Calgary’s Northwest features a landscape waiting to be discovered. With its limitless parks, paths and practically anything an adventurer could desire, the area surrounding University District offers something for virtually everyone.
Among our favourite outdoor activities are some lesser known pursuits perfect for the transition between winter and spring beyond jogging and weekend ski trips. We give you some unlikely suggestions for ways to spend time in the great outdoors, each deemed a little Northwest of Normal.
These are some of our favourite new activities for the shifting season:
Photo Credit: Ty Cutforth
Winter doesn’t mean that you need to retire your bike! You could trade it in for a fat bike. With the major difference being a set of two giant wheels, a fat bike is meant to be ridden over snow, making cold-weather commuting and adventures more than possible!
The host of pathways and trails within the Northwest provide the perfect backdrop for snow-covered bike rides — a worthy alternative to riding out the season inside the gym.
Northwestern Calgary’s impressive host of parks provide ample space to throw around a ball, but some, like Baker Park, also provide the facilities for frisbee golf.
The name says it all! Trade up your clubs for a disc and make sure you bring along something to keep score as you work your way through the course. A series of metal baskets serve as the holes and strokes are counted the same as golf.
It’s the ideal alternative to lugging around heavy equipment and paying to use a course, and can be enjoyed year-round.
What better way to explore around University District than a treasure hunt of sorts?
Geocaching is the ultimate urban adventure. Visit a geocaching site like this one and begin the hunt to find caches, tiny hidden boxes containing varying contents including puzzles, messages and guest books. Use clues and a GPS to find the cache’s location before replacing it to be found for the next geocacher.
Sustainable, innovative and hobby-forming!
The natural areas in and around University District are home to a host of life, including birds.
Elevate your outdoor walk by making it into a bird-watching adventure. Beyond using your own bird know-how to ID any that you see, consider using an app like Merlin Bird ID to make the most out of the experience and learn a lot in the process.
No matter the activity, time exploring the Northwest is time well spent. For more information about gear rentals for these activities, check out University of Calgary’s Outdoor Centre and to stay up-to-date on the latest from University District, make sure to connect with us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter
The University District blog is a resource for Calgarians who want to live, work, play, visit or buy in the northwest. We will provide you with information, stories, news and a closer look at the things that matter so you can live a more inspired, active and connected life in NW Calgary at University District… Life works here.
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