Outdoor Winter Activities in and Around Calgary

POSTED BY The Editor | Nov, 08, 2022 |

Winter in Calgary is the perfect time to bundle up and explore the great outdoors. It might be chilly and it might be warm but there are so many things to see and do in the winter months. From skiing and snowboarding to dogsledding and hot springs, outdoor winter adventures are ready and waiting for you in and around Calgary.

Go downhill skiing & snowboarding

You can ski and snowboard right in Calgary. WinSport, home of the 1988 Winter Olympic, offers lift tickets and Winter Hill Passes for skiing and snowboarding all winter long. Or take a day trip to the Canadian Rockies and experience Sunshine Village, Mount Norquay Ski Resort, or Lake Louise Ski Resort, with world class runs for skiers and snowboarders of all abilities and skill levels. Castle Mountain Resort, south of Calgary in the Pincher Creek area, is another great place to find powder conditions just a short drive from Calgary. Ski lifts open as early as mid-November and run all the way to May.

The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offer ski and snowboard rentals for beginner and experienced skiers and snowboarders.

Try skiing or snowboarding at WinSport in Calgary (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/A.V. Wakefield).

Soak in an outdoor pool

The Banff Upper Hot Springs is a naturally fed soaking pool and the only hot springs pool in Banff National Park. With water temperatures between 37°C and 40°C, winter is the perfect season to enjoy a soak in the rejuvenating waters of this natural wonder. The Banff Upper Hot Springs is open daily during the winter months and is just 1 hour and 30 minutes away from Calgary along the Trans-Canada Highway. Beat the crowds by going early in the morning or during weekdays.

Spend a relaxing day at the spa at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa, just 1 hour west of Calgary and close to Canmore. A series of outdoor pools, saunas, and steam rooms will help you relax with a process called hydrotherapy, as you cycle through each water temperature and soak the day away.

Go for a soak at the Banff Upper Hot Springs (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Roth and Ramberg)

Spend the day at the alpine oasis at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa (Photo credit: Mike Seehagel)

Take the whole family tubing

Tubing is a family friendly winter activity everyone can enjoy. No experience is required to ride these soft inflatable tubes down dedicated tube runs with a magic carpet ready to take you back to the top of the hill. The WinSport Tube Park is the largest of its kind in Western Canada and is easily accessible from the Frank King Day Lodge, with washrooms, food, and other amenities accessible nearby. The Sunny Tube Park at the Lake Louise Ski Resort and Mount Norquay Ski Resort are a great way to experience the thrill of tubing in the Canadian Rockies.

Tubing at the Tube Park at WinSport (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Stevin Tuchiwsky)

Add dog sledding to your bucket list

Dog sledding in the Canadian Rockies is a bucket list experience you will never forget. Mush your way through this Canadian classic and take in the incredible views of the Rocky Mountains with organizations like Snowy Owl Dog Tours and Howling Dog Tours. Get to know the team of highly trained dogs, learn about their animal care practices, sit back and enjoy the ride, or give mushing a try yourself. Tours can last anywhere from half an hour to a full day and are guided by an experienced musher.

Dog sledding in Spray Lakes Provincial Park (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Mike Seehagel).

Go dog sledding with Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Mike Seehagel).

Ride a fat bike in the snow

Winter in and around Calgary doesn’t mean you have to put your bike in storage. One of best winter activities in Calgary, fat biking on studded winter tires is a great way to enjoy cycling in the colder months. Bow Cycle and the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offer fat bike rentals for beginner and experienced riders. Calgary is home to the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway in North America, with over 850 kilometres of pathways and 95 kilometres of trails to explore on your fat bike.

Photo Credit: Travel Alberta / Laudromat Studios

Try cross-country skiing

Only 1 hour west of Calgary, Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park hosted the world during the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary and continues to offer world class cross-country skiing trails to this day for beginners and experienced skiers. Get a trail pass for the day and explore more than 65 kilometres of groomed trails. Cross-country ski rentals are available on site. The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre also offer cross-country ski rentals for beginner and experienced skiers.

In Calgary, cross-country skiing is welcome in any park, along with a selection of groomed trails throughout the city you can access for free like the East Village Nordic Loop. City of Calgary Parks like Shaganappi Point Golf Course, South Glenmore Park, and Bowness Park are trackset and ready for your next cross-country skiing adventure.

Kananaskis Country- Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park (Photo credit: Tourism Canmore Kananaskis).

Ice skate on an outdoor rink

One of the best winter activities in Calgary is outdoor skating. The City of Calgary floods and maintains 7 outdoor public skating rinks throughout the city. Bowness Park Lagoon and Olympic Plaza offer skate rentals on site, along with helmets, skating aids, and skate sharpening. The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre also offers skate rentals for beginner and experienced skaters. You can even try out ice bikes at Bowness Park Lagoon, a new way to skate for any level.

Outdoor skating rinks in Calgary are typically open from mid to late December through February. Olympic Plaza is a refrigerated ice surface and is often available between mid-November and mid-March. Hockey sticks and nets are not permitted on outdoor rinks and helmets are strongly recommended for all participants.

Ice skating at Olympic Plaza in Calgary (Photo credit: Travel Alberta/Roth and Ramberg).

Explore outdoor attractions

Bundle up and explore Calgary attractions that take you into the great outdoors. The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo is open year round and has both outdoor and indoor exhibits. Wear layers and warm up indoors during your visit. Many of the animals prefer cold weather so you can get a good view of these incredible creatures while they are more active.

The Inglewood Bird Sanctuary and Nature Centre are open year round and admission is free. With 270 species of birds, 21 species of mammals, and 347 species of plants, this natural outdoor attraction is a great way to explore nature right in the city. Warm up in the Nature Centre, with interpretive exhibits, and information about the local wildlife who call the sanctuary home.

Go birding at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary (Photo credit: @jonokurian on Instagram)

Take a walk in snowshoes

Snowshoeing is a great way to get active in the winter. It’s easy to learn and inexpensive to try for people of all ages and experience levels. Along with dedicated trails, snowshoeing is welcome in any Calgary park. Beyond Calgary, you can explore the snowshoe trails of Mount Norquay, take a scenic hike through Sunshine Meadows at Sunshine Village, or explore a different side of Castle Mountain with a guided tour.

The University of Calgary Outdoor Centre offer snowshoe rentals for beginner and experienced snowshoe enthusiasts. The Bow Habitat Station hosts learn to snowshoe clinics that includes all the basics as you explore Pearce Estate Park.

Try snowshoeing in and around Calgary (Photo credit: Travel Alberta)

Meet the wolfdogs

Wolfdogs are domestic dogs that have characteristics like a wolf. You can meet these remarkable animals at the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, less than an hour outside of Calgary. Tour the sanctuary, learn about wolfdog conservation efforts, and meet the wolfdog ambassadors with this unique outdoor winter experience.

Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary

Day trip to the Banff Gondola

Just an hour and a half from Calgary, you can take in views of six mountain ranges from the top of the Banff Gondola. The Banff Gondola takes you to the summit of Sulphur Mountain, 7,510 feet of elevation, for an incredible view of the Canadian Rockies from the rooftop observation deck. Take a walk along the Sulphur Mountain Boardwalk, warm up in the Above Banff Interpretive Centre and Theatre, or enjoy a meal at Sky Bistro. Visit at night and enjoy sunsets, stargazing, and fire pits to keep you warm at this epic outdoor winter activity.

Views of Banff National Park from the top of the Banff Gondola (Photo credit: Banff Lake Louise Tourism/Noel Hendrickson)

Find a toboggan hill

Tobogganing is a classic outdoor winter activity and the perfect way to celebrate the cold weather. Best of all, it’s a family friendly activity everyone can enjoy. Calgary is home to a great collection of maintained hills the whole family can enjoy, from Confederation Park to Prairie Winds Park. Local retailers like Canadian Tire are a great place to find an affordable sled or toboggan.

Spend the day on a toboggan hill in Calgary (Photo credit: @davidbpatrick on Instagram).

Original post: https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/stories-from-calgary/outdoor-winter-activities

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