A scenic 9 km journey that takes you from Sandy Beach along the Elbow River to its confluence with the Bow.
This route isn’t just about the ride or the meeting of two rivers. It follows the story of Mohkinstsis, a place where people have come together for generations and how cultures often develop through a connection to the land.
Calgary’s story began here. Long before settlers established a community, it was a place of gathering and ceremony. Indigenous peoples called it Mohkinstsis or “Elbow” in the Blackfoot language.
A connection to the land is central to Indigenous cultures. They often named places based on the features or activities that occurred there.
Every society, in one way or another, lays claim to a territory. Within that claimed territory, a culture arises from the mutual relationship with the land. Through this relationship, culture icons, symbols and images, values, customs, ceremonies, stories, songs and beliefs of the people are developed. These, in turn, are embodied into the very being of the people
Dr. Leroy Little Bear: Professor, Order of Canada, Kainai Nation, Blackfoot Confederacy, 2017. Plaque outside of King Edward School in South Calgary.
Today, this ride traces that connection. It links our city’s shared heritage to transformative, vibrant public spaces that continue to bring people together and define our culture.
Fort Calgary
The history of this area is a nuanced story, marking a turning point in the region’s development. Fort Calgary was established on the west side of the Elbow River in 1875.
It was a base for the North-West Mounted Police to prepare the area for settlement after the confederation of Canada. Today, the site reflects both Indigenous history and early settlement.
“A series of carved wood members punctuated with traces of red light outline the original 1875 Fort Calgary, embodying its impermanence and dynamic energy. Silhouettes of people from this site’s past and present appear and disappear within the palisade, reminiscent of the way the wind blows shapes across the southern Alberta grasses”. Installed in 2015 by artist Jill Anholt and team.
A replica of the two-storey barracks was completed beside the wooden frame of the original fort in 2000. There is an interpretive centre with exhibits and educational programming providing insights into Indigenous cultures. The site also hosts other events, concerts and celebrations.
Explore the Confluence self-guided tours of the site.
EAST VILLAGE & RiverWalk
Moving west from Fort Calgary is the East Village, an evolving urban space undergoing significant revitalization after decades of underutilization. The neighbourhood is transforming into a dynamic hub with a diverse mix of income and uses. It incorporates residential, commercial, and cultural development.
There is a community garden, a dog walk, and plenty of public spaces for gathering. Explore the gazebo by the pond, playground and two of the Best Outdoor Basketball Courts in the city.
The East Village incorporates public art with a mix of heritage buildings and contemporary architecture. It’s a part of the city that invites movement without urgency. There are spaces to linger, stop and explore, including Studio Bell, Central Library and the Simmons building on RiverWalk Plaza.
RiverWalk Plaza hosts many events throughout the year. These include food trucks, artisan markets, Beakerhead festivities and other festivals. The site features benches, outlooks of the water, access to steps down to the Bow River, and the RiverWalk.
The East Village is connected to the 23,000 km Trans Canada Trail and the local 900 km network of pathways and bikeways. RiverWalk offers dedicated pedestrian and bike lanes with scenic views of downtown along a manicured greenspaces incorporated into a flood mitigation network
The section of the RiverWalk from 9th Avenue to Centre Street Bridge is approximately 1.9 km.
You can continue heading west, check out our guide: Centre Street Bridge – RiverWalk. Heading east from 9th Ave, you can cross the bridge to explore Inglewood. Check out our guide: An Urban and Nature Sanctuary | Inglewood. To continue on this journey, you will follow the pathway along the Elbow River to Legacy Trail.
LEGACY TRAIL
The ride along the Elbow River from the Confluence to Glenmore Dam is 9.1 km.
It can be explored on foot, by bike, scooter or by raft. Following the river south, the pathway leads to spaces created around the idea of gathering.
The first stop is ENMAX Park. A 16-acre green space and home to the 650 metre-long Cenovus Legacy Trail. Along the pathway, markers share the layered stories of the land through the lenses of First Nations People and the Stampede.
The first exhibition was held in 1886 to promote the town and encourage farmers and ranchers to move west. In 1899, organizers purchased 38 hectares of land for exhibition grounds. This laid the foundation for the rise of the Calgary Stampede.
The community was renamed Victoria Park after the reigning monarch. Queen Victoria encouraged exhibitions to bring people together in celebration. That spirit and the community’s legacy as a place “Where Calgary Comes Together” endures as the area transforms into the Culture and Entertainment District.
Along the multi-use pathway, you will find a semi-circle art installation called Tipi. It was originally unveiled at the Victoria Park Station entrance in 2012. The Calgary Stampede centennial year celebrated the relationship between First Nations families from Treaty 7 nations and the Calgary Stampede. It was relocated closer to Elbow River Camp in 2022.
Stampede Park
This space reflects how the local culture developed through its connection to the land. The Fairgrounds were renamed Stampede Park in 1901. Adding new pavilions, plus a parade and rodeo in 1908.
The people of the Blackfoot Nation were invited for the first time in 1912. A cultural contribution that continues today at the Elbow River Camp.
The Calgary Stampede has evolved into The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Welcoming millions of visitors to the city to celebrate Western heritage, culture and community spirit.
At the end of ENMAX Park is a bridge you can cross to explore the iconic Saddledome, Public art, BMO Event Centre and Stampede Park. You can track the progress of the future Culture & Entertainment District, anchored by the new $1.22 billion Scotia Place. Read more in our guide on this destination: Evolution of Stampede Park | Saddledome.
Follow the pathway along the east side of the river around Stampede Park to the South Entrance. Across the street is another destination – Reader Rock Garden.
Here you can explore an internationally praised garden and a national historic site. These grounds were instrumental in testing gardening principles on this once-barren prairie. Learn about the man who educated settlers about the horticultural potential of this place, where people once thought nothing would grow.
Mission
Heading west on the pathway, you pass under Macleod Trail and emerge surrounded by the urban forest of Lindsay Park. Along the way, you will discover an awkwardly placed steel girder bridge.
Its scale hints at its history as an integral part of the Canadian Northern Railway line. A key contributor to the early economic prosperity of Calgary.
The bridge, built in 1913, was converted into a pedestrian bridge by the City in 1999. The stairs to the open deck reveal rail tracks and connect two landmarks to the park.
St. Mary’s Cathedral and Parish Hall serve as reminders. Before being annexed in 1907, the community of Mission was the French settlement of Rouleauville.
Built in 1905, the St. Mary’s Parish Hall was the center of the social and cultural life of this community.
The hall exemplifies the sandstone construction that defined the architecture of the time. The material was abundant around Calgary and further embodies the settlement’s growing connection to the land. It became widely used after a fire in 1886 destroyed a significant amount of the wooden buildings.
To learn more and vote for your favourite sandstone building, visit our guide at Sandstone City Legacy.
The Canadian Northern Railway purchased it in 1911. They transformed it into a passenger rail station that operated from 1914 to 1971. The Calgary City Ballet moved into the building in 1982, returning it to a community hub.
Mohkinstsis Park
At the end of Lindsay Park, cross Scollen Bridge and turn into a small green space. There you will find a plaque recognizing the First People at Mohkinstsis Park. At spots like this, you can find locals gathering along the rocky shores of the river.
This watering hole provides locals the opportunity to paddle with ducks and pups. Roxboro off-leash dog park is across the river.
Continue on, heading west on 26th Avenue to Mission Bridge. There is an outlook by the river, benches and access to Fourth Street.
Home to more than 300 businesses, public art and the annual Lilac festival. This event is attended by over 100,000 people every June. Check out our guide at Van Gogh Observes Fourth Street to learn more about a unique public art installation.
Stanley Park and Sandy Beach
Following the multi-use pathway along the river and Elbow Drive until you reach a bridge on your left. The vibe get slower and the landscape more natural from here. Cross the bridge and continue briefly through the quiet community of Rideau Park. Turning right, be minful for cars on this quiet residential roadway.
At the end of the block, you will get back onto the pathway. Ride until you arrive at another gathering place. The grassy slope in Stanley Park is a popular spot for locals to cool off, relax reconnect with the outdoors and each other on hot summer days.
As you leave the park, you stay on the path along the river and under Elbow Drive until you arrive at Riverdale Avenue. Here you can enjoy the canopy of mature American Elm trees as you briefly travel on another quiet residential street.
If you stopped at Reader Rock Garden, you would have visited William Reader’s former home. You can better appreciate that this urban forest was planted by our most influential Parks Superintendent almost a century earlier.
You return to the pathway and reach the final destination before the Glenmore Dam. Despite the name, Sandy Beach has no beach, only another rocky shoreline. The park features plenty of green space for chilling, BBQ and fire pits. This is also a great spot to launch your raft, if you’re interested in taking this trip by boat. It is also home to one of the best off-leash areas. Explore this destination with our guide: Best Dog Park and Urban Hike | River Park and Sandy Beach.
On the other side of the Glenmore Dam is the Reservoir Loop. It is approximately 15 km of multi-use pathway. You can check our guide at: Glenmore Reservoir – Recreation and Heritage Park. It features the Best Urban Trail for Fall.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This land is the traditional territory of the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Siksika, Piikani, Amskapi Piikani, and Kainai Nations; the Dene of the Tsuut’ina Nation; the Îyârhe Nakoda of the Bearspaw, Chiniki, and Goodstoney Nations; and the Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3.
For generations, many Indigenous groups and communities have celebrated their culture and heritage during the summer solstice. They do this to mark the significance of the longest day of the year. As part of the Celebrate Canada program, the government acknowledged this in 1996. They issued a Proclamation declaring June 21 of each year as National Aboriginal Day. In 2017, the day was renamed National Indigenous Peoples Day.
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