The best hikes from bus stations around Calgary

The short climb up Elgin Hill is rewarded with sweeping views over Inverness Pond and the rooftops of McKenzie Towne. Three stone arches stand at the summit, creating one of the area's most recognizable landmarks and a popular photo stop. Benches near the top make it easy to linger for a few minutes before heading back down to the pathways below. In winter, the hillside transforms into one of the neighbourhood's favourite tobogganing spots.

This large stormwater pond is edged by reeds and open grass, with broad views across the water from its banks. Pelicans, ducks and great blue herons can sometimes be spotted here, making it a worthwhile pause along the surrounding pathway. The pond was created for community drainage rather than recreation, so swimming, boating, skating and access to the water are prohibited. Benches around the perimeter provide places to stop and watch the birdlife.

This mostly level multi-use pathway follows the 2.37-kilometre perimeter of Inverness Storm Pond, with several connections into the surrounding neighbourhood. The wide surfaced route is suitable for walking, running and cycling, though it can become busy and is shared in both directions. Snow and ice are cleared during winter, making this a useful year-round route. Keep right and listen for cyclists approaching from behind.

The Mahogany Wetlands are a large constructed wetland system in southeast Calgary designed to filter stormwater while also providing habitat for birds, amphibians, and other wildlife. This area is a mix of marshes, ponds, grasslands, and shoreline vegetation that create an important ecological environment for plenty of waterfowl, especially ducks, Great Blue Herons and Red-winged Blackbirds. Though engineered for water management, this area feels surprisingly natural, with cattails, sedges, shrubs, and calm water creating a perfect, peaceful urban wetland oasis.

Mahogany Wetlands Trail is an easy, roughly 3½-kilometre walking loop that follows a paved pathway around the wetland, with bridges, several viewpoints, and shoreline access points. It winds through a mix of marsh edges, grasslands, and naturalized greenspace, with ample opportunities for birdwatching and wide views across the water. It's a great route for a relaxed walk through one of Calgary’s largest urban wetland systems, which feels quiet and peaceful despite being surrounded by neighbourhood development.

Set on the slopes of Signal Hill, Battalion Park is home to one of Calgary’s most distinctive viewpoints. The hillside is marked by four large stone numerals, made up of 16,000 whitewashed rocks arranged to honour the battalions that trained here during the First World War. Trails and staircases climb to lookouts above the city and the Tsuut’ina Nation, making it a simple outing for anyone interested in great views and local history.

Circling the entire city, the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway links neighbourhoods, wetlands, parks, and open prairie into one long, easy to follow loop. The paved pathway rolls through more than a dozen green spaces, passing fitness parks, off‑leash areas, and quiet stretches of grassland as it connects over 50 communities throughout Calgary.

The 12 Mile Coulee trail system is a mix of paved and natural trails that meander on both sides of the creek. The trails are multi-use so expect to see hikers, runners, and mountain bikers while you're out on the trail. There are multiple creeks crossing and the trails often intersect, so it's easy to create your own loop or do a simple out and back.