Nose Hill Park — Attraction in Calgary

The largest natural city park in Calgary and one of the largest in north America, Nose Hill Park, is spread across an area of more than 11 square kms, and it provides habitat to a few mammals, porcupines, gophers, and ground squirrels. Mammals such as deer and coyotes may be seen roaming the grasslands. I wish I saw a deer, but I was not fortunate to see any in its natural habitat. The immense park, that leads to several hills of various heights, has paved and unpaved trails as well as tens of beaten paths. I found that some of the the narrow beaten paths were easier to climb the slope than the rough, pebbled, and challenging tracks. All the huge open area, as far as one can see in the west ( if you climb the elevation from east), has very few trees, enormous grasslands, wild flowers and vegetation, boulders at some places, and hills; there are no benches to rest anywhere while climbing (at least, I did not come across any), and has nothing much to amuse children and some people. The ascending hike is challenging to many people which is the reason why the place does not attract lots of visitors. On a Sunday evening in the beautiful summer whether, I went to 3 parking areas, and there were 75% empty spots! I; nonetheless, enjoyed the beautiful, scenic views of Calgary skyline in the south, mountains in the west, city in the east, and hills in the north. It being huge, the park has six parking lots at different locations with lots of parking spots, so it is easy to find a spot to park your vehicle anytime of the day. This is a good natural area; however, it is for hikers, dog walkers, and cyclists - it is not for picnickers, old people, and families with...

I recently had the pleasure of visiting Nose Hill Park in Calgary, and it was an incredible experience! The park is one of the largest urban parks in North America, offering vast open spaces, rolling hills, and breathtaking views of the city and surrounding landscapes. It’s an ideal spot for nature lovers, hikers, and anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life.

The trails are well-maintained and cater to all levels of fitness, making it perfect for a leisurely walk, a challenging run, or a scenic bike ride. The natural prairie landscape is home to a variety of wildlife, adding an extra layer of excitement to the visit. Bird watchers will particularly enjoy the diverse species that can be spotted here.

Nose Hill Park also features numerous benches and lookout points, providing perfect spots to rest and take in the stunning views. The park is clean and well-cared for, reflecting the city's commitment to preserving this natural oasis.

My only wish is that there were more trees to provide additional shade and enhance the park's beauty even further. More tree coverage would make it an even better place to visit on hot summer days.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, Nose Hill Park is a must-see destination in Calgary. Its expansive beauty and serene atmosphere make it a perfect place to unwind and connect with nature. I highly recommend it for a refreshing...

Great park for a long walk within the city limits. We have lived close to this park for over 20 years and never had the desire to go for a hike here. It looked so wide open to us and we don't have dogs. We parked at Berkley parking lot which is off 14 st near the NE corner of the park and headed up the asphalt paved path. It was a steady climb for the first 15-20 minutes and on this August day it was about 22 degrees by 10am. we passed two benches both offering limited but nice views of the valley below and I was amazed at how different the scenery was from what I had envisioned. you could see animal tracks and sleeping areas everywhere. Soon we saw a sign on our right indicating dog off leash area to the North. we walked about another 10 minutes to the West and I estimate we were about half way to Shaganappi trail. We decided to take a sharp 145 degree right hand turn onto an old, looked like quad track and make our way back on a dirt trail. This was a nice change from walking on hard asphalt and it was near the top of the hill. Our total trip was only 75 minutes but we were happy to be back. We had no encounters with dogs on the off leash area but one unfortunate thing was a fresh poop on the path, luckily we were alerted by the flies so we didn't step in it. I will carry a poop bag next time...