-kilometre round trip) or Ptarmigan Valley Viewpoint (3.4-kilometre round trip). Note: All the trails are beyond the electric fence, so you need to hike in a group of four and make lots of noise (the latter was no problem with my children!).

Lake Agnes Teahouse. Hike from Château Lake Louise. It is a 6.8-kilometre return to the Teahouse. Hot chocolate is a nice reward, and mirror-like Lake Agnes with its lovely larches never disappoints.

Ptarmigan Cirque. Ptarmigan Cirque allows you to get into the alpine quickly since you start at Highwood Pass, the highest paved pass in Canada. This 4.5-kilometre hike is stunning in any season, but wildflower and larch seasons allow it to truly shine.

Chester Lake . A popular trail year-round with larches near the lake. For the best view, hike to the top of the ridge on the far side of the lake.

Pocaterra Cirque (and Pocaterra Ridge) departs from the Highwood Pass parking lot and takes you to a valley full of larches. If you’re feeling energetic, continue up to the top of Pocaterra Ridge or do the whole traverse. This hike has become quite popular, so an early start is recommended.

Where is your favorite place to see Fall colors?

Karen is a mother and a lover of maps, mountains, and mochas. With her geography degree and experience leading hikes and backpacking trips in the Rockies, she is full of ideas on where to go and what to do. The mission of her blog, Play Outside Guide, playoutsideguide.com, is to provide everything families need to know to get outside and have fun. CCM

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