Let’s be real — winter in Calgary can feel long, dark and lonely. By the time you finish work or your daily to-dos, the sun is gone, and the thought of leaving your cozy home to venture into the cold might seem less appealing… But here’s the thing:
Moving your body and getting outside are proven to boost your mood, improve sleep, reduce stress and anxiety, lower depression, the list of positive benefits goes on and ON.
So if there’s one thing we’ve learned after living in Alberta for over 30 years, it’s this:
Make going outside a non-negotiable. Push through the desire to stay cozy (your warm home will be waiting for you when you get back), lean into a little temporary discomfort, and make the most of the weather we get, warm or cold! Did we get a big snow dump? Go skiing or snowshoeing! Is it sunny and below 0? Hit the rinks and ice trails!
Whatever activity or outing you’re looking for, there are endless ways to make the most of winter in Calgary — and you don’t even have to leave the city, if you don’t want to. Find something that excites you, motivates you, reconnects you with nature, and maybe even helps you discover a new favorite winter pastime.
Here are 8 local outdoor activity recommendations to help you enjoy winter here in Calgary and beyond, plus where you can rent affordable gear and equipment. From cross-country skiing and fat biking, to inner-city hiking and nearby ice fishing, there’s something here for everyone.
Play Crokicurl In A Park
This unique outdoor game has popped up at some of Calgary’s more prominent parks, generally near skating areas. Venture to Bowness Park, Prince’s Island Park or North Glenmore Park, and you’ll likely stumble across crokicurl!
Played on an ice sheet, this game combines curling with rules similar to crokinole (a game played with your fingers on a wooden board). Want to try it out? Check if these games are open before you head out.
Go Cross-Country Skiing
Cross-country skiing is a classic winter experience in Calgary – and there are plenty of places to try it out! Many golf courses transform into winter playgrounds for cross-country skiers, with tracks set over the whole course. And if you bring your own equipment, they’re generally free to use! Check out groomed tracks on Shaganappi Point Golf Course, Maple Ridge Golf Course, McCall Lake Golf Course and Lakeview Golf Course.
Perhaps the most popular and our favourite Calgary location is Confederation Park Golf Course. You’ll find a combination of flat and elevated trails that the Foothills Nordic Ski Club do an excellent job of grooming all season. If you plan to cross-country ski here, there are trail fees posted at the parking lot to support their hard work.
New to cross-country skiing? Or want to adventure outside of Calgary, to places like Kananaskis, Banff & West Bragg Creek? Read our blog How & Where To Cross-Country Ski In & Around Calgary, Alberta.
Walk Or Hike Calgary Trails
Calgary has hundreds of trails running through our parks, communities and along the river. Some of our favourite inner-city walks or hikes during the wintertime are:
- 12 Mile Coulee — Walk above the coulee for a peek at the mountains or through it for some peace and quiet.
- Griffith Woods — Wander through endless trees and winding pathways to find secluded benches.
- Fish Creek Park — Do you want to see wildlife? Snowcapped trees? Frozen river action? This large park has it all.
- Glenmore Reservoir Loop — Circle the Reservoir on a ~15km paved loop, or pick a portion to explore.
- Nose Hill Park — Explore the winding trails here to spot mountain views, the city skyline and quiet natural valleys.
- Weaselhead Flats — Adventure through this protected, natural environment to experience the wild without leaving the city.
Find all of these Calgary park destinations and more on our interactive map, the Adventure Atlas.
Want to walk or hike outside the city this winter? Check out 11 Winter Hikes Less Than 2 Hours From Calgary.
Go Sledding On A City-Approved Hill
Ready to re-live your childhood, or show the kids some of Calgary’s best sledding hills? Sledding is a simple, affordable and classic Canadian pastime to get out of the house and into the outdoors — when there’s enough snow, of course! Check out some of Calgary’s best sledding hills, like Makowecki and New Brighton.
Want to find more City-approved hills? Use the sledding filter on the Adventure Atlas.
Skate Local Rinks Or Ice Trails
Ice trails, rinks, and lagoons, oh my! Whether you’re looking for a quiet community rink that allows hockey sticks, or you want to glide along the Bow River on a brightly lit ice trail, Calgary has unique spots to lace up and skate the day away. If you don’t have skates of your own, a few local skating areas also have rentals available on-site.
Find our favourite skating spots + available rentals in Calgary here: Calgary’s Top Outdoor Skating Rinks & Ice Trails.
Try Fat Biking
Calgary has around 1,000 km of paved pathways, so if you want to continue biking throughout winter, consider fat biking! These big tires have more grip and stability for icy or snowy conditions.
Popular Calgary parks with good fat biking trails include Nose Hill Park and Fish Creek Park for elevated terrain. If you’re looking for something a bit flatter, nothing beats a good ol’ bike ride along the Bow River and through Prince’s Island Park. For a mountain fat biking adventure, head west to areas like Kananaskis, Peter Lougheed, Canmore and West Bragg Creek.
Explore With Snowshoes
When there’s enough snow on the ground, you can break out the snowshoes just about anywhere in Calgary! However, some places have better pathways and trails for snowshoeing than others. Get lost in natural areas like Nose Hill, Fish Creek Park and Weaselhead Flats for a more wilderness experience. Or, stick to the cross-country areas as many of them also include snowshoe routes — but make sure you don’t walk on or ruin any tracks set.
Head Out Ice fishing
Have you ever been ice fishing? We went once years ago on Ghost Reservoir, and it was fun! So by no means are we the experts, so do you research before you go — get the proper equipment, check ice thickness, follow all posted rules and perhaps go with a friend who’s been before!
If you want to try ice fishing, here are a few popular places around Calgary: Ghost Reservoir, Chain Lakes Reservoir, Spray Lakes Reservoir, Eagle Lake, Gull Lake, Sylvan Lake and Chestermere Lake.
Rent Outdoor Equipment & Gear In Calgary
Don’t have everything you need for these adventures? The UCalgary Outdoor Centre has a huge inventory of equipment, including cramp-ons, snowshoes, cross-country skis, you name — and it’s affordable too. Rent your gear here.
Calgary is truly a winter wonderland this time of year! We’re like kids in a candy store — too many incredible outdoor activities to choose from! Let us know in the comments below: What are your favourite winter activities, or what are you looking forward to trying next?
If you’re looking for more outdoor activity ideas, local destinations and seasonal tips, grab our free Outdoor Winter Motivation Guide, complete with 100+ ways to get out of the house and into the outdoors!
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