Summary:

• Nose Hill Park offers a wide range of biking trails, from paved paths to gravel and dirt trails, suitable for different skill levels. Fat tire eBikes or eMTBs are recommended to get the best experience when exploring the entire area.
• With trails that range from easy to challenging, you can choose your route through the park based on your preference for solitude, rugged beauty, or adventurous terrain.
• Some trails come with recommendations regarding speed, peak hours, or equipment, ensuring that you can choose trails that suit your comfort level and expertise.
• Nose Hill Park provides an excellent opportunity to experience wilderness and adventure without having to leave the city. Calgary eBikes can help you find the perfect bike for exploring this unique region.

Not every city has a sprawling natural environment park within its limits, but—as we all know—Calgary is special. No need to leave town for a weekend bike trip when you have splendid and scenic Nose Hill sitting smack dab in the city’s Northwestern quadrant. Just put your feet to the pedals and lose yourself in the tall grass under that great big Alberta sky.

Of course, you’ll want to know the best routes to take through the park before you head out, and we’re here to help. Whether you’re riding one of our high-end eBikes or using a different two-wheeler to tour Nose Hill, here are the best trails in the area as selected by our team of cycle-maniacs.

Note: Nose Hill’s network of trails is a mix of paved paths, gravel, and dirt trails. To avoid limiting yourself, we recommend using fat tire ebikes or eMTBs when visiting the park—so that your ride never stops you from exploring off the beaten path should the desire arise.

East Nose Hill Loop from Edgemont Boulevard

Length: 12.6 km

Terrain Types: Mostly paved, some gravel

Why We Love It: Starting out from the Edgemont Boulevard parking lot lets you make your way around the Easternmost edge of the park, where you’ll find small groves of wild trees and maybe even spot a deer or two!

North Nose Hill Loop from Edgemont Boulevard

Length: 5.6 km

Terrain Types: Paved pathways

Why We Love It: Starting from the same spot but generally considered an easier route than the one above, this path offers smooth and even paving but still takes you through some of the most rugged and beautiful spots in the park. Go at off-peak hours and you should be able to enjoy an hour or so of blissful solitude (just keep an eye out for coyotes).

Nose Hill Loop from 14th Street

Length: 7.4 km

Terrain Types: Paved paths and dirt trails

Why We Love It: If you’re truly intent on accessing the heart of the park, this loop will take you up the largest and steepest portion of Nose Hill and onto the expansive grassy plateaus atop it. You’ll want to make sure your ride has tires equipped to handle rocks and roots without throwing you into the dirt—but as long as you’re prepared, this is about as far away from the city as you can get without actually having to leave it.

Nose Hill Perimeter Loop from Brisebois Drive

Length: 13.8 km

Terrain Types: Paved pathways

Why We Love It: If you’re looking to take the long way ‘round, this one’s for you. You’ll circle practically the entire park on paved trails, making this one of the few options on this list that you don’t necessarily need an all-terrain-capable bike to enjoy (although we still recommend one in case you want to deke off and try one of these other suggestions!).

Gerry’s Trail

Length: 15.2 km

Terrain Types: Dirt trails

Why We Love It: Okay, we threw in a few popular ones—now it’s time for some truly deep cuts. To access this bumpy single-track dirt trail, start out from the Edgemont and Shaganappi parking lot, heading down towards Brisebois. Then, shortly after your first major curve, head South. You’ll also find an extension just before you cross into the Nose Hill Park Off-Leash area, which adds about 300 extra meters of joyriding.

MacEwan Hollow

Length: 1 km

Terrain Types: Dirt trails

Why We Love It: A short and easy trail that still offers off-grid excitement, this single-track dirt trail carves through trees and tall grass from the access point near MacEwan Park View NW via the Long North Road Approach. You’ll be surprised by how quickly you leave behind those suburban homes and find yourself immersed in the wilderness—just to come back out again at the North edge of the Off-Leash Area.

MacEwan DH

Length: 1.3 km

Terrain Types: Dirt trails

Why We Love It: Starting from the same point as MacEwan Hollow but in a Northwesterly direction, this downhill trail will take you practically all the way to the Edgemont and Shaganappi parking lot. Be warned, though—you’ll probably pick up speed pretty quickly, and there are usually more than a few dog-walkers on this route during peak hours, so consider going slowly or picking a less popular time if you want to joyride.

Dave Sullivan’s Nose Hill Single Track Loop

Length: 26.8 km

Terrain Types: Paved and dirt trails

Why We Love It: We don’t know Dave Sullivan personally, but we’re forever grateful to him for plotting out this grueling-but-rewarding route. You’ll climb over half a click over the course of this route, which is based on the #RideCMBA Nose Hill Long Loop but adds additional sections for maximum adventure. Be warned—this one’s not for beginners, but it is a great way to get your fill of the park on a single outing. There are plenty of access points for this one—find a map here to plan out how you’ll tackle it.

Adventure Awaits in the Heart of Calgary

Nose Hill Park offers a fresh sense of adventure to cyclists of all skill levels—whether you’re looking for a gentle ride down a quiet bike path or a challenge that will get you sweating as you blast through the dirt. Of course, to make the most of everything the park has to offer, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a ride ready for whatever route you choose to take. Find your nearest eBike store here and make sure you’re ready for the ride.