Fit
Frog Winter
2010
Urban
Hike Descriptions By Quadrant
(Print
the Winter
2010 Calendar and refer to it for dates)
(B) means bathroom at
trailhead
Southwest
Britannia – Off
Elbow Drive
and 49 Ave. Meet outside the Starbucks Café. Description: Our trek begins in
Britannia as we head to
Stanley
Park
. Ridge-top walking above the
Elbow
River
gives us fantastic city skyline views. The stairs and hills on this walk will
keep us warm! Dates: CH – Wed., Feb. 10
Calgary
Farmer’s Market & Area - Meet at the
Calgary
's Farmer's Market. From Crowchild Trail take
Flanders Avenue west
and follow the signs to the market. Meet at the doors at the far south end of
the building (beside “The Cherry Pit” stall). Description: There are a
variety of walks from this location. If we head east we’ll trek through the
neighbourhoods of Garrison Woods, Altadore and find some hills at
River
Park
. If we head west we'll visit Currie and
Glendale
. But the best part of the morning is our post-hike coffee break at the Calgary
Farmers Market. Dates: CSH- Sat., Jan. 23
Elbow
Park
– Meet outside the Elbow Park Community Centre and skating rink
on 34 Ave. at the 7A St. intersection. Description:
Our trek takes us through the
Christmas lit neighbourhoods of
Elbow
Park
and
Mount Royal
. Dates: Christmas Lights Hike- Wed., Dec. 9;
Tues., Dec. 15
Marda Loop
& South Calgary - Meet
at the corner of 31 Ave., and 20
St.
, SW. Meet on the EAST side of 20 Street. This is just off 33 Ave., the official
shopping street called Marda Loop. Description: Our trek takes us through a variety of inner-city southwest
neighbourhoods and parks. Dates: CSH-
Tues., Feb. 23
Roxboro–Meet
at the corner of Roxboro Rd. and Roxboro Glen Rd. Access Roxboro Rd. off 4th St
just south of 26 Ave. over the Mission Bridge. Description: Hidden pathways,
stairs and hills, river trails, interesting architecture and some great
gardening ideas.
Dates:
CH- Wed., Mar. 17
Sandy
Beach -Take 14A St or 50 Ave and follow past the Emily Follensbee Centre down
the hill to the last parking lot at the bottom of the hill. The lot beside
the playground. Description: There are many Fit Frog
routes from this location. Expect
hilltop jaunts that lead to fantastic
Elbow
River
and mountain views.
Dates:
CSH – Sun., Jan. 17; CSH – Tues., Feb. 9
South
Glenmore
Park
(B)– Park near the
Glenmore
Sailing
School
at
90th Ave.
and
24th St.
After turning onto the road to the sailing school take your first left to get
to the public parking area. Park facing the picnic shelter at the far north end
of the large parking lot. Dates:
CSH – Thurs., Jan. 21; CSH – Sat., Feb. 6
Stanley
Park
– Meet at the
42nd Ave.
and
1st St
parking lot. Description: We’ll walk through treed hillsides to
reach ridge-top views of the
Elbow
River
. We’ll explore the stairs and
hills of Parkhill, Roxboro and
Elbow
Park
. It’s a wonderful combination of parks and neighbourhoods. Our post-hike
pit-stop is Manuel Latruwe Patisserie and Bakery for some truly decadent
European cappuccinos and pastries.
Dates: CSH – Thurs.,
Feb.18
Weaselhead
(B)– From Glenmore Trail take
37th St. south
to 66 Avenue. Park in the
“Weaselhead Parking Lot” at the 66 Avenue / 37 Street intersections. Description:
This mostly flat route follows the gravel trails in the Weaselhead trail system
along the
Elbow
River
. Fantastic views of the Glenmore Reservoir are the reward for a hill climb at
the end of the hike.
Dates:
CSH- Sat., Jan. 9; CSH – Tues., Mar. 9
Southeast
Ramsey–
Meet at the intersection of 24 Avenue and 7 Street, SE. Parking is on the
street. Description:
This relatively flat hike starts with a climb to a spectacular view of
the Saddledome and the downtown core. Historic neighbourhoods, the
Bow
River
and some funky window shopping are all part of this walk. Dates: CSH –Thurs.,
Mar. 4
Northeast
Bridgeland
–Meet at the intersection of 7A St and 1 Avenue, NE (just outside the
Heartland Café). FREE 3 hour parking is available at the end of 7A
St.
or on side streets. Description:
Fantastic city views from Tom Campbell’s Hill are mixed with stairs, hills
and the
Bow
River
. Dates: CSH – Sat.,
Feb. 20
Northwest
Bowmont
Park
East End - At the intersection of
Home Road
and
52nd Street, NW
(one way), turn onto 52 Street and take the first right into the parking lot
for
Bowmont
Park
. Meet at the first parking lot you come to after you turn onto
52nd St.
from
Home Road
. Once in the parking lot you will see a sign near the chain fence that say
Bowmont
Natural
Environment
Park
. Description: A flat start on paved paths follows the
Bow
River
. The terrain becomes earthy and hilly as you climb to views of the
Rockies
and river valley. Dates: CSH – Thurs., Jan. 7
Bowmont
Park
WEST End – Park in an official
gravel parking lot on the north side of the
Bow
River
, at the
85th St
and
Bearspaw Dam Road
intersection. Access this intersection from 1)
Nose Hill Dr.
to
87th St
and left onto
Bearspaw Dam Rd.
At the “sharp turn” sign you turn left onto what used to be a road but now
has car access to an official gravel parking area. OR
2) Bowness Road
becomes
85th St
– continue over the
Bow
River
and an overpass bridge. At the sharp turn to the left you continue straight
onto what used to be a road but now has car access to a gravel parking area.
Park in the first parking area. Description: The best-kept secret
in the city!! Rolling hills and ridge walks; waterfalls and hills that will make
your mouth water! Really!! Dates: CSH – Thurs., Dec. 3; CSH- Tues., Jan. 26
Briar Hill -
Meet on the corner of
19th St.
and
2nd Ave.
There is street parking throughout the area. Description:
This neighborhood trek takes us through Briar Hill and
West Hillhurst
; up hills and along a ridge-top walk overlooking the Parkdale community. Dates:
CH – Wed., Jan. 27
Confederation
Park
– Park in the official parking
lot on 10
St.
between 24 Ave. and Rosehill Dr. There are two parking lots. We meet in the lot
on the west side of 10 St. Description: The mostly flat trek starts
on the paved paths of
Confederation
Park
. Soon we’ll hike past the golf course and into Capital Hill. A combination of
sidewalks and paved paths make up the rest of the hike through the surrounding
neighbourhoods. Dates:
CSH – Thurs., Feb. 4
Edworthy
& Wildwood (B)-
At the intersection of Shagannappi and
Bowness Road
turn onto Montgomery View and park in the parking lot near the bathrooms.
Description: A hill of stairs leads us into a Douglas fir forest and into
the neighbourhood of Wildwood. We’ll find some wonderful hills view cityscape
views on our return.
Dates:
CSH- Tues., Jan. 12
Nose
Hill Edgemont (B)- Meet at
the
Edgemont Blvd.
parking lot off Shaganappi Trail. Description:
Rolling hills, deer and coyotes; city and mountain views. The uneven earthy
terrain makes this a wonderful place to challenge all the muscles in your body!
If there is snow on Nose Hill we
will walk through Edgemont to the Ravines.
Dates:
CSH –Thurs., Mar. 13
Riley Park- Meet at the corner of 8 Ave and 12
St.
Description: We’ll zigzag our way from parkland to ridge-top.
Stairs, hills and even more stairs – it’s great for hiking training. Dates:
Christmas Lights Hike – Tues., Dec. 1; Wed., Feb. 24
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photos, graphics and written material are Copyright © 1997-2010 Fit Frog Adventures™.
All rights reserved. Revised: December 09, 2009
