For those who are wondering about Nose Hill Park... it's a large park within the city (15 min drive away) that covers 11 square kilometers! There are a LOT of trails up there which make it great for hiking and biking. I've gone multiple times this year and really enjoy it. There are also chances to see wildlife while up there (I've seen a coyote, but haven't seen the white tailed deer yet). It is also a great place to see the city from, and an amazing sunrise location! Super cool seeing it rise and light up the sky surrounding Calgary. Note that it typically is pretty windy up there. read more

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When I first got to Calgary, I assumed Nose Hill Park would be like NYC's Central Park or Toronto's High Park in that you could easily walk into it. Sure, there might be certain entry gates, but they'd be easy to find. Nope! Not in Calgary, which is technically a walkable city, but has the soul of a highway interchange. The charming streets of Caglary's downtown have six lanes of one-way traffic, so of course there are several lanes of cars speeding around Nose Hill. There are quite a few pedestrian tunnels, just don't expect them to be easy to see with your eyeballs if you're in the area or think they'd be marked on Google Maps. Obviously, it's easy enough to get into the park. Lots of people manage it every day! If you have a car, if you get anywhere near the park you can enter any number of clearly marked parking lots. If you're on foot, however, you need to plan ahead in order to find a tunnel or an overpass. Don't assume there will be a way to enter the park or any sort of crosswalk. Once you've made it into the park, it's surprisingly lovely. There are gorgeous views of downtown, the Rockies on a clear day, and the surrounding farmland. Once you're in the park there's a ton of signage and clear paths. Plus, it's hard to get lost when you can see the whole city! Several of the parking lots offer toilet facilities and trash cans. It's interesting to see the grasses and wildflowers shift throughout the year. There's a surprising diversity of terrain for what appears at first glance to be a big hill. There are also historical sites within the park. There's a large off-leash dog area. If you're hoping to pet some stranger's dogs, alas, there is too much space and not enough dogs for it to not be a little weird. If you step off the trails, pay attention for poo and gopher holes. We're in Calgary, so the weather can turn at any moment. There are very few trees, so you'll be in the sun the whole time. Be prepared for it to be windy. read more

Nose Hill Park - Parks Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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This spot is about twenty minutes outside of downtown Calgary and has an incredible view of the downtown. Our cab driver recommended this as the first spot we check out in Calgary. We drove to this park and missed the turn to enter it (it comes super quick and is right off of the highway, so you have to be ready!). While we didn't make it to the top of the hill, even just being right outside of the park is an awesome view, so I can imagine that the top is even more incredible! read more

Nose hill is one of the best places in Calgary where you can roam either by yourself, with a group or with your four legged friends. Breathtaking views and wild life, spacious and wonderful way to spend your afternoon or weekend! read more

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Having moved to Calgary only recently from Vancouver, where urban parks are abundant, I was amped to get outside and check out one of Canada's largest urban parks - third in size, to be exact. Nose Hill looms over the Northern section of the city, geographically massive in size and eating up a large chunk of Calgary land, much like the YYC airport. Approaching from the East side, my girlfriend and I walked a big hour-and-a-half loop in the park before dinnner one night. The open prairie walk is tranquil, offering views over the city to downtown through a cluster of maintained and hiker-made trails and paths. There are several tunnel entrances on the East side, and the park's trails are all easy and wide. Tall grasses make up the landscape, with occasional green treed areas dotting the hills. If you're a dog owner, Nose Hill is a fantastic place to be as there are several trails where you can leave your canine friends off-leash. There are benches along the way for a quick water and snack break, or just for resting and taking in the views. All in all, it was a relaxing evening very well spent and I left the park with a desire to see more of what the prairies have to offer. read more

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I had a 5 hour layover in Calgary and I'd rented a car to kill time. Lucky for me Nose Hill Park was recommended by one of those "cowboys"/"cowgals" walking the beat inside Calgary airport. Nose Hill Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Canada and North America, is located in the northwest quadrant of Calgary, where you could see the downtown skyline. It's a natural environment park, with walking trails smack in the middle of residential areas. Nice little hike along this semi-muddy, semi-snowy trail n February. Hey, it beats sitting around the airport eating A&W burgers and chowing down on Starbuck's donuts (OK OK I did drive to a Tim Hortons and stuffed my face into their double chocolate donuts...hey I'm a visitor from the States, what could I say?). I'd say the park has a real nice view of the city and I'd say that February, I was probably lucky to be walking around in running shoes and not snow shoes. One quick observation from a visitor to your nice city...all the cars parked up there? They all need a car wash. read more

Nose Hill Park - Parks Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

I used to live just two blocks from Nose Hill Park. Running up the hill from the parking lot to the top of the hill was something I did when I needed a challenge. Wandering leisurely up the hill and then exploring the 1120 hectares or so of park was something I did when I needed something a little more relaxed. This park is fantastic. It's great for hiking, biking, walking, just about any kind of outdoor activity you want to do and still remain in the city limits. It's even got a few off leash spots for your best four legged friend. If your goal is to hike the paths around the entire perimeter, schedule 3-4 hours for yourself. It takes awhile, but it can be done. With a lot of different scenery, it's also a great spot for photography if you hit it on a clear day. From the top of the hill on one side you can get a great view of downtown or look east towards the airport. You'll also find small valleys with trees and bushes, rocks and even wildlife (deer and coyotes for the most part I think). I'm more of a fair weather park goer, so I'm not sure what this park is like in the winter, but I would imagine it would be a good cross country skiing/snowshoeing spot as well. read more

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Great wide open spaces! Lots of off leash space for doggies to run, roam, sniff, explore and pick up tons and tons of pee mail! Only downside is that too many idiots don't pick up their dog poo, and there is a total lack of garbage cans along the pathway. Other than that, seriously great park for dogs and their two legged companions. read more

Nose Hill Park - Three amigo prairie dogs!! - Parks Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

You could live anywhere in the world. What's so great about Calgary? We have nightlife, yes, but do we really compare to bustling metropolises like Toronto? We're finding our cultural legs, but how do we stand up compared to the likes of Montreal? What's always been the Calgary highlight for me is while there's so much city, complete with work, places to play, things to do and see, you can still get away from all of it without ever leaving city limits. Hello Nose Hill. Sitting underneath a tree, with nothing but the warmth of the sunshine through the shade of the leaves, and the sounds of wind through the grass, crickets and the white wash hum of traffic far off in the distance, I am completely alone. I'm smack in the middle of a city with over a million people and there is no one in site. What an exceptional place this is. Nose Hill park is a great place to unplug. Go for a run, walk your dog, bring a picnic. Lie down in the soft prairie grass (look our for thistles) and do some cloud watching across the endless blue Alberta sky. In one walk you get sweeping views of the downtown skyline, the Rocky Mountains or of nothing but wide open, natural Alberta grassland. read more

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I had never given Nose Hill Park the attention it deserved. I knew it was there, and had a pretty view of the rest of the city, but that's about it. I first truly experienced it while taking a course on the connection between Place and aboriginal Spirituality. Following my rainy spring visits to Nose Hill for class, I also got to see two friends get married here which made for a gorgeous outdoor ceremony and giggling at all my half drunk friends for trying to clomp up in their heels while reveling in the fact that I wear flats everywhere. Now that I live closer to Nose Hill, this is one of my favourite walking and running spots. I also take my dog here on leash; I have to be too careful of coyotes and porcupines in this area to let him offleash, he's very quick. The other night I was passing through here and I saw a beautiful deer which I hope to see many more of. Love you, Nose HIll. read more

Nose Hill Park - Parks Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

Beautiful natural privately owned park which opens to public. Very nice park for short hiking & unleashing your dog. read more

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At first I didn't like Nose Hill Park at all... It's a big barren hill and it's far too large and it has no features and it's far too windy because there's no break. It's available to all the massive mostly western wind flowing from the Rockies so even though I did it's not that cold it will be feeling really freezing. But after living right beside it for two years it's really growing on me and now I love it. There are actually many lovely features and trees and hidden canyons and even Saskatoon berries and gooseberries and currants and strawberries to eat for free. I've seen up to 25 deer all togetherWalking in a group and foraging which is lovely to see nature so close to the city... I've seen many coyotes hunting richardson's ground squirrels which is something incredible to watch- they wait patiently at the hole until they see in their dinner arrive and then they jump straight up in the air and then straight down teeth first it's pretty cool. I love the wildflowers and I love the variety of pathways. Did you know it's the biggest urban park in the world? Far bigger than even central park in Manhattan! read more

Nose Hill Park - Parks Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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Love this park. Dog friendly, people friendly, deer friendly and we have never had trouble in finding parking. Well taken care of which is saying a lot because there is a heck of a lot of acreage and a heck of a lot of grass. I have always found people coming here to be very friendly and respectful of the beautiful environment. (there are always a FEW that knowingly do not pick up their dog's poo or the already bagged dog poo - so rude!) Seeing the deer feed at dusk is my fave part and you can often see them along Shaganappi Trail in groups of 4-6 or so. Right in the middle of a huge city! read more

I thought that Nose Hill Park would be a small overlook type of place. But it was massive - my partner and I spent about an hour here but didn't cover even half of the place. As you can see from the pictures, we went after a snowfall, so we sadly didn't see any wildlife. But it was also incredibly peaceful - there was hardly anybody around, and as someone who has been trying to find quiet spots around Calgary, this was a huge treasure find. read more

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If I had to count the number of hours I have spent in Nose Hill Park, I'm sure it would add up to a lifetime...or two. Nose Hill park is one of the largest municipal parks in Canada and North America. It is the second largest park in Calgary and is often the perfect getaway from the busy city. Nose Hill is where everyone and their dog (literally) goes. It's the perfect off-leash park and it is so big you can walk there for days on end and never pass the same area twice. I often go there to watch the planes take off and land. The view of the airport from Nose Hill Park is perfect. Just a note for those of you who will be heading to Nose Hill for the first time: - Watch your step. There are lots of gopher holes around and rocks and such and if you fall, it could cause serious injury. - Keep an eye on your dog(s). Because Nose Hill is so huge, there is A LOT of wildlife there. It's common for dogs to come back with a face full of porcupine thorns. It is also common for coyotes to be in the park in the early and late hours of the day. There have been some cases of coyotes attacking dogs. As long as you're careful though, such cases can be avoided. I've been walking in Nose Hill my entire life and the ONLY thing that has ever happened to me is that my dog had an encounter with a porcupine. Just be alert and everything will be fine! It's truly my favourite park in the city. It's a world away from the world and it's the perfect place to walk off all your problems. read more

Nose Hill is a great place. I've been here a few times for parties, puppy parties, it's a go-to spot for many a local photographer for a no-brainer backdrop for portraits; I've even ladyposed here myself. Well maintained, clean; you could spend an entire day here and feel like you're not even in the city. Then Sarah Louise asked me how I liked it. So I punched her in the face. read more

Well played Calgary, well played. If you've met me, you'll know that unicorns are awesome, I think peanut butter should be a ubiquitous condiment and i'm kind of a grump when it comes to Alberta. Sure... some wacky family members live there, alongside a few particularly feisty cohorts in crime but from the -30 weather to my weird aversion to pancake breakfasts, Alberta and I have never really jived. And then I spent a sunny afternoon hopping (yes, literally) around Nose Hill Park. Fine Alberta, I get it. You give good sky. I've never really understood the idea of "Big Sky Country". Having previously only seen that big ol' blue from the highway, it's been an impressive but rarely awe inspiring entity. But standing on top of Nose Hill in the sunshine, with the mountains clear in the distance and the city sprawled out in front of you under the bluest of skies, you will find yourself inadvertently quoting The Lion King: "Everything the light touches is our kingdom." That sh*t is poetic. If I lived here and didn't have a healthy fear of rattle snakes (which may, or may not be a myth set upon me by my park hopping partner in crime. Feel free to chime in Calgarians), I would make this trek any sunny day, plunk myself under a tree and harbor thoughts of world domination while tip typing away on my computer. So whether you're here for a hike, or a jaunt with the pooch, or you too have the pleasant advantage of working from hill tops, go here and take in the view. And when you inevitably fall far enough into daydreams to think: "This'll all be mine?" Remember the words from a former Alberta jaded Yelper: Everything. Everything the light touches... read more

I have lived in Calgary for about 6 years and have never been here, so I decided to head up there last Sunday. First thing that struck me was how close it is downtown... and also how different. After parking my car, I headed up the trails and immediately was enveloped in calm peaceful energy... the sound of grasshoppers ( do they make a sound? I think that was them) and the wind was lovely. I came across thistle, daisies, lichen on rocks and all in all it was a peaceful walk. There are numerous trails that criss cross the park, I stayed mainly on the trails as once off the beaten path it can get a bit 'brushy'. The sign at the parking lot mentioned that there can be deer and coyotes... i didnt see any, but that is fine by me. I was there for the peace and quiet, and a bit of time with mother earth. The view of downtown calgary is awesome as is the airport and planes taking off and landing. It is a nice retreat to the busy city life. read more

Nose Hill Park - Parks Near Me - Calgary, Alberta

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I have been working on my endurance for half marathons and marathons since 2008. Weekly during the spring, summer and fall, the group I am with trains on Saturdays and Edworthy Park for gradually increase our distance up until the upcoming marathon, to ensure that we are progressing gradually to our goal. Now that I have a few of these things under my belt, I am now trying to increase my "cardio" so I can do them a wee bit.... faster. That's where Nose Hill Park comes into play. From the parking lot on Shaganappi, a group of determined women parked our vehicles and did a 7.67 km loop. We walked from the parking lot along the ridge. We then followed the ashphalt path down to the bottom of the hill, where we bumped into a parking lot with thankfully some public restrooms. :) Then, we took a thinner, rougher dirt path back up, up, up, up AND up, until we eventually reached the ashphalt path. Our miles per minute sunk like a stone, but let me tell you.... WHAT a workout! In the city, I have done the Memorial Stairs my share of times, but you can't beat the scenery of the moutains along the ridge of Nose Hill Park when you are looking west. It sure was nice to have something pretty to look at, when I finally reached the top, and I needed a minute or two to catch my breath, before proceeding back to ashphalt heading back to the parking lot. This is a well maintained park, with lots of people to say hello to as you pass them. However, it was not so busy that it was distracting or tough to get my workout done. If you are looking for an alternative to Memorial Stairs for cardio training, consider Nose Hill Park! read more

Looking for some open space in Calgary is pretty hard. Discovered Nose Hill Park and hiked up to an overlook area. Saw deer prancing around. There were a number of bikers on the shared trails. Stopped along to read the signs telling the history of the area where the bison once roamed. Found this through Yelp otherwise I wouldn't know a small park like this existed. read more

Good place for dog owners and runners to have some morning walkout read more

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I used to love taking the dog here when I lived up in the NW. Nose hill is more of a plateau than a hill. Once you make the accent to the top there is a large flat expanse of mainly grassland with little clumps of forest and shrubs. It's quite a large area, it will take countless trips to fully explore. You can spot the occasional porcupine or hawk. On a warm summers day it's a nice place to have a picnic. Hope people enjoy this place as much as I do. read more

Yes-it is a nice place..for good exercise you can go all over.Just be watchful of dogs off leash..Havent seen any wild animals in my several travels with my bulldog-who does walk all the way to the top..its a great view to look around and see the city and just sit and look at the sky and reish in mother earth-how good she is..many nice plants and flowers...its all good... read more

Wanna get away from it all? Run into Nose Hill Park. It's right in the middle of the city, but will make you feel away from everything. At each corner of the park gives a different perspective of Calgary. In the center, a 360 degree view of endless grass. It's a quiet place to mingle with deer as well. On my visit to Calgary, this was definitely THE MOST CHILL place ever. read more

Beautiful park, massive amounts of porcupines, we have been quilled 3 times there and our Roomate's dog was attacked by coyotes there twice. As far as hiking/running if you're dog has a very solid heal/recall it's fantastic but for the more sight joins breeds it's just too risky. Nose creek is better for that though we got quilled there once and others have had issues with coyotes there. read more

The park is full of variety - hills and flat areas, calm and windy areas, eye candy (i.e. fit men getting in their workout for the day), wildlife (I've seen many deer and one porcupine), paved walkways to grassy paths, and almost no scenery to various views of the city and mountains. There have been outings where I've seen virtually no one, which is always peaceful. I've never had any concerns about crossing paths with a creeper when I've been alone, even though in reality, it could be a place where bad things happen and no one would find out about it for awhile. I'm just checking in with reality here. It is a big place. However, so far so good and it's a city treasure everyone should enjoy. read more

Biggest trails in Calgary I would have to say great look of the city line ... Dog friendly and quite often ill see some deer grazing in park

love nose hill park. spend lots of time running and biking there. tons of trails that take you to cool and scenic spots. great way to spend a free afternoon is exploring the nose hill park. read more

My Buffalo (Komondor dog!) and I love Nose Hill Park. Approx. 1200 hectares of wilderness overlooking amazing views of Calgary. We've encountered all kinds of deer, porcupine and coyotes at close range. Hawks are there in abundance. It's great to really feel like you've gotten away fr. the city and you're 15 min's fr. dwntwn. at most. There are plenty of gateways to access the park, 'we like stopping at Tailblazers Pet foods on 14th St. NW and then using the 14th St. gateway, 'aways further up past John Laurier. The spraying in the summer is annoying, however we've been told it's for thistles and it sure would ruin the walk if they were out of control. I'm always amazed at how many Calgarians have never visited one of the best treasures this city has to offer. The plateaus of Nose Hill with commanding views of the mtns, COP, 'you just feel as though you're on top of the world of Calgary. If there is enough rain in the summer you also get a nice watering hole not so far after you climb up the hill on the 14th St. side. 'We're going there very shortly, AGAIN! read more

Just got back from a lovely two hour evening walk around Nose Hill. Still one of my favourite places in the city to take my dogs (especially for sunset), but this is the one dog park where I get as much pleasure as they do. Super views of the city in all directions, nice strolls through open prairie and woods - either developed trails or some wilder. You can walk for hours without retracing your steps if you want to and there's a nice big pond in the middle for splashing around in. You might even be lucky enough to catch some wildlife. The park is so big that you'll likely only have occasional encounters with other dogs unless the weather is exceptionally nice, so if dog play is your top priority, this might not the the place to go. I am SO glad someone decided to preserve this piece of paradise in the middle of the city, rather than let it be turned into residential housing. There are several parking lots, so it's worth trying them all to check out a different section of the park. read more