Hiking is an affordable family activity, and there are many trails near Calgary that provide safe options. Many popular trails are wide and straight forward to follow, even when they’re covered with snow. These trails are generally well packed down as well, so you often won’t need skis or snowshoes for a winter trip.
1. Paddy’s Flat Interpretive Trail, Kananaskis. You’ll begin by hiking through the Paddy’s Flat Campground in the Elbow Valley off of Highway 66. Park at the closed campground gate, and hike down the road to the C loop. You’ll find the entrance to the hiking trail near the playground (which is fun, even in the winter) and from there, it’s straightforward hiking along the river. The interpretive trail is 2.2 kilometres in length, but allow for another 2 kilometres of hiking through the campground.
Visit one of these day-use areas and plan a mountain picnic for the next nice weekend. Many of the picnic areas highlighted here have water features, so bring your swimsuits for a final dip before colder weather sets in!
September is one of the most beautiful times of the year to plan that final trip to the mountains, wrap up the camping season with one last trip, or cross one more hike or bike ride off of your family’s summer checklist. Try some of the following suggestions and show your kids that their summer vacation is far from over.
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
