The Best Calgary Picnic Spots for Families
Nothing beats spreading out a blanket and enjoying a picnic outdoors on a warm weather day. For our family, the perfect picnic location comes with a view and something to do, and fortunately, there are lots of Calgary picnic spots that fit the bill. Here’s a list of some of our favourite picnic spots in YYC!
Best Calgary Picnic Spots for Families
Picnic Sites You Can Reserve Ahead of Time
Many of Calgary’s city parks come with picnic sites that can be reserved in advance. Reserving helps to guarantee your spot on busy park days, since folks with reservations take priority over those without them. Picnic sites come with amenities like picnic tables, barbecues, and firepits, and sometimes even have shelters and electricity. Since 2021, some public parks also allow alcohol consumption. Sites are reserved in 6-hour time slots from 8:45 am to 2:45 pm and 3:15 to 9:15 pm on a first come, first served basis and can be booked online or by calling 403-268-3800. These sites must be booked 5 days in advance, so plan early! Rental rates are dependent on the number of participants attending and start at $72.35 for up to 25 people.
Bowness Park | calgary.ca
8900 48 Ave NW
Bowness Park is one of our family’s top spots for a picnic, and is a favourite of many Calgarians. For this reason, it can sometimes be tricky to get a parking spot, so it’s a good idea to visit outside of high times (like on long weekends) if you can avoid it. There are lots of features that make this park a great one to picnic at, including picnic tables and bbq spots, playgrounds, a wading pool, a lagoon where you can rent paddle boats from the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre, and a cute little ride-on train that you can purchase tickets to go for a spin on. There is also a tea house on site (Seasons of Bowness) where you can pop in for a bite, a treat, or reserve a picnic basket in advance.
Shouldice Park | calgary.ca
4900 Monserrat Dr. NW
Shouldice Park is a great spot to head for a picnic, especially if you’d like to play some soccer, baseball, or tennis. Baseball diamonds, batting cages, soccer fields, tennis court and the Shouldice Aquatic Centre are all nearby. There are also bookable picnic sites, fire pits, and barbeque stands.
Picture by @praise.y on Instagram
Prairie Winds Park | calgary.ca
223 Castleridge Blvd. N.E.
Prairie Winds Park is one picnic spot that’s worth the drive no matter what part of the city you live in. Our kids are huge fans of the playground – especially the zipline and the big slide. We also love dipping our toes in at the wading pool and cooling off at the spray park. For even more fun, there are basketball courts, soccer fields, a cricket pitch, and even fitness stations! One cool feature you’ll find here is a tandoori oven – perfect for your next picnic.
Edworthy Park | calgary.ca
5050 Spruce Dr. SW
Edworthy Park is a beautiful nature escape, filled with playgrounds, pathways, trees, plants, wildlife and more. Douglas Fir Trail and Lawrey Gardens are popular walking paths that provide views of the Bow River. Once you’ve finished your walk, head to one of the 9 picnic areas or 5 gazebos to set up your picnic!
Picture by @louise.the.corgi on Instagram
Sandy Beach | calgary.ca
4500 14A St. S.W.
Whether you’re docking your raft after a relaxing float on the river, walking down from nearby Marda Loop, or have driven to your destination, Sandy Beach is a tried and true picnic spot for many Calgarians. We love hanging out on the rocks on the bank of the Elbow River before heading to one of the two playgrounds to slide, climb and swing. There are plenty of shady spots to put out a picnic blanket, as well as tables, shelters, bbq stands and fire pits.
South Glenmore Park | calgary.ca
90 Ave SW & 24 St. SW
South Glenmore Park is one place our family heads out to all the time, thanks to the large spray park, and fun and engaging playgrounds. Nearby, there are also lots of places to bike, hike and play sports like tennis and polo. Weaselhead Natural Area and Glenmore Sailing School are close by – why not take a walk on the trails and then rent a boat for some time on the water before finishing off the day with a perfect picnic?
Photo by @angelkcreative on Instagram
North Glenmore Park | calgary.ca
7305 Crowchild Trail SW
A friend of mine recently introduced my to the fun and beauty tucked away in North Glenmore Park, and I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to discover. The inclusive playground is an engaging and safe place for all kids to play. There are also courts for tennis and plenty of walking paths, as well as picnic sites, many of which come with fire pits and bbq stands. The gorgeous view of the nearby Glenmore Reservoir sure doesn’t hurt either!
Stanley Park | calgary.ca
4011 1A St. SW
If a place to splash in the water is a must on your picnic list, Stanley Park is a great place to check out. Throw on your swimsuit and jump into the Stanley Park Pool, which offers both a deep pool and a spray park and wading pool (admission fee applies). After you’re done at the pool, visit the playgrounds or sports fields and courts before setting up for your picnic with views of the Bow River!
Pearce Estate Park | calgary.ca
1440 17A St. SE
Located near the buzzing community of Inglewood, Pearce Estate Park is another picnic spot that always tops our family’s list of favourites. There are so many fun things to do, from walking along the paths in the 15-hectare wetland area, to watching body surfers and kayakers at Harvie Passage and feeding the fish at the Bow Habitat Station. Of course, the playgrounds are always a blast, too!
Calgary Picnic Spots Without Reservations
Fish Creek Provincial Park | albertaparks.ca
Considering it’s the second largest urban park in Canada, covering almost 15 square kilometres, it’s safe to say that there are many great places to set up a picnic in Fish Creek Provincial Park! The amenities can vary depending which entrance you come from, but it’s typical to find picnic tables, fire pits, barbecue stands and washrooms. Our family loves to take a picnic down to the rocky banks of Fish Creek so we can jump into the water between bites. While the Shannon Terrace area is the one we frequent most often, we also love the Bow Valley Ranch area (it’s a great spot to grab an ice cream cone from Annie’s Café) and of course, Sikome Lake is always a favourite.Â
Photo by @motherpixels on Instagram
Prince’s Island Park | calgary.ca
4 St. SW and 1 Ave SW
If you’re in the downtown area, Prince’s Island Park is a must stop picnic spot. If you’re lucky, you might catch an outdoor event or festival, but on quieter days, the playgrounds, pathways, gardens and fountains make it a picturesque place for families to spend their day outdoors. The “Remembering Our Children” trail is an educational walk that includes 7 art installations focused on starting Conversations about Residential Schools. The River Café is a great place to grab a bite, or to order a picnic basket to go!
Photo by @shahnavazvora on Instagram
St. Patrick’s Island Park | calgary.ca
1300 Zoo Rd. NE
No list of great picnic spots in Calgary would be complete without a mention of St. Patrick’s Island Park. Although many folks who live and work downtown head to St. Patrick’s Island, it’s a destination of choice for people all across the city, thanks to its hiking and biking trails, natural wading pool, kids play area, wetlands, sculptures and picnic spots.
What are your favourite Calgary picnic spots? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!
