Fish Creek Provincial Park

Calgary Parks, Trails and Places

Alberta Canada Parks & Trails

Fish Creek Provincial Park is a year round recreation destination, wildlife sanctuary and day use park located south of the community of Calgary, Alberta, Canada in the Southern Alberta region of Canada.

The park measures over 19 kilometres long covering over 1138 hectares (2800 acres). It is recorded as one of the largest urban parks (within city limits) in North America.

This Calgary parks consists of a massive trail system connecting to picnic areas, day use sites, a lake, viewpoints, protected wildlife areas, wetlands and an island. There are over 30 kilometres of paved trails and 50 kilometres of gravel and shale trails exploring throughout the park.

The activities enjoyed in the Fish Creek Provincial Park include hiking, biking, birdwatching, picnicking, fishing, swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking and sightseeing. For more adventure... the main trail on the east end of the park connects to the Bow River Pathway.

Fish Creek is a year round destination from sunup to sundown. During the winter months, after the snow has fallen, the trails in the Fish Creek Provincial Park become cross country skiing and snowshoeing routes.

There are a few protected wildlife sanctuaries in the Fish Creek Provincial Park which are off limits to the public... however, they can be enjoyed from afar with a good set of binoculars. Some of the protected areas include the Raven Rocks, the Great Blue Heron Colony and Poplar Island.

Throughout this Calgary, Alberta park are many opportunities for wildlife sightings, especially birds. Birds in the area include song birds, waterfowl and predator birds including birds like woodpeckers, owls, eagles, hawks, geese, ducks and blue herons.

Other wildlife sightings recorded in the park include coyotes, gophers, weasels, porcupines, muskrats, deer and beavers. Also be aware that the park is a travel corridor for other animals like bear, bob cat, moose and cougar.

There are many access points in the Fish Creek Provincial Park. Each providing various services and opportunities for adventure. Your type of activity and destination within the park play a large part in which access point is best for you.

The following access points have paved parking lots with some picnic tables and washrooms - Shannon Terrace, Sikome Lake, Bebo Grove, Votier's Flats, Glennfield, Bankside and Hull's Wood.

There is a boat launch accessing the Bow River, a playground, a swimming beach and a concession stand located at the Sikome Lake day use area. The boat launch is year round depending on the weather conditions. There is usually a life guard on duty at the beach during the summer months. And pets are a no-no near the lake and beach.

The Glennfield day use area is the only location in the park with picnic shelters. At last count there was three of them. Each with picnic tables and a wood stove. This is one of the better destinations in the park for group functions.

The Shannon Terrace day use site is the location of the Fish Creek Environmental Learning Centre. And north of Hull's Wood and Sikome Lake is the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Centre and the University of Calgary Archaeology Field Station.