It’s November in Calgary. The sun is shining. The air is brisk. And the snow is… nowhere to be seen. Temperatures have been reaching unbelievable highs between 15 and 22 degrees Celsius. This is a rare production in Calgary - a city known to
snow in summer. I highly recommend taking your workouts outdoors as much as you can before Calgary’s bone-biting, skin-piercingly dry winter hits full force. A great place to do so is
Nose Hill park – an 11 square km landmark of Calgary’s NW communities bordered by John Laurie Boulevard, 14th St and Shaganappi trail.
Entry
There are five different parking areas surrounding Nose Hill to access the park from:
- Edgemonth Boulevard Lot off of Shaganappi Trail
- Brisbois Drive off of John Laurie Boulevard
- 14th Street Lot
- 64th Avenue Lot off of 14th Street
- Berkley Gate Parking Lot off of 14th Street
Parking is free and available between the park hours of 5am and 11pm.
Hiking Trails
Nose Hill’s beautifully cascading landscape is carved with multiple pathways suitable for walking, running, and cycling. Many of the paths intersect, allowing you to make what you want out of your journey on the hill. You can do a
large loop, go out to a particular spot and retrace your footsteps, or traverse from one entry point of the park to another. You can easily spend multiple hours adventuring the hills many paths, offering a generous workout and calorie burn. However, according the American Heart Association (AHA) even just 30 minutes of walking is enough to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Such activity can also lower blood pressure and help balance blood sugar levels.
Just be careful because the meditiative effect of Nose Hill’s surroundings make it easy to lose track of how much ground you have covered. You don’t want you to increase your risk of a heart attack in your attempt to prevent it by getting lost on the hill!
On top of that, and on top of the hill, there is an off-leash area to maximize the enjoyment of your furry friends.
Click here to see this location on a map.
Pensive Plants
Nose Hill is home to a diverse group of trees, shrubs and flowers, such as the trembling aspen and
Water Hemlock. At this time of the year, the hill’s natural summer décor of wildflowers and green grasses has retired for the season. However, there is a haunting beauty of the barren trees and withered plants that can offer a sense of solace.
Stanford graduate student
Gregory Bratman strongly advocates the swift and powerful benefits of even just a quick stroll through nature. He conducted a study based on the effects that 90 minutes of walking through a lush park verses walking down a highway had on a group of 38 healthy urbanites. The study revealed that those who spent time on the tree-lined park paths were more at peace and less fixated on negative aspects of their lives than those who trudged along the hectic highway.
While Nose Hill’s points of entry may be near bustling Calgary roads, the noise is stifled surprisingly fast as you create a rhythm of your own with your footsteps pattering along the soft ground. Accompanied by the whistle of the wind, the shake of branches and the occasional rustle of a squirrel or bird in the trees, you become a part of nature’s orchestra.
Wildlife
Speaking of squirrels and birds, another thing to be mindful of on Nose Hill is the wildlife. Coyotes, porcupines and deer are residents of the hill and must be respected as such – especially when you are driving along the brim of Nose Hill late at night or early in the morning. Never attempt to approach or feed any of these animals for their safety and your own.
