Parks are the best place to relax, enjoy picnics, a gateway to the family outing, spend time with loved ones, take a short walk, and spend quality time in the playground. Wouldn’t it be more exciting if it also had many more exciting things to offer?
Well! If you are looking for a perfect park to chill out in leisure in Alberta, Calgary Park is indeed a great choice. Calgary Parks has a lot more to offer.
Where is Calgary?
Wonder where it is? Calgary is a city in Alberta, Canada. This third-largest city has numerous parks around to explore, loaded with activities and breathtaking sceneries that are well maintained throughout the year.
Mikhail Zapolskyi on Shutterstock.Copyright 2022Two Rivers, The Bow River and The Elbow River, run through the city as well as through some parks. All parks are easily accessible by public transport, cycling, or by walk.
Check out Some Of The Best Parks in Calgary
Parks in Downtown Calgary
1. St Patrick’s Island Park
Pack your bag for a picnic, at a Family-friendly park, one of the oldest ones which has a lot to offer and is a place for celebration.
A 31-hectare area between the River Bow is the St. Patricks Island Park, a place for biking and hiking trails. It also has a children’s play area, Amphitheatre, and a public plaza.
Easily accessible from the east village through George C King Bridge. Get an excellent view of Calgary downtown and the Bow River; gather and celebrate where they have an excellent setup on a small hill inside the park that is 9 meters high. Enjoy the tall sculpture representing a towering flower.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 1300 Zoo Rd. NE
2. Prince’s Island Park
Prince’s Island Park was named after Peter Antony Prince and is one of the highly visited parks and a place for recreation for all the Calgarians.
This beautiful park holds various events and festivals throughout the year, including the Calgary folk festival and Canada Day Celebration.
The east end of Prince’s Island Park is the Chevron Pathway, designed in such a way to educate and entertain visitors. It also has a play area, picnic spots, a flower garden, hiking trails, and seasonal attractions like a water fountain, cross country skiing and outdoor skating.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 4 St. and 1 Ave. SW.

3. Eau Claire Plaza
Apart from parks, visit the Eau Claire, the most popular area of Calgary, located north of downtown and south of Bow River. Inside this are the Eau Claire market, pubs, and restaurants.
It is named after the Eau Claire Lumber Company. Now, this plaza holds a lot of festivals and events throughout the year.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 3 St. & Riverfront Ave. SW.
Parks in NorthWest Calgary
4. Shouldice Park
Shouldice Park, named after James Shouldice, who donated his land to the city, is in Northwest Calgary, which has too many things to do. From picnic sites to the aquatic centre, boat ramp to baseball court, a 28-hectare vast area is a combination of an athletic park and a relaxing place.
The universal playground features accessible flooring in Shouldice Park is designed in such a way that children of all abilities can play and take part in sports. Cool view of the Bow River where you can relax or go boating and have your kids play along. Also, enjoy the free pits and BBQs and have fun.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 4900 Monserrat Dr. NW
5. Nose Hill Park
As the name suggests, it looks like a nose from a certain distance, thus the name Nose Hill. The 1129 area hectare Park was formed in 1980 and is a place where people connect with nature and wildlife.
Explore the off-leash areas and hiking trails while enjoying the native Grassland. Take a look at the various plant life, including the trembling aspen that dominates and provides shelter to various wildlife animals.
Encounter Deer, Coyotes, porcupines, Richerson’s ground Squirrels, Mice, and Voles inside.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 5620 14 St. NW

6. Confederation Park
Confederation Park is also known as ‘the north hill coulee.’ Learn to golf from the confederation park golf course, which offers various golf lessons and fun-filled events, cross country skiing throughout the year but may be subjected to the weather conditions.
This 162-hectare park was formed in 1967. It has many things to explore. It also hosts the lion Festival of Lights every year daily during December and early January from 7 PM to midnight.
It also has a picnic area, inclusive playground, multi-level fort, flower garden, Tennis courts, baseball diamonds, tobogganing, and much more, a favorite place for many Calgarians.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 905 30 Ave NW.
7. Baker Park
Are you planning an outdoor wedding? Then Baker Park has it all. Situated in the North West of Calgary across the Bow River from Bowness Park.
Calgary’s best family recreation parks have picnic areas, pathways, promenades, an arbor, a grass amphitheater, a disc golf course, and much more.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 9333 Scenic Bow Rd. NW.
8. Riley Park
One of the favorite destinations of NorthWest Calgary and home to the cricket pitch is Riley Park. This area of the 9-hectare park has a wading pool, spray park, and outdoor pools.
It has a beautiful flower and rock garden, the Senator Patrick Burns Memorial Rock Garden, named after Senator Patrick Burns, a famous businessman, politician, and rancher.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 800 12 St. N.W.
Parks in NorthEast Calgary

9. Prairie Winds Park
The largest park in the Northeast is Prairie Winds Park.
This 16-hectare Prairie Winds Park is a place to have fun activities and relax with many amenities like a spray park, a wading pool to spend summer months, outdoor skating, a soccer ball field, a toboggan hill, playgrounds, tennis courts, a cricket pitch and much more.
If you are there for a picnic, make use of the picnic areas. No airborne devices are permitted inside Prairie Winds Park since it is close to the airport.
opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 223 Castleridge Blvd. NE
10. West Nose Creek Park
This 73-hectare park has various features like trails, off-leash areas, bridges, running trails, pathways, natural playground. It is home to the riparian zone.
It also has various plants and wildlife. You can find Split Rock, a historic stone quarry where stones from this quarry are used to build many historic buildings in Calgary, grasslands, and a great view of beaver dams.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 300 Beddington Tr. NE.
11. Rotary Park
This 5.9-hectare park in the NorthEast of Calgary is home to playgrounds, spray parks, picnic areas, water features, tennis courts, lawn bowling, and much more.
There is a beautiful vantage point, ‘ Jim Fish Ridge’ on the south side of the Rotary Park.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 617 1 St. N.E.

12. Big Marlborough Park
This 18-hectare park is the largest in the Malborough community and is popular among kids since it is surrounded by three schools which takes only a short walk to reach the park.
It offers outdoor skating, a soccer field, a tennis court, disc golf, playgrounds and much more.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 6033 Madigan Dr N.E.
Parks in SouthWest Calgary
13. South Glenmore Park
This huge 327-hectare park covers the south of the Glenmore Reservoir, located in southwest Calgary. A perfect place for walking, jogging, and cycling, which makes this one of the best parks.
South Glenmore Park also has a lake inside and is best for sailing small boats and rowing. Walk towards the Weaselhead Natural Area and experience nature. With your zooming lens, enjoy the wide range of birds and other animals.
If you are an adventurous person, you have a Bicycle pump track that is fun and challenging. Kids can enjoy the children’s play area, spray park, and playgrounds which are also accessible for disabled children.
A picnic area, tennis courts, polo fields, and playgrounds are also there inside the park with an extraordinary pathway system.
Quinterra Legacy Park is a musical garden, an interesting feature of the park with lots of green spaces, trees and plants.
Opening hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 90 Ave. & 24 St. S.W.
14. River Park
Located in the southwest of Calgary, River Park has a large designated off-leash area, and above the park is the sandy beach along the Elbow River. Playgrounds, pathways, rafts to access the river, and much more to spend the entire day.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 4500 14A St. S.W.

15. Stanley Park
Another favourite place in the southwest of Calgary along the Elbow River is Stanley Park which also has a natural playground, picnic tables, tobogganing, canoeing, raft access to the river and lawn bowling. There is a small park inside on the northern portion, Princess Obolensky Park.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 4011 1A St. S.W.
16. Edworthy Park
In the SouthWest of Calgary is Edworthy Park, along the Bow River, named after the landowner Thomas Edworthy.

Get a unique experience in the majestic ‘Douglas-Fir Trail,’ which is a part of the park. The trail is 2.5 km long and runs into the dense woods, and is a place for substantial Douglas-fir trees, numerous birds and wildlife.
Eastend of the Douglas-Fir trail is the historic ‘Lawrey Garden’ named after the landowner John Lawrey, which has a huge off-leash area.
Lawrey Garden and Douglas-Fir Trail can be accessed from Cedar Cres SW parking lot and 10 ave SW parking lot. Edworthy Park is also a place for Picnic and relaxation. Playgrounds, pathways, gazebo, green space, benches, fire pits and BBQs are there to enjoy.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â 5050 Spruce Dr SW
17. Devonian Gardens
Devonian Garden is the only indoor Calgary park with a botanical garden with various plants, trees, a living wall, a fish pond, fountains, a climbing wall and many others. It also has a shopping mall on the top floor.
Opening Hours: 11 AM to 5 PM
Address: CORE Shopping Centre, 333 7 Ave SW 4th floor
Parks in SouthEast Calgary

18. Pearce Estate Park
This beautiful park is along the Bow River, covers a 21-hectare area and is the best place for picnicking and relaxing. It has a Fish Hatchery and Bow Habitat Visitor Centre.
The pathway along the river gives you an amazing view of Bow River. You can encounter various birds, including the White-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, Tree Swallows, Northern Flickers and Common Goldeneye.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Address:Â 1440 17A St. S.E.
19. Sue Higgins Park
This huge 62-hectare park is located on the banks of Bow River, formally known as Southland Park, later renamed Sue Higgins Park in November 2012.
The Park has the largest fenced off-leash area, Deux Chiens Assis, which means ‘ two seated dogs’ made of bronze, a public artwork by French artist Henri Alfred Marie Jacquemart in late 1800, Picnic tables, Pathways, a natural playground and hiking trails.
Bow River is home to Ducks, Geese, and several wild birds and animals like the native sparrow, blackbirds, shorebirds, squirrels, and much more. Tall trees are visited by woodpeckers and swallows. The sound of the Boreal Chorus Frog can be heard along.
Opening Hours: 5 AM to 11 PM
Location:Â Southland Dr. & Deerfoot Trail SE.
20. Fish Creek Park
Fish Creek Provincial Park is the second-largest urban park in Canada.
Fish Creek Park has a more than 100 km long trail for walking, biking, and hiking, and an artificial lake for swimming, and can do fishing in the fish creek and Bow Rivers.
A man-made lake called the ‘ Sikome Lake,’ which is a giant swimming pool with a sand bottom, is within the park, which has an on-location water treatment plant that refreshes water every 8 days.
Location:Â 15979 Bow Bottom Trail SE.

Closing Thoughts
Calgary is a city loaded with numerous public and community parks. You can able to enjoy and relax in Calgary. Here we have discussed some of the best parks, yet there is a lot more to explore.
Each park gives you a different experience and a great place to enjoy. Just try it out!!!
Apart from enjoying, it is important to follow the rules and regulations and help to keep the city clean.
- Be a part of it by taking responsibility.
- Respect plants, Trees, wildlife,
- Most parks allow leash dogs. So you can take your dogs to a trail for a walk but ensure they are on a leash.
- Be a good park user.
Hope you like the article! The list would definitely help to plan your next holiday with family. You can visit the official website and find more parks in Calgary to relax and enjoy your weekends.
Last Updated on by Narayani Bhardwaj