First pick
Nose Hill Park
Park or garden
1,114 ha138.7 km of path
30 h 50 minto walk all 138.7 km of path
8.4 km northfrom the centre
South Fence TrailSeat Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Photo: Dwayne Reilander · CC BY-SA 4.01.9%protected within 10 km
Outdoors in Calgary · parks, protected land & trails
A provincial park at Calgary’s edge: Fish Creek Provincial Park
29 beaches are mapped within 5 km, the nearest Bowmont Beach. The largest is Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area: 1,943 ha, 1.6 km from the edge of town. Banff National Park is the closest national park, 60 km from town.
Protected land
1.9%
of the land within 10 km
Typical Canadian town: 2.3%
Protected areas
5
within 10 km, 5 public
Typical Canadian town: 14
Nearest national park
60 km
Banff National Park
Nearest provincial park
At the edge
Fish Creek Provincial Park
Walking routes
1
named, within 2 km (OpenStreetMap)
Beaches
29
within 5 km (OpenStreetMap)
Character
What Calgary has going for it outdoors
Each figure against Canadian towns of 2,500+; tap a tile for the detail.
A provincial park at the edgeFish Creek Provincial Park reaches the townBeaches29 beaches within 5 km
Out of doors, Calgary leads with a provincial park at its edge, with its beaches close behind.
Against other towns
Calgary against other Canadian towns
Each figure against the 2,611 Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+ (not city hubs or reserves), with the town marked and the typical one’s line. Canada’s grades don’t include the outdoors, so this page compares the figures rather than grading them.
Protected within 10 km1.9%Share of the land and water within 10 km of the town’s edge in a protected or conserved area
Protected in town1.9%Share of the town’s own area in a protected or conserved area
Public protected areas5Areas within 10 km held by a government or an Indigenous nation
Walking routes1Named OpenStreetMap walking and hiking routes with 300 m+ within 2 km
Beaches29Beaches mapped on OpenStreetMap within 5 km
CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC, 2026), OpenStreetMap (November 2026). Distances from the town’s outline.
Towns its size
Calgary has the 15th least protected land nearby of 40 towns its size
The 40 Canadian towns nearest in population (106,752 to 1,612,834 residents), by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected. Hover for each one’s figures; click for its page.
Protected within 10 km
Calgary1.9%
Towns its size3.1%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Public protected areas
Calgary5
Towns its size15
Towns in Alberta2
Typical Canadian town4
Walking routes
Calgary1
Towns its size2
Towns in Alberta0
Typical Canadian town0
Where Calgary trails its peers is public protected areas; 29 of 39 have more.
Every town in the comparison
| Town | Protected within 10 km | In town | Areas | Routes | Beaches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coquitlam BC | 25% | 28% | 130 | 5 | 69 |
| 2 | Delta BC | 24% | 17% | 181 | 9 | 19 |
| 3 | Richmond BC | 21% | 3.2% | 73 | 2 | 31 |
| 4 | Kamloops BC | 14% | 13% | 16 | 0 | 11 |
| 5 | Kelowna BC | 13% | 3.8% | 36 | 0 | 42 |
| 6 | Saanich BC | 11% | 9.4% | 43 | 7 | 56 |
| 7 | Strathcona County AB | 9.4% | 1.4% | 38 | 7 | 6 |
| 8 | Trois-Rivières QC | 8.4% | 1.2% | 44 | 1 | 10 |
| 9 | Cape Breton NS | 8.2% | 8.6% | 176 | 1 | 74 |
| 10 | Pickering ON | 7.6% | 11% | 46 | 1 | 11 |
| 11 | Greater Sudbury / Grand Sudbury ON | 6.7% | 3.5% | 43 | 5 | 18 |
| 12 | Saguenay QC | 6% | 6.1% | 29 | 0 | 11 |
| 13 | Kingston ON | 5% | 6.2% | 54 | 2 | 5 |
| 14 | Ajax ON | 4.9% | 5.8% | 31 | 1 | 8 |
| 15 | Lévis QC | 4.1% | 0.6% | 62 | 1 | 8 |
| 16 | Sherbrooke QC | 4.1% | 0.8% | 23 | 2 | 3 |
| 17 | Whitby ON | 3.9% | 4.7% | 37 | 1 | 3 |
| 18 | Abbotsford BC | 3.9% | 0.5% | 37 | 2 | 10 |
| 19 | Terrebonne QC | 3.8% | 3.6% | 60 | 0 | 3 |
| 20 | Langley BC | 3.5% | 2.9% | 144 | 8 | 10 |
| 21 | Barrie ON | 2.6% | 0% | 9 | 0 | 8 |
| 22 | Burlington ON | 2.5% | 1.6% | 27 | 2 | 17 |
| 23 | Oshawa ON | 2.4% | 0.3% | 30 | 1 | 4 |
| 24 | St. John's NL | 2.2% | 1.2% | 6 | 1 | 41 |
| 25 | Richmond Hill ON | 1.9% | 8.4% | 51 | 1 | 0 |
| 26 | Calgary AB | 1.9% | 1.9% | 5 | 1 | 29 |
| 27 | Nanaimo BC | 1.9% | 6.7% | 42 | 2 | 33 |
| 28 | Cambridge ON | 1.7% | 0.4% | 33 | 10 | 2 |
| 29 | Bowmanville ON | 1.6% | 3% | 25 | 2 | 9 |
| 30 | Milton ON | 1.3% | 0% | 38 | 15 | 3 |
| 31 | St. Catharines ON | 1.2% | 1.7% | 15 | 4 | 7 |
| 32 | Niagara Falls ON | 1.1% | 1.7% | 15 | 3 | 4 |
| 33 | Chatham ON | 1% | 1% | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| 34 | Guelph ON | 0.9% | 3.1% | 15 | 10 | 5 |
| 35 | Oakville ON | 0.9% | 4.1% | 8 | 1 | 9 |
| 36 | Red Deer AB | 0.7% | 1.2% | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 37 | Waterloo ON | 0.6% | 0% | 17 | 12 | 1 |
| 38 | Lethbridge AB | 0.4% | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | Brantford ON | 0.3% | 0% | 15 | 3 | 0 |
| 40 | Thunder Bay ON | 0.1% | 0.4% | 3 | 0 | 4 |
The map
The green map of Calgary
Green space, woods, protected areas and footpaths in and around the city; tap a number for its park or wood.
Green: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, playing fields and woods. Hatched: CPCAD protected areas.© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); CPCAD (OGL-Canada)
Places to walk
30 named parks and woods to walk in near Calgary
Largest first: Nose Hill Park leads with 1,114 ha. Numbers match the map.
30 named parks and woods, 2,902 ha in all
Parks & gardens 2,816 haWoods 86 ha
Nose Hill Park plus Nose Hill Park Off-Leash Area account for 50% of the green.
Nose Hill Park Off-Leash Area
Park or garden
336 ha30.8 km of path
6 h 50 minto walk all 30.8 km of path
8.8 km northfrom the centre
Seat Trail
Directionsto a point inside
Nose Creek Park
Park or garden
201 ha27.9 km of path
6 h 10 minto walk all 27.9 km of path
10 km northfrom the centre
Nose Creek Pathway
Directionsto a point inside
Bowmont Park
Park or garden
135 ha34.5 km of path
7 h 40 minto walk all 34.5 km of path
11 km north-westfrom the centre
CMBA LinkFournier Trail
Directionsto a point inside
12 Mile Coulee
Park or garden
114 ha22 km of path
4 h 55 minto walk all 22 km of path
15 km north-westfrom the centre
12-Mile Coulee Trail System12-Mile Coulee Trail System (West)12-Mile Coulee Trail System (Upper)+4 paths
Directionsto a point inside
South Glenmore Park
Park or garden
98 ha24.8 km of path
5 h 30 minto walk all 24.8 km of path
8.4 km south-westfrom the centre
Jackrabbit TrailRotary/Mattamy Greenway
Directionsto a point inside
Edworthy Park
Park or garden
71 ha13 km of path
2 h 55 minto walk all 13 km of path
6.8 km westfrom the centre
Christmas Tree TrailBow River Pathway (South)
Directionsto a point inside
North Glenmore Park
Park or garden
72 ha12.3 km of path
2 h 45 minto walk all 12.3 km of path
7.2 km south-westfrom the centre
Aspen Trail
Directionsto a point inside
All 30 named parks and green spaces
Nose Hill ParkPark or garden · 1,114 ha · 138.7 km of path
DirectionsNose Hill Park Off-Leash AreaPark or garden · 336 ha · 30.8 km of path
DirectionsNose Creek ParkPark or garden · 201 ha · 27.9 km of path
DirectionsBowmont ParkPark or garden · 135 ha · 34.5 km of path
Directions12 Mile CouleePark or garden · 114 ha · 22 km of path
DirectionsSouth Glenmore ParkPark or garden · 98 ha · 24.8 km of path
DirectionsEdworthy ParkPark or garden · 71 ha · 13 km of path
DirectionsNorth Glenmore ParkPark or garden · 72 ha · 12.3 km of path
DirectionsCanada Olympic ParkPark or garden · 80 ha · 8.4 km of path
DirectionsDale Hodges ParkPark or garden · 56 ha · 12.4 km of path
DirectionsBowness ParkPark or garden · 47 ha · 10.3 km of path
DirectionsEdgemont RavinePark or garden · 56 ha · 5.2 km of path
DirectionsElliston ParkPark or garden · 45 ha · 7.4 km of path
DirectionsPaskapoo SlopesWood or forest · 86 ha · 15.1 km of path
DirectionsSue Higgins ParkPark or garden · 36 ha · 9 km of path
DirectionsConfederation ParkPark or garden · 42 ha · 5.1 km of path
DirectionsCarburn ParkPark or garden · 33 ha · 4.9 km of path
DirectionsBeaverdam Flats FeederPark or garden · 31 ha · 4.3 km of path
DirectionsRiver ParkPark or garden · 24 ha · 5.7 km of path
DirectionsBritannia SlopesPark or garden · 21 ha · 6.5 km of path
DirectionsTom Campbell's HillPark or garden · 23 ha · 5 km of path
DirectionsStanley ParkPark or garden · 22 ha · 4.5 km of path
DirectionsHaskayne Legacy ParkPark or garden · 27 ha · 2 km of path
DirectionsOld Refinery ParkPark or garden · 26 ha · 1.8 km of path
DirectionsPearce Estate ParkPark or garden · 19 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsLaycock ParkPark or garden · 20 ha · 2.7 km of path
DirectionsBig Marlborough ParkPark or garden · 21 ha · 1.9 km of path
DirectionsPrairie Winds ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 3.6 km of path
DirectionsPrince's Island ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 3.8 km of path
DirectionsBaker ParkPark or garden · 16 ha · 3.5 km of path
DirectionsSource: OpenStreetMap parks, gardens, commons and woods with a name, in the town or within 400 m, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Sizes are the mapped outline’s.
Close to home
Nearly all of Calgary is a short walk from a park
Residents of each 2021 dissemination area, at a point inside it, within 400 m (about a 5-minute walk) of a park or playing field mapped on OpenStreetMap.
Within 400 m (95%)Further (4.6%)
Calgary95%
Towns in Alberta100%
Typical Canadian town83%
That leaves about 74,000 people more than a short walk away. A typical Canadian town reaches only 83%.
Protected areas
Within 10 km of Calgary, 1.9% is protected land
Every protected and conserved area in CPCAD within 10 km of the town’s edge: parks, reserves, wildlife areas and conservation land.
Inside Calgary1.9%
Within 10 km1.9%
Towns in Alberta0.4%
Typical Canadian town2.3%
Every one of the 5 is on public land. Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area covers 1,943 ha, the most of any named area.
Fish Creek Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,361 ha · reaches Calgary
Glenbow Ranch Provincial ParkProvincial park · 1,337 ha · reaches Calgary
Inglewood Migratory Bird SanctuaryWildlife area · 111 ha · reaches Calgary
Griffith Woods ParkMunicipal park · 110 ha · reaches Calgary
Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation AreaNature reserve · 1,943 ha · 1.6 km from the edge of town
Source: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
National & provincial parks
The nearest big park: Banff National Park, 60 km away
National parks (Parks Canada) and provincial or territorial parks by direction and distance from the town’s edge: every one within 10 km, and the nearest of each within 100 km.
National parkProvincial park
Provincial park
Fish Creek Provincial Park
At the edge14 km²since 1975
Provincial park
Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park
At the edge13 km²since 2008
National park
Banff National Park
60 km north-west6,641 km²since 1885
Within 10 km are 2 provincial parks.
Source: CPCAD 2.9.0 (ECCC): areas and outlines, distances outline to outline; directions from the town’s centre point.
Footpaths and woods
Calgary and its edge hold 2,848 km of footpath
OpenStreetMap footpaths, paths, bridleways and steps, and tracks open on foot, in the town and 1 km around it; woods as mapped (landuse=forest, natural=wood).
Footpaths
2,848 km
in and around the town (1,006.7 km²)
Woodland
2.4%
about 23.8 km² of mapped woods
Footpaths · km per km²
CalgaryTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Footpaths2.8
024 km per km²
Share of the land · mapped woods and forest
CalgaryTowns in AlbertaTypical Canadian town
Woodland2.4%
0%50%100%
Woods cover less of it than in 73% of Canadian towns. Few places match it for paths: more than 69% of Canadian towns have fewer.
Source: OpenStreetMap, © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Mapping varies by place: a dense figure can mean keen local mappers as much as many paths.
Walking routes
1 walking route near Calgary
Named walking and hiking routes on OpenStreetMap with at least 300 m within 2 km of the town, longest first; national routes lead.
Local
Calgary Plus 1510.5 km
Source: OpenStreetMap (route relations hiking, foot and walking), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Trans Canada Trail sections as OSM maps them.
When to get out
Get out in Calgary in May and July to September
Environment and Climate Change Canada’s 1991–2020 normals from Calgary (Airport) (9.6 km), and daylight at the town’s latitude. Good months: 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15–30 °C, little rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.4 | 9.9 | 11.7 | 13.8 | 15.5 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.8 | 7.9 |
| High (°C) | -2 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Rain & snow (mm) | 10 | 12 | 18 | 30 | 61 | 113 | 66 | 54 | 37 | 17 | 16 | 13 |
About 139 cm of snow falls in a year. For dry weather, January is best (10 mm); June gets 113 mm. January brings highs of -2 °C, July highs of 24 °C. The climate in Calgary →
Beaches
Calgary has 29 beaches close by
Beaches on OpenStreetMap within 5 km of the town’s edge, nearest first, with directions.
Bowmont Beachin town
DirectionsBowmont Beachin town
DirectionsSikome Lake Northsand · in town
DirectionsSikome Lake Southsand · in town
DirectionsSikome Lake Westsand · in town
DirectionsTrout Beachrock · in town
DirectionsDog Park Beach3.0 km from town
DirectionsCove Beach3.4 km from town
DirectionsThe map adds 21 unnamed stretches of beach. 3 are mapped as sand. Whether the water is fit for a swim isn’t in any open national dataset; public health posts the local advisories.
Source: OpenStreetMap (natural=beach), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Things to do
Near Calgary: 42 viewpoints, 5 waterfalls
Viewpoints, peaks, waterfalls, picnic sites, nature reserves, playgrounds, dog parks, campsites and boat launches mapped within 2 km of the town.
42Viewpoints1Hills and peaks5Waterfalls10Nature reserves90Picnic sites1674Playgrounds65Dog parks1Campsites31Slipways
Playgrounds lead the count with 1,674. Top Hill tops the hills nearby, 1,298 m.
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 42
Evamy Ridgein town
DirectionsLookoutin town
DirectionsScotsman's Hillin town
DirectionsTom Campbell's Hillin town
DirectionsPlus 38 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 1
Top Hill1,298 m · in town
DirectionsWaterfalls 5
Plus 5 waterfalls without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 10
Aspen Parkin town
DirectionsGriffith Woodsin town
DirectionsInglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centrein town
DirectionsInglewood Wildland Parkin town
DirectionsMayland Heights Mini Forestin town
DirectionsRalph Klein Parkin town
DirectionsWeaselhead Flatsin town
DirectionsPlus 3 nature reserves without a name on the map.
Picnic sites 90
Aspen Group Use Sitein town
DirectionsBlackbird Group Use Sitein town
DirectionsBlue Heron Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsBlue Jay Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsChickadee Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsGlennfield Day Use Areain town
DirectionsGolden Eagle Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsKingfisher Picnic Sitein town
DirectionsPlus 82 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 1674
Accessible Playgroundin town
DirectionsAlberta Children's Hospital Playgroundin town
DirectionsArbour Lake School Playgroundin town
DirectionsAspen Playgroundin town
DirectionsBarker Memorial Parkin town
DirectionsBastet Playgroundin town
DirectionsBlue Impin town
DirectionsBlue Planet Child Care Outdoor Playgroundin town
DirectionsPlus 1666 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Dog parks 65
Auburn Bay Dog Parkin town
DirectionsBLVD Barkin town
DirectionsCambrian Heights Off-Leash Area 2in town
DirectionsCambrian Heights Off-Leash Area 3in town
DirectionsCurrie Bark Parkin town
DirectionsDalhousie off-leash area 2in town
DirectionsEvanston Off-Leash Dog Areain town
DirectionsFairview Off-Leash Dog Parkin town
DirectionsPlus 57 dog parks without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Mountainview Camping1.0 km from town
DirectionsSlipways 31
McKinnon flatsin town
DirectionsPoliceman's Flats0.1 km from town
DirectionsPlus 29 slipways without a name on the map.
Source: OpenStreetMap (tourism, natural, waterway and leisure tags), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.
Gardens to visit
Near Calgary: 6 gardens and parks to visit
Gardens and arboretums within 15 km of the town’s edge, and the historic gardens, parks and estates in the town itself, nearest first.
Barb Scott ParkGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsDevonian GardensGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsGriffith Woods ParkGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsOlympic PlazaGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsPrince's Island ParkGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsRotary ParkGarden or park · at the edge of town
DirectionsSources: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden), © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL, and Wikidata (CC0), as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic places from Parks Canada’s Directory of Federal Heritage Designations, the Canadian Register of Historic Places and Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel.
Next door
Next to Calgary
The nearest places, coloured by the share of the land within 10 km that is protected; tap one for its outdoors page.
BeltlineMissionDowntown Commercial CoreEau ClaireDowntown East VillageLower Mount RoyalCalgary
Under 1%1–5%5–15%15–40%40%+
| Town | Protected within 10 km | Areas | Routes | Beaches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | 1.9% | 5 | 1 | 29 |
| Beltline 0.7 km | 0.5% | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Mission 0.9 km | 0.4% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Downtown Commercial Core 1.1 km | 0.4% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Eau Claire 1.3 km | 0.4% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Downtown East Village 1.3 km | 0.3% | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lower Mount Royal 1.5 km | 0.6% | 2 | 1 | 1 |
None of the places nearby has twice as much protected land around it as Calgary.
How to read these numbers
What this data can and can’t tell you
- National and provincial parks. A park at 0 km touches or overlaps the town’s outline; directions point from the town’s centre.
- Protected land. CPCAD maps each protected area; the page counts how much of the 10 km around the town they cover, lakes and sea included.
- Private land. CPCAD includes conservation land held privately; the page counts it and leaves the names out.
- Beaches. The count includes unnamed stretches mapped as beach, which can make a lakeside town’s figure large.
- Walking routes. The list is OpenStreetMap’s, so a missing trail may just be unmapped. The Trans Canada Trail appears where OSM maps it.
Questions about the outdoors in Calgary
What is the nearest national park to Calgary?
The nearest is Banff National Park, 60 km away.
What is the biggest park or reserve near Calgary?
Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area: 1,943 ha, a nature reserve.
Is there protected land near Calgary?
Yes: 1.9% of the land within 10 km is protected.
Where can you walk near Calgary?
The Calgary Plus 15, mapped within 2 km.
What is the nearest beach to Calgary?
Bowmont Beach, in town, is the nearest mapped beach.
What is the best season to get outdoors in Calgary?
On the normals, May and July to September: that is when days are long, highs reach 15 °C and rain is light.
Is there a provincial park near Calgary?
Fish Creek Provincial Park begins at the town’s edge.
Sources
Where Calgary’s outdoors figures come from
Protected areas: Canadian Protected and Conserved Areas Database (CPCAD) 2.9.0, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 2026: every area within 10 km and the nearest national and provincial parks, measured outline to outline.
Walking routes and beaches: OpenStreetMap, November 2026: named hiking, foot and walking route relations within 2 km and beaches within 5 km.
Towns: Statistics Canada 2021 Census boundaries and populations; the comparison is the Canadian towns and neighbourhoods of 2,500+, not city hubs or reserves.
When to go: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, from the nearest station that publishes them.
Gardens: OpenStreetMap (leisure=garden) and Wikidata gardens within 15 km, as gathered in TownRatings’ Canadian attractions set; historic gardens and parks from Canada’s heritage registers (Parks Canada DFHD, the Canadian Register of Historic Places, Québec’s Répertoire du patrimoine culturel).
Green space, paths, woods, things to do: OpenStreetMap (Geofabrik’s Canada extract), November 2026: parks, gardens, playing fields, woods, footpaths, the coastline and things to do in and around each town.
Residents: Statistics Canada 2021 Census dissemination areas (population, boundaries), each at a point inside it.
Walking routes and beaches © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database Licence (ODbL).
Not on this page: trailheads and trail grades, and beach water quality. No open Canadian dataset gives these for every town yet.
Adapted from Statistics Canada (Census of Population 2021, population estimates 2025, 2021 census boundaries) under the Statistics Canada Open Licence; this does not constitute an endorsement by Statistics Canada. Neighbourhood names in some cities © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).