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Can you retain a secret?
Sprawling grasslands. Glacier-carved benchlands. Expansive mountain views. Rolling hills. Hidden trails. No crowds.
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Canada’s greatest park is one that you simply’ve doubtless by no means even heard of. And it’s lower than 5 minutes from the town limits.
Created in 2011 by means of the collaboration and unwavering imaginative and prescient of the Harvie household and the provincial authorities – and aided in no small half by Andy Crooks and Cam Crawford – the 1,334-ha (3,300-acre) Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park is quintessentially Albertan.
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Situated just some minutes drive northwest of Calgary, a go to will reward you with lovely views of ranchland set to the beautiful backdrop of the Rocky Mountains’ jap slopes. That’s to say nothing of the park’s wealthy historical past and ample wildlife.
And now, because of the completion of Haskayne Legacy Park throughout the Metropolis of Calgary, the most effective has gotten even higher.
Planning for the neighbouring 126-ha (260-acre) regional park started practically 20 years in the past. By means of the beneficiant help of Richard and Lois Haskayne, alongside the persistence of former Calgary Mayor Dave Bronconnier, their imaginative and prescient noticed fruition late final 12 months.
The Glenbow Ranch Park Basis, by means of the management of board chair Georg Paffrath, stewards further land holdings within the space. The meeting is an unprecedented 1,578-ha (3,900-acre) steady greenway, spanning all the best way from Calgary to Cochrane.
The result’s nothing lower than a spectacular, must-visit vacation spot for each Canadian.
Because of the steering of the Baum household and Cochrane Rotary, momentum is constructing to finish the ultimate bridge connection into city. As shining jewels within the best path community in historical past – the 28,000-km Trans Canada Path – these twin parks will quickly welcome over 1,000,000 guests a 12 months. Travellers will come from far and large, to our yard, to expertise the easiest Canada has to supply.
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One of the simplest ways for first-time guests to expertise the realm is with a journey alongside the two.1-km “Yodel Loop,” accessed from Glenbow Ranch. This path heads south by means of a number of the park’s highest quality fescue grasslands, overlooking the historic Glenbow retailer, publish workplace and brickyards. You may even see the corrals, nonetheless in use at this time by means of the cautious stewardship and dealing ranch operations of John Copithorne and household.
Two scenic outlooks on the hill present interpretive signage with a normal overview of the park’s most simply accessed pure and historic assets. The jap finish of the loop offers a possibility to enterprise additional and discover Scott Path – a deceptively steep climb up the centre of the park to a different spectacular viewpoint. From Calgary to Cochrane, the Bow River Valley stretches for miles earlier than you.
The path then meanders briefly by means of the sheltered wooded bottom of Yodel Hill, offering some respite from the summer time solar or winter wind. After breaking the timber, you climb steadily again to the park workplace.
No doubt, Glenbow Ranch and Haskayne Legacy Park are southern Alberta’s best-kept secret. However optimistically, that’s about to alter.
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The place to begin: To entry the Calgary aspect, flip south on Woodland Street from Crowchild Path (Freeway 1A) to reach on the Haskayne Legacy Park trailhead. To entry the Cochrane aspect, flip south from Freeway 1A, persevering with to the tip of Glenbow Street to reach at Glenbow Ranch.
Drive time: 27 minutes from downtown Calgary.
Issue: Straightforward, with modest elevation acquire on the west finish
When to go to: Trails are open year-round. There are occasional seasonal closures because of the freezing of the Bow River and the working ranch operations. Go to www.grpf.ca for up-to-date info.
Distance: As much as 40 kilometres of paved and unpaved trails.
Don’t neglect: A full water bottle, snacks, and layered clothes, together with a hat and durable strolling sneakers. The pathways have some steep sections, and there might be lengthy distances between parking tons, washrooms, and viewpoints.
Last verdict: The perfect issues are available in pairs. Situated just some minutes’ drive from the town limits, a go to to those twin parks will reward you with lovely ranchland trails set to the beautiful backdrop of the Rocky Mountains’ jap slopes.
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Former metropolis councillor Jeromy “Pathfinder” Farkas is chief govt officer on the Glenbow Ranch Park Basis, with a mission to guard and promote considered one of Alberta’s signature provincial parks by means of engagement, schooling, and conservation.
Be a part of him on Might 1, 2024 for the inaugural “Park Speak” at Haskayne Legacy Park. Sharing intimate tales of first-timers and seasoned veterans alike, Jeromy’s speak will dive deep into the triumphs and setbacks of his 172-day, 5,000-km fundraising trek from Mexico to Canada for Massive Brothers and Massive Sisters. This free occasion is made attainable by means of the beneficiant help of Richard and Lois Haskayne. For info and to RSVP, please go to www.grpf.ca.
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