HOW WELL DO YOU REALLY KNOW CALGARY? TAKE THE QUIZ

Escape The Indoors, Experience The Outdoors

YOUR GUIDE TO CALGARY PARKS, OUTSIDE ACTIVITIES, LOCAL BUSINESSES & WEEKEND GETAWAYS

Local Businesses We've Worked With…

PADDLE

Your Roadmap To Calgary Adventures

Grab your guides, join the community & start exploring Calgary!

The Community You Didn't Know You Needed…

That's right — We all need a loving kick-in-the-butt sometimes…

Canadians spend ~90% of their time indoors, yet we all know spending time outdoors is better for our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health.

(Not to mention increased energy, cleaner air, renewed motivation, improved sleep, better memory, elevated concentration — the list goes on and ON)

So whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or you’re discovering Calgary for the first time, we’ll motivate you to…

Explore new parks & green spaces

Learn about local businesses

Connect with Calgarians

Get out of the house

Check Out Our YYC Adventure Atlas

Exploring Calgary has never been easier!
Use our interactive map to connect with our city today.

Consider Us All Things Outdoors & Local…

Becoming Your Go-To Calgary Guide….

Our founder, Kelsey Woods, has been exploring this city we call home since she was a kid, and now she’s joined by thousands of Calgarians like you who want to do the same.

Through sharing Calgary parks, outdoor activities, local stories and personal experiences, Parks of Calgary helps you get outside and connect with our local community.

What's Happening In Calgary Right Now

Looks like we’re trading raking in for shovellin

Looks like we’re trading raking in for shovelling! ❄️

We’re amazed the snow held off as long as it did…

…but now it’s time to prep for ALLLLL the winter activities 🥳

Don’t be a stranger to the snow, it’s here half of the year ya know 😉

Think winter is here to stay? ⬇️

🍃 Your go-to Parks of Calgary Guide 🍃

#parksofcalgary #yycwinter #calgary #calgaryliving

Well that changed fast! Goodbye fall, hello winter

Well that changed fast! Goodbye fall, hello winter? ❄️

One of our community members explored the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary this weekend…

And even though it looks a lil bit different now, don’t let the snow stop you from checking it out!

The trails here are open sunrise to sunset, 7 days/week.

And you probably guessed it, this area is popular for… birdwatching!

(so no dogs or bikes are allowed)

In 1929, 59 acres of the park were designated as a Federal Migratory Bird Sanctuary – since then, 270 species of birds have been recorded here 😮

You’ll also find the iconic Colonel Walker House built in 1910.

As well as a free, indoor Nature Centre you can explore from 9:30am-4pm, Wed - Sun with interpretive exhibits, washrooms and a few bookable spaces.

Visit this inner city oasis year-round for a peaceful walk amongst wildlife, with or without the snow.

📸: ohenilorak

🍃 Your go-to Parks Of Calgary guide 🍃

#parksofcalgary #yycparks #inglewoodbirdsanctuary #calgaryparks #yycnature

Who’s ready for winter hiking?! ❄️ It might

Who’s ready for winter hiking?! ❄️

It might not be snowing here in the city (yet), but it sure is in the mountains!

Provincial and national park attendance drop by OVER half during the cooler months…

So hiking in the off-season actually has some major perks:

✅ quieter trails
✅ empty parking lots
✅ familiar landscapes covered in snow + frost

It offers a whole new perspective, plus it’s a great chance to move your body outside and breathe in that fresh, crisp mountain air!

Comment WINTERHIKES for our top 11 trails and winter hiking tips so you can explore new corners of the mountains this season 💙

P.S. Need gear before you head out?

Pop into the @ucoutdoorcentre — they have hiking boots, micro spikes, poles, x-country skis, snowshoes, skis, snowboards, the works!

🍃 Your go-to Parks Of Calgary guide 🍃

#parksofcalgary #ucalgary #nationaltakeahikeday #hiking #explorealberta #winterhiking #canadianrockies

Wanna make your own Christmas presents this year?

Wanna make your own Christmas presents this year? 🎁

Try this fun soap-making workshop from local business @bownesssoapworks

You’ll learn the exact process the founder uses to make her own soap, how to do it safely, and come away with 7 bars of your own!

What’s even cooler, is that no 2 workshops are the same.

Melba often forages for some of the ingredients, so every time she runs this event, it’s a lil bit different.

Which means you’re creating something completely unique — you add your own scents, textures and decorations so no 2 loaves are the same 😮

Check out @bownesssoapworks for more creative workshops with Melba — soap making, pottery, ceramics, wild baskets, mushroom foraging, the works!

🍃 Your go-to Parks Of Calgary guide 🍃

Have you been to this community firepit in Bridgel

Have you been to this community firepit in Bridgeland?⁠
⁠
This cute little spot is MUCH more than just a firepit!⁠
⁠
Colourful seating, free little library, surrounded by local biz, lots of artsy flare & topped off with a foosball table.⁠
⁠
Have you been here before? ⁠
⁠
You can book this firepit for free online, daily (along with many others around YYC) from 12-9pm — 2 hour slots. ⁠
⁠
And while you don't NEED a permit, they are encouraged as priority goes to the permit holder.⁠
⁠
Users need to bring their own wood and roasting equipment.⁠
⁠
Comment ATLAS34 to find this spot on the Adventure Atlas!⁠
⁠
⁠📸: @marioneeltanal⁠
⁠
🍃 Your go-to Parks of Calgary guide 🍃⁠
⁠
#parksofcalgary #parksofcalgaryambassador #yycliving #bridgelandyyc #yycadventureatlas ⁠
⁠

Another fun meet-up with our Outdoor Movement Chal

Another fun meet-up with our Outdoor Movement Challenge crew! 🥳

28 of us met in Fish Creek Park and walked a quiet area along the river bank in Hull’s Wood this weekend.

Some people were lucky to spot a bald eagle, muskrat, great horned owl and even a baby beaver! 🥹

The wind was a lil chilly, so we brought wood and s’more supplies for a post-walk campfire 🔥

Here’s to hoping this incredible weather holds up while we finish the second half of the month! 👀

📸: @kelseywooooods @she.nomadic @ohenilorak

🍃 Your go-to Parks Of Calgary guide 🍃

Help Parks Of Calgary Support Local Businesses

We all know successful businesses are the heart and soul of any community.

Together, let’s highlight the people, places and partners that make Calgary great.

Business Owners

If you own, operate or manage a local business here in Calgary, you may be a good fit for our partner program!

If you align with our brand values, we’d love to connect with you!

Residents

Know a local business we should partner with? Spill the beans! We’re always looking to support like-minded business owners.

You provide the recommendation, we take care of the rest!

Pioneer Calgary Parks With Us?

Real people, real conversations and local recommendations you can trust.

Join the conversation for up-to-date city parks info, outdoor activities, pop-up events, local businesses, wildlife and weekend getaways from your Calgary neighbours.

Whether you’re new to YYC, the outdoors or looking for hidden gems, connect with fellow Calgarians to see what’s happening where and when.

What Calgarians Are Saying

"I've been following Parks of Calgary since 2019, and I still check-in with them daily. I really love this community Kelsey is creating. Their content is always positive, encouraging for all levels of physical ability and ages. They helped me explore new places and..."

Barb L.

Calgarian since 1963

"It’s SO exciting to find people who appreciate all the same things you do, and that’s exactly what I’ve found through the Parks of Calgary community. The never-ending ideas and places to explore shared through this group has kept me motivated to get outside, go for walks, and..."

Jillian L.

Calgarian since 1999

"I’ve been following Parks of Calgary for YEARS, and I love their content. It motivates me to get outside, explore the city, and take photos of my own. The walking challenges are always so fun, and the photo challenges encouraged me to be creative — especially when it built my..."

Denise Carr

Denise C.

Calgarian since 2012

Ready to Get Out(side)?

Fresh Air, Fresh Perspectives

We’re talking all things activities, parks, wellness & community on the blog…

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