These early season hikes near Calgary are my tried and true early season warm-ups, and are all between 5-10 kilometers. They are close to Calgary and easy enough to give your legs and lungs a chance to get back into shape before tackling bigger summer excursions.
Ole Buck Loop, Sibbald Area
Distance: approx. 5.4 km
Elevation gain: approx. 226 m / 741 ft
Access: From Calgary, head west on highway 1. Take exit 143 for Highway 68/Sibbald Creek Trail, and turn left onto Highway 68. Turn off into Sibbald Lake Provincial Campground, and park in the day use area. Click here for map.
The first stretch of the hike brings you around the north side of the campground. A left turn orients you towards Ole Buck. Cross the bridge over Bateman Creek and the loop will be obvious from there. I like to take this one counterclockwise, and enjoy the mountain views a the end. The bench at the top of the loop is a nice spot for a rest and a snack. We did this hike in mid-April 2021. There was still some ice on the trail, but never enough that we needed to pull out crampons.
Fullerton Loop, Bragg Creek Area
Distance: 6.9 km
Elevation gain: 240 m / 787 ft
Access: The trailhead is just west of Bragg Creek on highway 66. There is a parking lot across from Allen Bill Day Use Area.
Fullerton is a half day hike. The trail takes you into a forest and up a hill, then descends along an exposed escarpment. This is a great spring taste of those famous mountain views that draw people from all over the world.
The trail is a loop. I recommend going counterclockwise, leaving the mountain views for a reward at the end of your hike. There are quite a few nice spots to stop for lunch on the last half of the hike, so save any stopping for the scenic viewpoints.
Click here to learn more about Fullerton Loop.
Paradise Trail, Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area
Distance: 8.6 km
Elevation gain: Unknown, trail includes 5 hills
Access: From Calgary, head west on highway 22x, turn left on Range Road 24 (follow signs for Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area). Go to the end of the road and register your vehicle at the parking lot. Click here for map.
The 8.6 km Paradise Trail takes hikers through an aspen forest, up to a few west-facing mountain lookouts, and around through some of the foothills that the area is known for.
Cow patties along the way remind you of the ranchlands heritage, and the dozens of birdhouses on fence posts mean there are plenty of mountain bluebirds to provide a soundtrack to your experience. Hawks and other birds of prey soar overhead, and the occasional cawing crow fills the air with noise.
Yamnuska, Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Notice: According to Alberta Parks, this area is currently closed (updated May 2022). Check the advisories here to confirm if the area is open.
Distance: approx. 7 km round trip to cliff face
Elevation gain: approx. 430 m / 1410 ft
Access: From Calgary, head west on highway 1. Take Exshaw/Seebe exit 114 and keep right. Follow highway 1X northwest to highway 1A, then turn right. Turn left into Yamnuska day use area. Map coming in summer 2018.
Mount Yamnuska is the first big mountain you see when you are driving west from Calgary on Highway 1. The mountain’s name is derived from the Stoney Nakoda word “Iyamnathka,” or “wall of stone.”
This one may not make it onto a lot of lists of early season hikes near Calgary because of the scrambling at the top. My take is that this is a really fun and beautiful hike even if you stop at the cliff face and don’t climb to the top of the mountain. It is one of the most iconic mountains in the area, and getting up to the cliff face is accessible and relatively easy.
The trail can get pretty busy as the weather improves, so I recommend getting an early start. When you get to the cliff faces, you can turn around if conditions are snowy, or continue up through a passage of rocks, and check out the view of the valley on the other side of the mountain.
If you decide to go for the summit, you will definitely want to do research and make preparations beyond reading this post, as there is a section of chains and some scrambling. Trail conditions can change quickly as the snow melts. Hiking up to the cliff face is delightful, and hiking beyond that adds an extra layer of challenge.
Eagle Hill, Sibbald Area
Distance: approx. 9 km
Elevation gain: approx. 357 m / 1171 ft
Access: From Calgary, head west on highway 1. Take exit 143 for Highway 68/Sibbald Creek Trail, and turn left onto Highway 68. Go just past Sibbald Lake Provincial Campground, and park in the day use area. Click here for Google map.
Eagle Hill is a great place to gently build distance and elevation. This hike gives the satisfaction of a little summit, and offers nice views of the Bow Valley from the top. You can start this hike from the day use area at Sibbald Lake, but I liked driving a bit farther and taking the less populated route up.
The first stretch of the hike gently climbs north through a coniferous forest. It can be very muddy in places. As the trail continues, the forest thins and the landscape opens up. A couple of bends on the path indicate the final push to the summit.
Note: at the top of this hike is the boundary to Stoney Nakoda First Nation land. Be respectful of that boundary and of the people who have always cared for the land.
Click here for more about Eagle Hill.
Jumpingpound Loop, Sibbald Area
Distance: 9.2 km
Elevation gain: 346 m / 1135 ft
Access: The Jumpingpound Loop has two access points, both on highway 68. Coming west on highway 68, the first is at Pinetop Provincial Recreation Area. I recommend driving farther west on highway 68 and starting at Pine Grove Group Campground.
Jumpingpound Loop is just under an hour away from Calgary. It is a relatively flat and easy hike, and sits at a relatively low elevation. This means it is accessible in the early spring, and often throughout the winter.
The Sibbald area tends to be quieter than Bragg Creek, and therefore is a good hike to consider if you want to take it easy, and enjoy the peaceful beauty of Kananaskis. There It is also a nice trail for mountain biking and trail running.
Click here to learn more about Jumpingpound Trail
Bow River Loop at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
Distance: approx. 10 km
Elevation gain: approx. 182 m / 597 ft
Access: From Calgary, head west on highway 1A towards Cochrane. About 14 kilometers outside of the city limits, turn left, following the signs for Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park. Click here for Google map.
If you want to get out of the city, but don’t want to drive very far, Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is a great choice. The scenery is lovely and there are 20+ kilometers of trail to explore. My favorite route is to take the paved Glenbow Trail down to the Bow River Loop trail, for a total distance of 10 kilometers.
The Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation does a great job of maintaining the trails, and there are several stops with interpretive signs if you are interested in learning more about the ranching history in this area. With a low elevation, if the snow is gone in Calgary it will be gone here, too. When it comes to planning early season hikes near Calgary, this one is a no-brainer.
Click here to learn more about hiking at Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.
Summary
Calgary is a premium home base for year round outdoor activity, but my favourite season to be outside is definitely summer. The days are long, which makes it feels like anything is possible. And the best way to get ready for an awesome summer of adventure is to make sure your legs and lungs are in good shape for dawn to dusk activity.
Do you have any favorite early season hikes near Calgary? Places that get your legs back in shape and build your confidence at the same time? I’d love to hear about them in the comments.
Happy hiking!