Adventure for Wilderness – Biophilic Beauty along the Elbow River
May 15, 2025
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Text and images by Lindsey Wallis
The sky was dark and foreboding as we gathered at the escarpment above the Elbow River on the evening of May 14. Lori Beattie, author of Calgary’s Best Walks, was ready to show us some of her favourite natural spots along the Elbow. We all noted the location of “Saskatoon Hill”, which was dotted with the white of flowering Saskatoon bushes, for berry picking later in the summer.
As we entered the neighbourhood, winding through apple trees in full bloom, it began to rain in earnest. Most of our crew was hardy, donning rain gear and pressing on. We crossed the Elbow River and continued through the neighbourhood to Stanley Park, where we were rewarded for our persistence with the sight of an osprey perched near the bank.
The rain let up a bit as we continued through parks and green spaces until we gained the escarpment again. On another evening we might have stopped for an ice cream at nearby Village Ice Cream, but on this occasion we were all keen to head home for a warm drink.
