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Calgary Attractions

Bow River Pathway

If you only use one pathway in Calgary, it's probably this one. The paved route along the Bow links the northwest, downtown and the south end, and it's part of roughly 1,000 km of regional pathways the City maintains. By the City's measure, no city in North America has a bigger urban pathway and bikeway network. Downtown, the East Village section is called the Jack and Jean Leslie RiverWalk.

Operated by
City of Calgary Parks
Where
Along the Bow River
Trail
Paved pathway
Type
Walking trail

Sections Worth Knowing

Northwest: Bowness Park, Baker Park and Bowmont Park line the river.

Inner city: Edworthy Park, Pumphouse Park and the Parkdale Plaza overlook lead toward Prince's Island Park and the red Peace Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava and opened in 2012.

East Village: the RiverWalk runs to The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland, where the Elbow River flows in.

South: the path passes Inglewood and the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary on its way to Douglasdale and Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Pathway Etiquette

  • Keep right and pass on the left
  • Ring a bell or call out before passing
  • The speed limit is 20 km/h unless a sign says otherwise
  • The City clears about 400 km of paved pathways after snowfalls, usually within 24 hours, so watch for ice on other sections

Bigger Loops

The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway, a 138 km loop around the city, shares parts of this route, and the stretch south of downtown is part of the Trans Canada Trail. I like that so many river communities, from Bowness and Montgomery to Inglewood and Douglasdale, can reach it in a few minutes.

Bow River Pathway in pictures

Photographed on the ground by Kelly Baker.

Parkdale Plaza overlook on the Bow River pathway. Calgary.
Parkdale Plaza overlook on the Bow River pathway.
Bow River Pathway marker. Calgary.
Bow River Pathway marker.
Bow River Pathway access, Douglasdale. Calgary.
Bow River Pathway access, Douglasdale.
Walkway to the Bow River Pathway, Douglasdale. Calgary.
Walkway to the Bow River Pathway, Douglasdale.
Rotary/Mattamy Greenway marker, Bow River pathway. Calgary.
Rotary/Mattamy Greenway marker, Bow River pathway.
The Bow River from the pathway by Pumphouse Park. Calgary.
The Bow River from the pathway by Pumphouse Park.
Regional pathway past the Deane House, Inglewood. Calgary.
Regional pathway past the Deane House, Inglewood.
Regional pathway along the river, Inglewood. Calgary.
Regional pathway along the river, Inglewood.
Guardian lion at Sien Lok Park on the Bow River. Calgary.
Guardian lion at Sien Lok Park on the Bow River.
Pathway signpost to Edworthy, Sunalta and the Bow River, Pumphouse Park. Calgary.
Pathway signpost to Edworthy, Sunalta and the Bow River, Pumphouse Park.
Steel sculpture on the Bow River pathway, Sunalta. Calgary.
Steel sculpture on the Bow River pathway, Sunalta.
Shouldice Park accessible playground, on the Bow River pathway. Calgary.
Shouldice Park accessible playground, on the Bow River pathway.
Baker Park lawns on the Bow River, with Canada Olympic Park on the skyline. Calgary.
Baker Park lawns on the Bow River, with Canada Olympic Park on the skyline.
Bow River from the Douglasdale bank. Calgary.
Bow River from the Douglasdale bank.

Parks on the Bow River Pathway

Park pages along this trail.

Bowness ParkBaker ParkBowmont ParkShouldice Athletic ParkEdworthy ParkPrince’s Island ParkSt. Patrick’s Island ParkInglewood Bird SanctuaryPearce Estate ParkCarburn Park

Thinking about the area?

Call 403-464-6672 or send an email. I answer my own phone.

Contact Kelly