Walks 92 and 93 at a glance
Calgary’s first community, Inglewood, is a walker’s dream with its lively main street, the Elbow River and Bow River pathways, hidden stairways that lead to stunning views, historic homes, quirky back alleys, breweries and cafés, and the urban wilds, like Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Pearce Estate Park, that surround the community. An art installation, a colourful house, a little free library on a front lawn; I always have my camera at the ready for the unexpected. And the gardens here are creative, personalized and fun. Inglewood and Ramsay’s warm microclimate and rich, flood-plain soil make green thumbs of everyone. The flowers bloom earlier in the season and last longer here than anywhere else in Calgary, and the pear trees hang heavy with fruit in the fall.
St Patrick’s Island picnic spot. Photo, Lori Beattie
Both walks follow Inglewood and Ramsay side streets north across the Bow River. Walk 92 follows the pathways on St. Patrick’s Island, one of Calgary’s oldest parks. The park includes a restored channel where visitors can wade into the water and venture onto a gravel bar, or climb the nine-metre-high grassy knoll, which provides a perfect setting for community celebrations in the summer and tobogganing in winter. A seasonal riparian wetland at the heart of the island has an elevated boardwalk through the wetland and forest, important habitat for nesting eagles, owls and songbirds. And you can’t miss Bloom, a 23-metre-tall sculpture made of connected streetlights that represents a towering flower.
St Patrick’s Island walkway. Photo, Lori Beattie
Walk 93 crosses Memorial Drive into Bridgeland, Calgary’s ice cream capital. Soak up big views from Tom Campbell’s Hill off-leash park before looping back along side streets to hidden stairways that lead to Flyover Park. Both walks connect to the RiverWalk, a wide, multi-use pathway that connects the East Village, Stampede Park, Lindsay Park and Mission in the southwest. Explore East Village and check out the eight-metre-tall, upside-down church art installation called “Device to Root Out Evil” before passing by The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland. The Confluence refers to the meeting of the Bow and Elbow rivers. This geographical location is attributed to the Blackfoot creation story, and it has long been a strategic meeting place for Indigenous Peoples. The name also symbolizes the coming together of histories, cultures, and perspectives.
Take the stairs or the pathway to the top of Scotsman’s Hill, a high point that offers a bird’s-eye view of Stampede Park and the Rocky Mountain peaks beyond. Descend and connect to 9th Avenue in Inglewood, formerly Atlantic Avenue, Calgary’s first authentic main street. Packed with an eclectic mix of shops and cafes, it is a haven for independent businesses. Drop by the Esker Art Gallery, a private non-commercial gallery free to all.
The neighbourhoods on these walks are perfect for detours and self-propelled exploring. Be curious, change your route mid-stride, turn down an alley, or take that cut-through path or set of stairs just to see where it goes. Happy exploring!
Bridgeland is ice cream central with a number of top spots to satisfy your cravings. Photo, Lori Beattie
Tasty pit stops
Brewery Flats in Inglewood is home to several craft breweries. Plan to stop by The Dandy (good pizza, too!), Good Cheer, Eighty Eight, the High Line or settle in at Cold Garden with your dog. Walk the area during the Inglewood Night Market, when music, street dancing, and artisans fill the streets with energy and people. And if it’s an authentic truck stop experience that you are craving, with milkshakes and sky-high flapper pie, then stop by the Blackfoot Truckstop Diner to refuel. Good News Coffee has a cozy space and great patio, and I highly recommend a detour to Canela Vegan Bakery and Cafe for delicious vegan baked goods. Gravity Cafe is known for live music, great coffee and house-made foods. For a legit burger, fries and a banana split, stop by the Inglewood Drive-In. The Simmons Building on the RiverWalk is home to Sidewalk Citizen Bakery and Phil and Sebastien Coffee. And don’t miss the tiny Apprentice Café for house-made ice cream (the best affagato in Calgary) and focaccia sandwiches. More locally made ice cream can be found in Inglewood and Bridgeland at Made by Marcus, Village, Luke’s and Noto Gelato.
An art piece to root out evil in East Village. Photo, Lori Beattie
The details
Categories: LRT, cafes, breweries, dogs, nature, neighbourhoods and parks, people watching, shopping, historic, vistas, river
Start: 17th Avenue and 9th Street S.E. or Pearce Estate Park. If starting from the LRT, use City Hall or Bridgeland stations
Distance: 6.5 to 7 kilometres (hills, sidewalks, paved paths, and stairs)
Facilities: Public Washrooms in the East Village
More info: Learn about Inglewood events https://www.inglewoodyyc.ca/community-events and https://eskerfoundation.com/ for the Esker Gallery events. Check out https://www.calgarypublicartguide.com/ to learn about the art on the walk.
Lori Beattie is the author of Calgary’s Best Walks: 95 urban jaunts, nature strolls and tasty pit stops and Calgary’s Best Bike Rides. Join Lori for a free walk at Bike-A-Palooza on Sept. 20 and on free Calgary Library Walks in October and November. She leads year-round walks with her company Fit Frog Adventures. Learn more at www.fitfrog.ca & Instagram @lorifitfrog
walks