Urban hiking at its finest – that’s the loop around Calgary’s Glenmore Reservoir. Located in SW Calgary, this 15-km loop dips into the Weaselhead Natural Area and climbs through rolling foothill aspen forests before opening to mountain vistas.

There are several pathway options and parking areas to access the loop, but coming in from the western side of the city, we like North Glenmore Park access off 37th St SW. Starting here and looping in a counter-clockwise direction, there’s a short, steep hill down to the Elbow River Bridge.

Back in the late 1870’s pioneer Sam Livingston, his wife Jane and their 14 children farmed alongside the Elbow River – land the present-day reservoir now covers. The City of Calgary bought the property in the early 1930’s with plans for dam construction – completed in 1933.

Today the paved path bisects the Weaselhead – a 400+ hectare natural area with interpretive signage and looping pathways – at the western edge of the reservoir, just after the Elbow River Bridge crossing. Birds, beavers, deer and coyotes are all commonly seen in the area. If you’re not tempted to take one of the dirt paths venturing off into the natural area, the paved path takes a sharp turn up a rolling hill to continue on the reservoir loop.

Cresting on the southern edge of the reservoir, the path meanders along the grassy hilltop of South Glenmore Park – far enough from the neighbouring homes and streets to still feel like a getaway from the urban jungle – before dipping by lines of sailboats belonging to the Glenmore Sailing School. Still heading easterly, the path comes back in view of the water, looping northwards near Glenmore Landing (great place for a coffee break and/or snack if you haven’t packed it with you).

From here the path beelines a route straight towards Heritage Park, cutting through the upper end of the parking areas before winding through the high-end homes neighbouring Rockyview General Hospital. This section rolls pleasantly through a coniferous forest with peeps of mountain splendour in the western distance before emptying onto the Glenmore Causeway.

This is the only ugly portion on the path – noisy with traffic zipping by on the other side of a low concrete barrier. Walk fast and you’ll soon get on the other side of the high noise barriers and into the quiet residential zone. The trail hits green again near the Earl Gray Golf Club, passes the Canoe Club and is once again in North Glenmore Park, looping west.

If you’re looking for a walk on the wild side of Calgary – check out the Glenmore Reservoir loop.