Refinery Park — Attraction in Calgary

I quite liked this park! It’s very unassuming, I have barely ever noticed the entrance on Ogden Road even though I have driven by a bunch of times.

I parked at the last lot, and took a short snow packed trail to the wide paved Elbow Pathway. Not much signage but I just found a trail and went. I was able to find a great smaller path right along the river for a long ways. The river is gorgeous and flowing and there were lots of ducks when I was there. You get some cool views of the bridges and even the city skyline in the distance.

Then when you head back to the main path, you get out of the trees a bit and see a big bluff with houses on it. Looks like it’s Millican Estates from the map and there’s a pathway up you can take for an even better view, I imagine!

I think this park is a little hidden gem, I only took away one star because of...

It's not an overly large park or exceptionally well-maintained, but I that's part of the appeal for this park. Trails are more footworn and suggested than other city parks, the bramble and brush a little more unkempt. But that's why you get to see geese jostling and maneuvering around each other for prime nesting real estate. Its why you get to watch a full size doe casually meander to find breakfast without concern with the city skyline laid out closely behind. Refinery is another jewel of an urban wildspace, set aside for appreciation, conservation and representation of what the land will do with warm spring mornings and minimal visitation to impede it. Go early if you can - its a pleasure to have the run of the...

Not a kid friendly park. There are men hooking up in the parking lot and in the woods surrounding. No one does anything about it. Encampments on the southern by the train tracks with sometimes angry and territorial occupants. The connecting park BeaverDam Flats is a nice park but still quite behind in reconstruction since the flood. It used to be a hidden gem of a park in Calgary with interesting wildlife and trails. Now it's...