The best road cycling routes in Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area

One of the most convenient access points for exploring Fish Creek Provincial Park, Glennfield West has a large parking area, modern washrooms, picnic sites, and direct access to both paved and natural-surface trails. From here, it's easy to reach Fish Creek, the Rotary Mattamy Greenway, and several forested sections of the park. Despite being within Calgary city limits, the surrounding cottonwood forest and creek valley create a surprisingly natural setting that's popular with walkers, cyclists, and wildlife enthusiasts.

Part of Calgary's 140-kilometre Rotary Mattamy Greenway, this paved multi-use pathway offers one of the easiest ways to explore Fish Creek Provincial Park. The route passes through a mix of forest, open grasslands, and creek-side scenery, with picnic areas and rest stops spread out along the way. Despite being within city limits, long stretches feel surprisingly removed from the surrounding neighbourhoods, making it a popular choice for walking, cycling, and wildlife spotting.

This specific section of the river is an ecological marvel; it borders a massive, engineered wetland designed to naturally filter stormwater before it returns to the main river system. As you walk the paved pathway, you will enjoy sweeping, wide-open views.

Fish Creek has maintained much of its natural state thanks to the large provincial park that surrounds it as it flows through southern Calgary. Providing vital habitat for a wide range of flora and fauna the creek is known for trout fishing and the over 200 bird species that have been spotted along its banks. The park that surrounds it as over 100 kilometres of trails ranging in difficulty and terrain type, so just about everyone is likely to find a stretch of trail that suits them.

The Bow River flows east through Calgary and forms part of the eastern boundary of Fish Creek Provincial Park. In this area, paved pathways and multi-use trails follow its banks, offering scenic access to water views, wildlife, and connections to Calgary’s greater pathway system. The river and adjacent parklands are popular for walking, cycling, fishing and enjoying open-air river scenery within the city’s natural green corridor.

You should definitely plan a stop here to try one of the homemade cakes, a homemade muffin or the ice cream in "Annie's Café". My tip: get a muffin!

Gives you a way to connect from the pathway on the creek valley floor to the one on the higher bank. If you want a better view of the creek valley from above, this is a place you can make that connection. Good for cycling and walking across.

If you’re out for an afternoon run, bike ride or stroll around the pathways of Fish Creek Park, stop by Annie’s Café, located just west of the Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, to enjoy coffee, ice cream, baked goods, soups, sandwiches and more. This quaint farmhouse was moved to its current spot in 1905 and once housed the ranch foremen and their families, includingBilly Bannister and his wife, Annie. Today you can enjoy a wholesome lunch or a special treat while sitting on Annie’s sunny front porch. Whatever the reason, the beautiful surroundings make it the perfect place for a break, whether you’re on your own or with your whole family.