Our furry friends are part of our social circle, like a shadow; they go where we go.

Urban hiking is a social activity. It provides an opportunity to connect with friends and family. You can also engage with the community while exploring the urban environment.

Calgary has 157 public off-leash areas! Totalling 1145 hectares, it is one of the largest in North America. These off-leash designations make up approximately 13% of the 8642 hectares of parkland that Calgary Parks maintains. You can view all of these parks on The City of Calgary map here.

There are always lots of dogs and their people to socialize with. There is a mix of trees and open space.

The top of the ridge offers a great view of the downtown skyline and river valley. At the bottom of the ridge, nestled along the bank of the Elbow River, is Sandy Beach.

Sandy Beach Park features BBQ grills, fire pits, a playground, restrooms, and river access, but no sandy beach.

The park is an on-leash area, but there is another off-leash space across the river. It is located by the second parking lot off Riverdale Avenue.

Sandy Beach Park Improvements

Improvements to Sandy Beach Park in 2025 limited access to amenities. City crews have now completed paving the access road and added new vehicle parking spaces.

The spring will see minor adjustments to fencing along the regional pathway and planting. The new retaining wall and added switchbacks on the pathway at the main entrance were a definite upgrade.

Urban Hiking

This 4.24 km hike should take approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Head straight, follow the trail carved through the grass by other users. Often, the best journeys are blazed by those who know where they are going. Stay along the tree line until you reach a fence. This spot offers a great view of downtown and the valley below.

Cross the bridge over the Elbow River to Riverdale Park, where you can explore trails along the river. You can also climb another set of dog-friendly stairs up to another open off-leash green space in Britannia.

For a longer excursion, you can ride your bike around the reservoir. If you look closely through the trees, you can see the Glenmore dam in the background behind Sandy Beach. Check out our guide: Recreation and Heritage Park | Glenmore Reservoir. Or you can ride along the Elbow River to the confluence with the Bow. Check out our guide here: Biking Mohkinstsis | The Elbow River– Where Calgary Comes Together.

Enjoy the canopy of mature American Elm trees until 8th Street. These trees were planted by William Reader. To learn more about the city’s most influential Parks Superintendent, read our post on Reader Rock Garden. When the road bends, turn left and cross the bridge. Here you will discover an urban area of interest: Elbow Park School.

Urban Area of Interest

It was rebuilt to withstand a 1-in-500-year flood, leaving only the facade with a refurbished library and modern gymnasium.

The project cost $16.5 million and reopened to students in 2017. If you enjoy seeking out Calgary’s grand early architecture, old schools are a great source of preservation. Exploring the front of the school is worth the walk to discover the original 1926 facade.

A plaque placed by the Heritage Advisory Board of The City of Calgary reads this the was the “first and most ornate of a series of schools built by the Calgary School Board in the 1920s. Modified to reflect the residential character of the district, it is an excellent example of the romantic English Revival style. Characterized by a steeply pitched roof topped by a prominent steeple, articulated brick and fine stone window mullions.”

Remember The City of Calgary Leash Area Rules

• Dogs must be on leash in all public spaces unless otherwise indicated by a posted sign that the area is an off-leash area. This includes the parking lot of off-leash areas. Dogs on pathways must be on a leash no greater than two meters in length.
• Dogs must be under their owner’s control at all times. In off-leash areas, this means dogs must be able to respond to their owner’s voice, sound or visual commands.
• Dog owners are required to carry a “suitable means” (e.g. plastic bag) for picking up after their pet.
• Dogs are not permitted within five meters of play structures, school grounds, wading pool/swimming areas, sports fields, golf courses or cemeteries.
• No dogs are allowed off of the pathways in sensitive wildlife habitats such as Weaselhead Natural Environment Park. It is illegal for dogs to harass wildlife.
• Dogs considered to be extremely aggressive must be muzzled, and harnessed or leashed. The leash should be no greater than one meter in length, and the dog handler should be over 18 years of age.
• It is against the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw to ride a bike or in-line skate with your dog.
• Learn more about the Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.