Calgary, Alberta — As spring approaches, locals and visitors alike are rediscovering the hidden gems of the city's northwest communities through a newly updated guide to urban exploration. Lori Beattie, author of Calgary’s Best Walks, has revisited her comprehensive collection of 95 walks, highlighting routes that blend natural beauty, historical significance, and culinary delights. In the latest installment featured in the Calgary Herald, Beattie spotlights two invigorating paths in the Bowness area: Walk 13, which winds through Bowness Park, Baker Park, and the Woods Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary, and Walk 14, connecting the Romeo and Juliet Trail to the bustling Calgary Farmer’s Market.
Bowness Park, the starting point for Walk 13, has long been a cherished gathering spot for families since the early 1900s. According to historical accounts in Beattie's book, the area gained popularity in 1920 when a streetcar service operated every 15 minutes from downtown Calgary to the then-independent town of Bowness. The community officially amalgamated with Calgary in 1964, preserving its small-town charm amid the urban sprawl. Today, the park offers a mix of paved paths and sidewalks that lead walkers across the Bow River into Bowmont Natural Environment Park, a brief but bird-rich detour where visitors might spot migrant warblers, chickadees, nuthatches, owls, and even bald eagles.
Beattie recommends keeping an eye out for the abundant wildlife along the riverbanks, noting in her guide that the area's natural environment provides a serene escape just minutes from the city center. From Bowmont, the route continues west through Baker Park, a site that once housed a sanatorium for tuberculosis patients but now features a popular disc golf course. Cross under Stoney Trail, and walkers enter the Woods Douglas Fir Tree Sanctuary, home to one of Alberta's few remaining stands of inland Rocky Mountain Douglas fir trees, some dating back up to 400 years.
The sanctuary offers a climb above the Bow River to Valley Ridge, where hikers can pause to reflect on the region's Indigenous heritage. Beattie writes that Indigenous Peoples once hunted and gathered medicines here, with the elastic wood of the Douglas fir trees used to craft bows. This area, known as man-a-cha-pan, is loosely translated as “the place where they go for bows,” a name that inspired the Bow River's moniker. Such historical context adds depth to the 7.5-kilometer journey, which combines paved paths with optional stairs and is rated as moderate in difficulty.
Looping back from Valley Ridge, Walk 13 connects seamlessly to Walk 14 via the Romeo and Juliet wilderness trail. Named after the Romeo and Juliet Inn, which burned down in 1997, this nature path leads to a set of stairs descending into Greenwood Village Mobile Home Park. From there, the route heads to the Calgary Farmer’s Market in the Greenwich community, where shoppers can stock up on local produce. Beattie particularly praises the “big bag of the sweetest carrots you’ll ever eat” from Beck’s carrots by Innisfail Growers, encouraging walkers to fill their backpacks before returning to explore Bowness proper.
The Farmer’s Market, open Wednesday through Sunday year-round, serves as a vibrant hub in Greenwich, featuring numerous eateries for a mid-walk refuel. For those craving a hot drink, options include Café du Parc, Phil and Sebastian’s, or Analog Coffee just outside the market. In Bowness itself, Beattie suggests detours to Sweet Home Bakery on Bowness Road at 77th Street, known for its in-house sweet and savory pastries, Persian cookies, breads, and donuts. Further east, Cadence Café draws crowds for its cozy atmosphere, while Angel’s Drive Inn near Bowness Park entrance offers burgers, milkshakes, and fruit shakes. The park’s own market café provides freshly baked cookies and hot drinks for a quick stop.
Walk 14 spans another 7.5 kilometers, incorporating hills, paved paths, sidewalks, and stairs, making it equally accessible yet challenging. Starting points vary: Bowness Park at 8900 48th Avenue N.W., Baker Park at 9333 Scenic Bow Road N.W., or the Farmer’s Market West. Facilities abound, with Bowness Park offering bathrooms, ice skating on the lagoons or skate track, crokicurl, and skate rentals—ideal for winter visits when fire pits dot the frozen landscape for warming hands over a Thermos of hot chocolate.
Baker Park includes bathrooms and its disc golf course, while the Farmer’s Market provides year-round shopping and dining. Beattie emphasizes the surprises awaiting in Bowness, from navigating side streets to chatting with friendly “Bownesians” (pronounced Bow-NEE-zhins) before linking back to the Bow River Pathway. These interactions highlight the neighborhood’s enduring community spirit, even as Calgary grows.
Beattie’s expertise stems from her personal traversal of every path in her book, and she leads year-round walks through her company, Fit Frog Adventures. An upcoming event on March 12 at 7 p.m. will see her present “Calgary’s Best Walks & the Joy of Walking” with the Friends of Fish Creek Park. More details are available at www.fitfrog.ca or on Instagram @lorifitfrog, where enthusiasts can join guided tours.
The walks showcase what Beattie describes as cafés, nature, neighborhoods, parks, hills, history, vistas, and the river—all within easy reach. In winter, the Bowness Lagoon and skating oval transform into a frozen outdoor maze, complete with rental huts for skates. Summer brings lush trails and market freshness, underscoring the area's year-round appeal.
While Beattie’s guide focuses on recreation, it also touches on broader environmental preservation. The Douglas Fir Sanctuary stands as a rare remnant in Alberta, prompting walkers to appreciate the ecological and cultural layers of the landscape. No conflicts arise in the reporting, as the Herald’s feature aligns closely with Beattie’s book descriptions, presenting a unified view of these routes.
Recent Calgary news provides context for such local explorations. Amid announcements of eleven new schools in outlying communities and debates over the elevated Green Line through downtown, where businesses and property owners remain opposed according to a recent survey, residents seek accessible green spaces like Bowness. Alberta’s 2026 budget introduces new fees and benefit cuts, as officials describe them as “tough choices,” potentially influencing how families prioritize affordable outings.
Tragic events, such as the avalanche at Nakiska that buried two skiers and left a youth in critical condition, remind Calgarians of the region’s rugged beauty and risks. Meanwhile, Alberta First Nations Chiefs’ unanimous non-confidence vote in the UCP government highlights ongoing tensions over land and resources, echoing the Indigenous history Beattie notes in her trails.
Looking ahead, Beattie’s updated book encourages more Calgarians to embrace walking for health and discovery. With 95 routes detailed, including tasty pit stops, it positions Bowness as a prime example of urban-nature integration. As the city plans expansions, these walks offer a timeless counterpoint, inviting exploration without venturing far from home.
For those inspired, starting at Bowness Park promises vistas of the Bow River and a sense of connection to Calgary’s past and present. Whether gliding on ice in winter or savoring market carrots in spring, these paths embody the joy of walking in a city that balances growth with its natural roots.