Most people think the best stair workout in Calgary is McHugh Bluff.

They’re not wrong—it’s steep, intense, and well-known. But if you’re only running a single set of stairs, you’re missing what makes Calgary one of the best cities for outdoor workouts.

In a city shaped by hills and river valleys, stair climbs are everywhere. But a few stand out because they combine intensity with something more engaging: places that make you stop, look around, and experience Calgary differently. That’s where urban hiking comes in.

Urban hiking isn’t just about elevation—it’s about building routes. The kind where stair climbs, skyline views, historic streets, and public art all connect into one rewarding experience.

And when you look at it that way, one route stands above the rest.

Evamy Ridge — The Ultimate Urban Hiking Stair Combo

Evamy Ridge isn’t just the best stair workout in Calgary—it’s part of the most complete urban hiking route in the city. Check out our full guide: The Best 5k Urban Hike.

Located between Cliff Bungalow and Mount Royal, with access points near Cliff Street & 23 Ave SW or Hillcrest Ave and Earl Grey Crescent, this route combines stair climbing, ridge walking, and natural extensions into surrounding neighbourhoods. Instead of a single up-and-down effort, it gives you a loop that keeps moving.

Why It’s #1

There are Options to Add Reps without Repetition

Most stair workouts are linear: up, down, repeat. Evamy Ridge breaks that pattern.

You can climb one set, then add a mix of challenging terrain by hiking the trail to the top of the hill. Recover along the ridge with unobstructed views, then descend a different staircase—like the 156 steps leading toward the Glencoe Club—before looping back. It maintains movement and keeps the workout varied without losing intensity. Completing the loop is just over half a kilometre or 1.22 km round trip.

Learn about the History of the Land

This ridge—also known as Hillcrest Hill or the Cliff Bungalow Escarpment—sits between Cliff Bungalow and Mount Royal and offers a panoramic view of downtown Calgary.

The Canadian Pacific Railway has a deep connection to this community, and that legacy shapes the experience. This parcel of land was gifted to the city by CP Rail in 1920 with the intention that it remain public green space. After an effort to acquire the land in 2014, the Mount Royal Community Association worked to ensure that The City preserved it for public use.

Architecture That Tells a Story

At the bottom of the stairs in the park are two heritage schools built in a style unique to Calgary. Holy Angels School, built in 1919 and expanded in 1929, is a one-and-one-half-story, redbrick, Georgian Revival-style schoolhouse.

Cliff Bungalow School was built in 1920 and is a one-and-a-half-storey redbrick Arts and Crafts-style schoolhouse. It is distinctive for its rough-textured brick and low-scale form. Both schools are well-preserved examples of bungalow school designs that originated with the cottage school idea. The concept was conceived by Alberta Public Works in 1910.

Moving past these buildings provides a connection to the city’s past and what life was like more than a century ago. This is part of the city’s story and adds a layer of character you don’t get from every set of stairs or a typical gym session

The murals, sculptures, and storefront design—turn this recovery phase into something visual and engaging. It’s a shift in pace—but not a break in experience. The environment will keep your attention, making the entire route feel shorter and more rewarding. Learn more in our guide: Van Gogh Observes Fourth Street.

How to Build Your Route

One of the biggest strengths of Evamy Ridge is its flexibility.

• Short Loop: – 1 stair climb – Walk the ridge – 1 stair climb – Return
• Standard Workout: 2–3 stair repeats – Ridge walk between sets – Optional extension toward 4th Street (~2–3 km) for a cool down.
• Extended Urban Hike: – Evamy Ridge – Mount Royal – Red Mile – 4th Street. Complete the 5 km continuous route. You can scale intensity by adding stair repeats, or scale distance by expanding into surrounding neighbourhoods.

Compare to Other Stairs

Places like Scotsman’s Hill or Rotary Park offer great climbs. And McHugh Bluff is still the city’s most iconic grind. But Evamy Ridge does something different.

It turns a workout into a route—and a route into an experience you’ll actually want to repeat.

Other Top Stair Workouts in Calgary

Scotsman’s Hill — Best Skyline Stair Climb

A direct, efficient ascent with one of the most iconic views in the city.

• 📍 Salisbury St SE (overlooking Stampede Park)
• This is one of the most efficient stair workouts in Calgary. The climb at the bottom is short, steep, and consistent. There is also a long, gradual incline at the top. offering sections with different intensities. What sets it apart is the payoff: a full downtown skyline view that makes every repeat feel worth it.
• Best for: Varied intensity sessions with maximum visual reward
• Check out our area guide: Evolution of Stampede Park | Saddledome

McHugh Bluff — Most Iconic (and Busiest)

Calgary’s most recognized stair workout—for good reason.

Rotary Park — Controlled Climbs, Big Views

A more structured alternative with room to focus

Why Urban Hiking Works

Urban hiking combines physical intensity with mental stimulation—that combination is what keeps it sustainable and beneficial.

Physical benefits: – Cardiovascular fitness – Lower-body strength from stair climbing – Improved balance and coordination

Mental benefits: – Reduced stress and improved mood – Increased focus and engagement – A stronger connection to your surroundings

What makes it different: You’re not just exercising—you’re engaging and experiencing the city. That variety makes the effort feel more purposeful and less repetitive.

The Takeaway: The best urban workouts don’t feel like workouts. Evamy Ridge stands out because it turns effort into exploration. You’re climbing stairs, but you’re also moving through historic streets, past early 20th-century architecture, and into some of Calgary’s most vibrant public spaces. That combination—movement, place, and discovery—is what makes it worth coming back to.