While Calgary, Alberta in the Canadian Rockies is probably best known for its annual Calgary Stampede celebrating its western heritage, it is also a city that thrives on outdoor adventure. What I especially like about Calgary’s menu of outdoor offerings is that you do not have to go far to enjoy them. In fact, many of the activities happen right in the city so it’s like one stop shopping for hiking, biking, fishing and more.

During my visit to Calgary, I was blown away by the range of outdoor experiences to choose from catering to a diversity of skill levels with options for novices who just want fun enjoying the epic scenery to the hard-core adventurer like me looking to level up their outdoor experiences.

There are family-friendly adventures like downhill karting, group experiences like dog sledding (and summer dog carting), fly-fishing on the Bow River, learning archery from Indigenous guides, strolling the expansive multi-use trail through the city, and nibbling your way through the yummy culinary scene on a bicycle food tour. Here are some of my favorite (favourite if you are Canadian) outdoor urban adventure experiences in Calgary.

Fly Fishing

It is second nature for me to seek out fishing options in every destination I visit so while in Calgary I wanted to experience fly fishing on the iconic Bow River. It is a Blue-Ribbon fishery for brown and rainbow trout. What’s unique about fishing the Bow River is that you can enjoy tranquil wilderness fishing about an hour away in remote waters or take advantage of float fishing right through the center of the city. This is an accessible option if you want to stay close to town with fantastic catch options that also include whitefish, cutthroat trout, burbot, and maybe even a northern pike.
Recommended outfitter: Drift Out West Fly Fishing

Dogsledding

Winter dogsledding through the Canadian Rockies is an experience you will never forget, and summer dog carting is a fun way to enjoy this experience during the warmer months. You will need to go about an hour outside of Calgary to Kananaskis, but it is worth the drive. Learn about how dogsledding was traditionally used in the wilderness by Indigenous Peoples and traders over time. While the experience is mostly recreational now versus its practical use from days of old you can see first-hand how these powerful animals are bred and raised to navigate the rugged landscape and frozen lakes in the winter. My favorite part of this experience was the one-on-one time that I got to spend with the sled dogs and enjoying the excited sloppy licks on my cheek as they engaged with me. The guest interaction with the dogs is an important and memorable part of the experience.
Recommended outfitter: Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours

Walking the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway

An enjoyable and leisurely way to work in some exercise and see Calgary is along the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway that weaves throughout the city for more than 90 miles connecting 55 surrounding communities. The pathway connects to other trails, so it is especially popular with bikers. The path goes all the way around Calgary and borders the Bow River passing through many small parks, quiet sitting spots, and greenspace making you forget that you are in the middle of a city. It’s an easy low-key adventure option if you want to get outdoors and enjoy the fresh air.

Sidecar Adventure

The air feels great in Calgary so taking it all in from a sidecar is one cool adventure. Sidecar tours offered in the city give you the best of all things including a front-row seat to some spectacular views over the skyline. Your driver provides local information along the way as you pass some of the highlights riding in the city. The thrill of taking it all in as a passenger in a vintage motorcycle sidecar never gets old.
Recommended outfitter: Rocky Mountain Sidecar Adventures

Downhill Karting

This is a family-friendly adventure that doesn’t require much skill, but it does require being comfortable with a wild downhill slope. The carts are unique because they’re a combination of go-cart and toboggan that work with gravity. You twist and turn through 50 curves on a downhill track that extends for more than 5,900 feet, the longest in the world. The tracks take full advantage of the region’s mountainous landscape, so you are assured of some butterflies in the stomach on the way down.
Recommended outfitter: Downhill Karting by Skyline Luge Calgary

Archery

Calgary is where I tried archery for the first time. What made this experience especially unique was learning this traditional skill from an Indigenous guide. The Indigenous Peoples of Alberta lived off the land which means they used these land-based skills for survival. While we shoot at non-live targets in the wooded landscape the archery lesson has more meaning knowing the roots of its importance.
Recommended outfitter: Painted Warriors

Food Bike Tour

A fun and delicious outdoor adventure in Calgary is a food bike tour that takes advantage of a leisurely bicycle ride through the city on multi-use trails while enjoying some of Calgary’s great culinary scene. The bike tour includes several stops through various Calgary neighborhoods to sample coffee, vegan desserts, snacks, and small meal portions from independent eateries. Most adventurers enjoy the refueling part of being active in the outdoors and this is one way to do both at the same time.
Recommended outfitter: Food Bike Tour

Insider Tips:

• Stay in the city center. If you base in downtown Calgary, you make the most of your time because everything is central, and access is easy to most activities from the heart of the city.
• Prepare for the climate. Even in the middle of summer the Calgary climate can deliver brisk temperatures, blazing sun, dry air, excessive wind or a combination of any of these. Dress in layers and pack for all scenarios.
• Experiment with new food options. While most cities boast about their great “culinary scene,” Calgary truly has one of the most diverse and unique culinary scenes I’ve experienced anywhere. Why? Because so many of the local restaurants practice local sourcing and some even have their own gardens. This means different creative menu offerings every season. Branch out to try something unusual and new while in Calgary with eats made from a combination of fresh ingredients that you will experience no place else.