Great terrain to tackle for city slickers

By Adam Campbell in Vancouver
And Bob Walker in Calgary 
Pictures by Todd Duncan
and Jocelyn Kutcher

Whether you are dipping your foot in the Pacific, or feeling the Prairie winds blow through your hair, Calgary and Vancouver offer extraordinary options for urban trail runners. Take a baby step outside the city core and savour these great urban trails as selected by our experts in this earth movement.

VANCOUVER
With the North Shore mountains framing the city’s skyline and hundreds of parks dotted across the lower mainland, it is very easy to leave the hustle and bustle of Vancouver to find yourself running through thick West Coast rainforests, along canyon walls, past rivers, waterfalls and lakes to a mountain peak a kilometre above sea level.

With a network of trails accessible to almost every part of the city, you never have to set foot on pavement, the only real issue being where will you run next. Do you want ocean, trees or rocks? Although I love exploring for new routes, here are three of my favourite trails.

Pacific Spirit Park (20km)
Bordering the University of British Columbia campus, Pacific Spirit Park is easy terrain that can be enjoyed by trail runners of all skill levels. Suck in the salty ocean air and head out on a soft trail through old-growth rainforest flooded with dappled light. The trails vary from flat stretches to rolling terrain, wide open trail, single track and a few steady climbs. Because these trails are not as rugged as their North Shore counterparts, they are among my favourite spots to open up my stride and to cruise along under the trees.

The area is well signed, with lots of maps, but pay attention, because you can get turned around  quite easily in the network of trails. You can get quite creative, making the loops longer or shorter and there are also lots of fun side trails  to explore. My favourite section of the trail (the Admiralty trail) runs along a ridge by the beach and has some great views of downtown, the mountains and Burrard Inlet.

There are a variety of access points, but my favourite loop starts at the corner of 33rd and Camosun. From there I head south on 19 (St. Georges), then I head west on 21 (Salish), to 4 (Council), I head west on 4, to 24 (Sword Fern), I head north on 24, all the way north and back onto 21 (Salish), then I hang a tight right on 1 (Admiralty) along the ridge, then south on 17 (Pioneer), then a sharp right, back to the water on 7 (East Canyon), then back west along 1 (Admiralty), back to 21 (Salish) and head south, all the way down to 9 (Hemlock), then head northeast, it turns into 15 (Nature), back up to 16th Ave head east along the dirt path along 16th to 11 Huckleberry, then south on Huckleberry to 25 (Top) , down to 22 (Sasamat) and back to the gates.

Skyline-Baden Powell-BCMC
(Up, or up and down) 
(7 km or 10.3 km)
This is a heart-pounder – a street to peak type run where you are exposed to the elements. The terrain is moderate but physically demanding. This trail overlooks downtown Vancouver and out over Lions Gate Bridge. The ships in the harbour and just about every major Vancouver landmark is in view as you weave your way up the side of the mountain. Start at the Grouse Mountain parking lot and follow on to the wide gravel road, then to Mosquito Creek, where you duck west onto the Baden Powell (BP) trail traversing across the base of Grouse Mountain. The BP is a rugged but well used, point-to-point trail that runs across the North Shore mountains and is a fantastic 48 kilometre run in itself. You run along the roots, bridges and steps of the BP for a little over 1.5 kilometres. Before getting to the start of the Grouse Grind, you cut right onto the BCMC trail. Everything to this point is a warm-up, since the BCMC kicks you up the side of the mountain and is a good run on its own. Follow the windy trail 853 metres up over 3.3 kilometres past old-growth forest to the Grouse Mountain Chalet. With an average grade of 25.8 per cent, most people are reduced to hiking this trail, but the very fittest runners can run the whole way. Hardy runners can head back down to the BCMC to the start, while others can enjoy a cold drink and some food at the Grouse Mountain lodge before taking the Grouse Mountain cable car back down for $10.  

Hanes Valley Loop (30 km)
This is straight up an adventure run, the place I go when I want to get lost in the city. Polling other trail runners online about which trails to feature for IMPACT, the Hanes Valley Loop was the easy winner, but be warned this is a long loop in rugged terrain. You are in some serious wilderness within five kilometres of heading north from the Lynn Creek headwaters. Follow it up to the Norvan Creek suspension bridge where there’s a double crossing of Lynn Creek atop logjams. Keep heading up into Hanes Valley until you get to the scree headwall up to Crown Pass. There isn’t much of a trail through the boulders, but a route is marked out with reflective tape on rocks and bamboo poles. If you are heading up, you are going the right way. This is a real grunt of a climb so use caution through this section.

Keep going to Crown Pass, where you  can add on an ascent of Crown Mountain. 
The climb out of Crown Pass is incredibly steep and rugged, topping out not far from the summit of Goat Mountain. Make sure to take some time through this section to look out over Howe Sound. You need to be prepared for all conditions on the loop and while there are water stations, taking food is a good idea. Easier terrain prevails down to the Grouse Mountain Skyride area. Then you have a few options:

1) Bail out and take the Grouse Skyride down then catch a bus or taxi back to Lynn Valley. There is no shame in this;
2) Take BCMC trail down to the Baden Powell and run east along the trail back to Lynn Valley;
3) Take the Old Mountain Hwy (OMH). and cruise down the gravel road towards Mount Fromme. Continue along OMH, as your quads scream at you past the gravel pit. Descend a short technical trail to your right called Per Gynt which drops you out at the sixth switchback corner of OMH. At this point you will ascend to just before the seventh switchback corner and the beginning of an epic descent down three of the best mountain bike trails the shore has to offer. The first trail is called Seventh Secret. If you stay left at most junctions it will drop you down Seventh Secret, into Leppard Trail. Staying left again it connects into Krickum Krankum and then into Kickford before you hit a T-junction and the Cedar Trail where you will finally stay to the right and back onto the first switchback of OMH. Keep going until OMH crosses BP, cut  left and down BP into Lynn Headwaters. Soak your legs in the creek when it is all done!
Detailed trail maps can be found at www.trailpeak.com.

CALGARY
Calgary is a bustling oil city plunked down in the heart of the Alberta grasslands and nestled up against the great foothills to the west. There are plenty of opportunities to recreate in the mountains an hour drive away but for those looking for some running adventure within the city you needn’t go far from home. Although there are short sections of trail in the green spaces throughout the city my favourite trails can be found in three areas. Fish Creek, Nosehill and Bowmont have very different landscapes and present options for running in lush wooded forest, high rolling grasslands, or beautiful river valley. Three of the best trails in these areas are described below.

If you are thirsting for a good trail run, but can’t spare the hour drive to the mountains, Calgary has some awesome urban terrain that can satisfy the best trail runners. From the shores of the Bow River in Bowmont Park to Nose Hill Park standing sentinel over the city and south to the wild beauty of Fish Creek, here are three of my favourite trails to help get me out of the city, in the city.

Sideshow in Bowmont Park
(8 km)
This is an outstanding single-track trail that has a very pleasant grade and amazing views of the Bow River below.

There are plenty of options for alternate trails that zigzag through tall grass and do some short, steep climbs. Start/Finish off a gravel road at the bottom of the hill below the corner of Home Rd NW and 32nd Ave NW. Climb for 50 metres, taking a left at the first single track branch and traverse on the narrow, twisting trail that undulates NW.

At one point you will be forced down off the hillside and into the valley bottom, keep an eye out for a slightly overgrown trail that continues NW before climbing a little higher on the ridge.

When you come to the intersection of the paved path cross it and look for trails that head further north. Cruise back toward the houses in the distance and turn back northwest just before you hit the pavement.

Continue on the traversing track heading toward the bridge in the distance. When you reach the bridge turn around and start back. Retrace your route to the bridge and choose from any of a number of trails heading in your desired direction. There are a few options to do some interesting hill climbs if you stay right when the option presents itself. When you reach the paved path you can retrace your steps back to the car or take the higher line on the ridge crest.

Fish Creek
(20 km)
This run follows the main paved pathway as it winds its way through grassy meadows, dense forest, and along the river. There is not much elevation gain and is a great first trail to get to know Fish Creek Park.

There are many options to get off the paved trail and onto some dirt tracks, some of which are shown on trail maps along
the path.

Start at Bow Valley Ranch on Woodpath Rd SW. Climb steadily NW along the pathway for 10.3 km until you reach Shannon Terrace. Turn around and make your way back along the pathway or get a little adventurous and explore some other trails labelled on the map.

Nose hill Traverse
(10.5 km)
This big figure 8 loop takes you on a high tour across Nose Hill Park, a grassy hill occupying a large chunk of northwest Calgary. The views of the surrounding areas are nice and you may even encounter deer along the way. The expansive views allow for many running variations without the risk of getting lost.

Park at the 14 St & 64 Ave NW parking lot. Start up the gravel road and follow the trail all the way to Shaganappi Trail. Turn right and follow the trail as it loops around back over itself and heads towards the old gravel pit, which is a large pond in the summer (great if you have the dog along). Continue downhill, ending at the same place you started.