Bow River Pathway in Fish Creek Park

Route Description for Bow River Pathway in Fish Creek Park

The Bow River Pathway in Fish Creek Park biking route is a great ride from Carburn Park heading south, exploring both sides of the Bow River.

From Carburn Park, ride south. We do this route in a clockwise loop, but you can go either way. You’ll soon come to a turnoff, which leads to the Eric Harvie Bridge. Don’t take this, but go straight, following the pathway that goes on the east side of the Bow River.

Follow the pretty Bow River Pathway, as it pass under the Ivor Strong Bridge and snakes through Douglas Bank Park, before it passes a baseball diamond and goes on a hill to a ridge in the community of McKenzie Towne.

There are great views from the ridge, both of the Bow River valley but also out to the Rocky Mountains. Follow this pathway, but keep your eyes open for a short, but steep hill down to the Bow River and a pedestrian bridge over the Bow River. Go down this hill, but not over the bridge, instead head south on the cycle path beside the river, with McKenzie Meadows Golf Course on your left.

Follow the bike path and you’ll eventually come out onto a parking lot and road (Mckenzie Meadows Drive). Go right and under Stoney Trail and into Rotary Park, where there is another parking lot.

Take the bike path that heads south and enjoy this ride, though quickly you come to a long uphill through a coulee that can be a bit of a challenge on the legs. You are soon up on Cranston Ridge, with more great views out to the mountains.

Follow the ridge to Cranston Avenue, where you turn around and ride back along the route you came back on the ridge, down the coulee and back to Rotary Park.

Once back on the road, go through the parking lot and take a pathway going off to the right that switches back and crosses the Bow River on a bike path that goes alongside Stoney Trail SE.

On the other side of the Bow River, the path will loop down to another road, go right and ride south through Lafarge Meadows— where a large network of engineered wetlands awaits.

Lafarge Meadows is a great ride with tranquil ponds and lots of birds. Eventually the path ends and bends right.

Stop at the bend I the path and turn around here and ride back north, along the path you rode down on, back through Lafarge Meadows, and onto the road under Stoney Trail. About 400 m on the other side of Stoney Trail, you’ll see another parking lot on your right, near the Fisk Creek Boat Ramp.

Go right and find the bike pathway and follow this north, as it goes beside the Bow River. Follow this until you come back to Bow Bottom Trail SE, where you go right for 200 m and then right again back down to a pathway along the Bow River. This is a unique part of the Bow River, feeling a bit like a prairie river valley.

Continue north, eventually going up a steep hill that takes you beside the community of Diamond Cove.

On the other side of the community, you have another hill that takes you back down to the Bow River, and you will soon curve around and ride under Deerfoot Trail.

Follow the path north and into Sue Higgins Park, which has a very popular off-leash dog park, so watch out for dogs.

Take a right by the dog park and cross the Bow River on Eric Harvie Bridge, which you passed on your ride out. On the other side of the bridge, go left and back onto the Bow River Pathway towards the Carburn parking lot.

Insider Hints for Bow River Pathway in Fish Creek Park

• The Bow River Pathway in Fish Creek Park biking route offers many pretty photo spots along the river and through Lafarge Meadows, we recommend having your camera charged and ready. You may also want to bring a picnic to enjoy these scenic spots longer.