Calgary: Saturday Afternoon Bike Ride Fun
I love Calgary’s summers – warm days, cool evenings, no humidity, no bugs and big blue skies.
What’s not to love?
River surfing on the Bow River at the 10th St Wave is not easy....but fun to watch!
46 Minutes Took 4 Hours
Last Saturday, I took a bike ride to enjoy Calgary’s great urban outdoors along the south shore of the beautiful Bow River, to check out the reopened Harvie Passage.
It was a lovely ride - along the way I encountered the Nat Christie sculpture park, Shaw Millennium Park, Eau Claire Promenade, Prince’s Island Park, Eau Claire Plaza, Sien Lok Park, Riverwalk, East Village Plaza, St. Patrick’s Island, Fort Calgary Park, Calgary Zoo on St. George’s Island, Harvie Passage, Bow Habitat Station and Inglewood Bird Sanctuary. I am sure I missed something.
It is a 7-km ride that Google Maps says should take 23 minutes each way - it took me four hours round trip.
Here’s why:
The Eau Claire Plaza and the bridge to Prince's Island is still the most popular spot along the Bow River pathway from 14th St. bridge to Harvie Passage.
The new West Eau Claire park is a great place to sit, chat and catch some rays.
The Centre Street Bridge provides a sense of history, as well as a great view of the Bow River and city skyline.
The Simmons Building in East Village is a popular gathering place as it is home to cafe and bakery. There is also a lovely roof-top patio.
There is public art scattered all along the Bow River's edge, including this one that has become home to nesting pair of Osprey.
Found this lovely playground in Inglewood as the pathway winds its way through some century-old streets with large and small century homes and new infills.
Shaw Millennium Park
Millennium Park combines a mega skate park, with a concert bowl, basketball courts and beach volleyball.
Harvie Passage Fun
Harvie Passage has both a Class 2 and Class 3 rapids for public use.
Eastern (river left) passage: This is considered a Class 3 passage. This passage should not be used by inexperienced or less-experienced boaters as the risk is significant. Experienced boaters should still exercise caution while navigating this passage.
Western (river right) passage: This is a Class 2 passage. The waters are slower moving; however, caution is still required when navigating through this passage.
There are also opportunities for less-experiences boaters to exit the river before the passage and portage the major water features.
Additional benefits of the project include the new shoreline spaces along the passage that have been developed for people wishing to enjoy the beauty of the Bow River from land. There are tree-lined walkways and pebble beach areas for the public.
The passage recently opened up after being destroyed by the 2013 flood.
Kids love climbing on Lorna Jordan's artwork that reminds me of a log jam in the river. I am thinking all public art should be designed in a way that kids can climb on them or at least so people can touch it.
Just a few meters inland from Harvie Passage is the Bow Station Habitat which has a free fishing pond for kids. I didn't see anyone catch anything but there were some very big trout in the pond.
Bow River Living
Since the mid '90s new condos have been completed every few years along the Bow River from West Downtown to East Village. It is hard to believe that in the mid 20th century the Bow River's shoreline was almost completely ignored as a place to live and play - both Eau Claire and East Village were best known for their prostitute strolls.
Bow River looking east with West Downtown condos in the foreground. The white dome is the old planetarium/science centre which will be converted into a contemporary art gallery hopefully by next year.
Bow River looking west with condos lining the shore and office towers in the background.
Those living along the River enjoy some spectacular sunsets.
The ever changing Bow River is a very cool place summer or winter.
Last Word
This ride confirmed my view that Calgary has ONE of the best and most unique urban river edges in the world. I love the fact that it has three outdoor concert venues, while at the same time has numerous lovely places to be alone and just sit and relax. I love that it is a place where locals of all ages and means can bike, skate, board, fish, surf, float and paddle. It is an urban recreational paradise.
Yes some cities might have more touristy restaurants, bars and hotels, including floating ones along their river, but I love the fact our river isn’t “tarted-up” for tourists.
And it is getting better every year!
If you like this blog, you will like these links:
East Village: A Billion Dollar Work of Art!