What I Thought of It

Calgary is a pretty big city on the prairies of Alberta, close to the Rocky Mountains. Unlike most big cities, however, Calgary offers a lot of “green” and great opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature within the city.

When you visit Calgary, you need a good plan to see the city while avoiding car fumes. Thus, I present to you a short but scenic 3-mile (4.8-km) walk that promises great views and lots of relaxation. I’ve also included a route map.

The walk itself is mostly easy, but it does include stairs that are somewhat steep and could be challenging for folks who are not in shape. I thought an ideal starting point would be Eau Claire Market. First, it has cheap parking on weekends and holidays. Second, it has nice shops and a food court, so you can go back there to rest after the walk.

1. From Eau Claire Market, walk in the direction of the river, then take the foot bridge to Prince’s Island Park. Prince’s Island is a nice little urban park with lots of green. If you’re lucky, you might even spot a coyote.

2. Keep walking to the Bow River, then take the next foot bridge over the river (and over Memorial Drive). Keep heading towards the hill, which has some mean-looking stairs going all the way up. If you find the stairs too steep, you could walk up the gradual slope and turn left at the top to get to the same endpoint, but this alternate route may not be any easier.

3. After climbing the stairs, you’ll arrive at a beautiful panoramic view of the city center. On a clear day, you’ll also be treated to a stunning view of the Rocky Mountains.

4. At the top of the stairs, go right and follow the picturesque skyline for a while, so that you can enjoy multiple views and take lots of pictures. When you stop seeing greenery and start seeing houses, just keep going. After 150 meters, you’ll see another green patch of land on the right. Get on this green patch, which will lead you to another set of stairs. This time the stairs go down (Phew!).

5. At the bottom, go right and go under the CTrain (Calgary’s LRT) line until you hit the main road (10th Street), then go left and follow the road. This area is called Kensington, and it’s one of Calgary’s treasures, with numerous little shops and restaurants.

6. Keep following 10th Street until you reach the river again. Now, turn left and you’ll see the CTrain bridge. Take the bridge, because the lower level is for pedestrians.

7. On the other side of the bridge, turn left and continue walking beside the river while enjoying the view. You’ll eventually end up at the same bridge where you started. Once there, you can head right back to Eau Claire Market.

I hope you enjoy this walk as much as I did. This walk is easy to do at any time of year, and you’ll discover different views as the seasons change.

Below is the route map to help you find your way around. Happy walking!

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The Star Mine Suspension Bridge
Rosedale AB

The Star Mine Suspension Bridge is just a short drive out of Drumheller (less than 10 km). Leaving Drumheller, take Highway 10 East. When you reach Rosedale, take the first left after crossing the Rosebud Creek. From there it is just another short drive while following the signs.

The suspension bridge was built to get miners over the Red Deer River, but it was not originally in this location. The current bridge was built in 1958 by the government of Alberta, which also maintains it.

On arriving at The Star Mine Suspension Bridge, you find a parking lot with washrooms and plenty of picnic benches. Of course, the main event is crossing the Red Deer River by walking on the 117-meter-long suspension bridge. The bridge is narrow and gets wobbly when many people are on it. On the other side of the bridge, there is not much to see. You could walk around a bit, but don’t expect to linger there.

Last thoughts: Visiting the Rosedale Suspension Bridge is kind of fun. Don’t expect too much, but it costs no money and it’s a great way to stretch your legs after a long drive. Definitely have a look if you’re in the area, and bask in the feeling of standing on a small bridge over a wide river flowing down below.

Surroundings +++
Atmosphere +++
Experience +++
Washrooms +++

The Plain of Six Glaciers Teahouse
A 5.5-km hike from Chateau Lake Louise

If you like nature and feel like having a cup of tea somewhere other than Starbucks or Tim Horton’s, then go for the Teahouse Hike in Lake Louise. From the Chateau Lake Louise, there are two hiking options to two different teahouses. The one described here is farther out and therefore the longer hike. If you really want a challenge, you can hike to both teahouses in one day.

Before you can get your cup of tea, though, you will have to put on your hiking boots. Yes, they are not optional, because the trail is more than just compacted earth. A long stretch of the route consists of rocks, and they are small enough to make you slide and hurt yourself.

The hike can be done without a map. Just go along the lake on the right side (with the Chateau Lake Louise behind you) and keep following the trail for 5.5 kilometers. You will pass some beautiful scenery, including waterfalls, towering rockfaces (where you might spot some rock-climbers), and of course glaciers. Once you reach the teahouse you’ll be at an elevation of 2100 meters. Nearby is a nice little stream of freezing-cold mountain water. There are also two dry toilets so you don’t have to go in the bushes.

The Teahouse stands off to the side from the trail and offers seating on trail level and one level up. The food and drinks are made fresh in the teahouse, and because the teahouse doesn’t have electricity they can’t be stored long. Supplies are brought in by helicopter at the beginning of the season. After this delivery, additional supplies - if they run out - have to be carried on horses or by the teahouse employees themselves.

The teahouse welcomes you with a nice ambiance, especially after a long, exhausting hike. You’ll be glad to sit down and try some of their menu offerings. I had some great lemonade that really refreshed me and made me ready to hike a bit farther to see all the glaciers in the area.

Last thoughts: Visiting this tea house is well worth the hike. One downside is that it can get pretty busy during peak season, which could take away from your experience. Nonetheless, it’s nowhere near as busy as the Lake Agnes Teahouse, which is a much shorter hike from Chateau Lake Louise.

Drinks ++++
Service +++++
Ambiance +++++
Washrooms +++

On a nice day in August, I drove up Mount Revelstoke to the summit to see the famous Meadows in the Sky. On the way to the top, I passed several lookout points and even a cabin where visitors can prepare food on a wood-burning stove.

Meadows in the Sky is 26 km from the base of Mount Revelstoke. Be aware that even in early July there could still be snow, in which case Parks Canada will close off the road to the summit. It varies every year depending on the weather and how fast the snow melts.

On this day the meadows were open and ready for my visit. When I reached the top the parking lot was full, even though it was only 10:30 am, and I was asked to park on the side of the road. From the parking lot, visitors can take a shuttle bus to the summit or hike a steep 1-km trail.

Near the shuttle bus drop-off, you’ll find the entrance to several trails. The trails are self-guided with plenty of signage. At this time of year, the flowers were in full bloom and made for a pretty sight. I first did the Meadows in the Sky loop, which led me to some great views over beautiful hills, fields of flowers, and the Icebox, where a lot of snow was still preserved.

I also walked the loop to the Firetower, which gave me a full panoramic view of the surroundings, including Lake Revelstoke.

All in all, the trails around the summit took about an hour to complete and were well worth the effort. Outhouses were available and they were clean. From the shuttle drop-off, the more ambitious can choose to do extended hikes to three separate lakes.

Last thoughts: Meadows in the Sky is a wonderful place to visit. You can just drink in the surroundings and feast your eyes on the flowers and their vibrant colors. Bear in mind that the meadows are extremely popular in the summer, so don’t expect solitude.

Scenery +++++
Service ++++
Washrooms ++++