10 places to visit in Calgary this summer if you want to escape the tourist crowds
Find your inner zen at these crowd-free spots. 🪷
Amazing architecture at the Calgary Central Library. Right: Strolling through Reader Rock Garden
Come summertime, Calgary can get packed with tourists. Fortunately, there are plenty of hidden gem spots in Calgary where you can escape the crowds.
Everyone knows about Calgary's top tourist spots like The Calgary Zoo and Stephen Avenue Walk. However, there are also many secret spots in and around Calgary that locals love but tourists aren't always aware of.
If you're looking to get off the beaten path in Calgary this summer, these are some of the best places to visit that are often blissfully crowd-free.
Rats Nest Cave
Price: Tours start from $149 per person with Canmore Cave Tours
Address: Grotto Mountain, Canmore, Alberta
Why You Need To Go: If you want to beat the heat and avoid crowds, why not head underground? Rat's Nest Cave is a unique series of passageways deep in the heart of Grotto Mountain just outside Canmore.
To get to Rat's Nest Cave, you'll have to take a short hike up Grotto Mountain. Once you find the entrance, you can slip inside to explore four kilometres of passageways with unique rock formations like soda straws, cave curtains and flowstone.
The safest way to explore the cave is with Canmore Cave Tours. The company offers in-depth tours of the cave that include safety equipment, water and an experienced guide who can help you rappel down chutes and discover hidden corners.
Nose Hill Park
Price: Free
Address: 6465 14 St NW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Want to immerse yourself in nature without leaving the city? Nose Hill Park spans 11 square kilometres in Northwest Calgary and it's a pretty amazing spot to spend the day.
The park has several hiking trails that wind through native grassland and groves of aspen trees. There are also several off-leash areas for dogs. Many parts of the park offer sweeping views of the mountains, the city skyline and the Bow River Valley.
Keep an eye out for the Siksikaitsitapi landmark on Nose Hill. The landmark features a ring of rocks with symbols that represent the Siksikaitsitapi people's sacred connection to the land, traditions and values.
Calgary Central Library
Price: Free
Address: 800 3 St SE, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: The Calgary Central Library truly is a modern marvel. The unique architecture is stunning on its own, but the library also has a ton of cool resources for people of all ages.
You can't miss the massive oval-shaped library designed with glass, steel and wood. Skylights allow natural light to flow in and wooden staircases and passageways flow organically. There are also stunning artworks on display.
There are tons of things to discover on all four floors of the library. You can read in a quiet nook, borrow a laptop or learn a new language at the Indigenous Placemaking centre. There is also a short story dispenser machine, job desk, video game room and studios to create music and videos.
Reader Rock Garden
Price: Free
Address: 325 25 Ave SE, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Step into Reader Rock Garden and you may just feel as though you've been transported to another time. The historic garden contains charming stone paths and stairways that wind past flowers, ponds and lush greenery.
The garden was named after William Roland Reader, who was the superintendent for Calgary Parks from 1913 until the early 1940s. He was passionate about plants and grew over 4,000 species on the grounds.
If you're looking for a fun activity to do in Calgary when you feel like you've done it all, Reader Garden is a picturesque place to escape the bustling streets. You'll find plenty of find peaceful corners to chill with friends and loved ones or simply meditate.
Turtle Mountain and the Frank Slide
Price: Free to hike the mountain. Tickets for the Frank Interpretive Centre cost $15 for adults, $9 for children and $11 for seniors.
Address: Frank, Crowsnest Pass, AB
Why You Need To Go: The small town of Frank is about a two-hour drive from Calgary, but it's worth the trip to see stunning scenery from the top of Turtle Mountain. It was also the site of one of Western Canada's deadliest natural disasters.
In 1903, a massive landslide on Turtle Mountain sent 110 million tonnes of rock cascading down the face of Turtle Mountain. The landslide took out an entire section of town, along with a coal mine and railway station. Nearly 100 people lost their lives.
You can learn more about the landslide and see its aftermath on the side of the mountain at the Frank Interpretive Centre. You can also hike through the rubble on the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre Loop and explore other trails on Turtle Mountain.
Calgary Farmers' Market
Price: Free
Address: 510 77 Ave SE, Calgary, AB and 25 Greenbriar Dr NW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: If you really want to get a taste of Calgary beyond the tourist sites, swing by one of the Farmer's Markets. There are two locations, both of which have a wide array of vendors, cafes and restaurants.
The South Market is the original Farmers' Market, while the West Market just opened in 2022. Both have shops and stalls selling everything from fresh produce to baked goods, art and jewellery. Nearly everything sold at the market is locally grown or made.
The South Market is open every Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The West Market has extended hours every Wednesday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sundays, it's open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Boundary Ranch
Price: Trail rides start at $89 per person.
Address: AB-40, Kananaskis, AB
Why You Need To Go: For a memorable summer experience, make your way to Boundary Ranch in Kananaskis Country. Here you can horseback ride down magical trails with Rocky Mountain views.
Boundary Ranch is a working ranch that offers daily trail rides for riders of all levels. There are easy rides along flat wooded trails, as well as longer rides along mountain ridges and through alpine passes.
The riding season at Boundary Ranch runs from May to October. Reservations are essential to ensure the team can have your horses saddled up and ready to go on the day of your ride.
Bragg Creek
Price: Free
Address: Bragg Creek, AB
Why You Need To Go: Located just a 30-minute drive from downtown Calgary, Bragg Creek is like a whole different world. This tiny hamlet has major Western vibes with old-timey shops and even a saloon. Plus, there is plenty of natural beauty right on its doorstep.
If you want to get off the beaten path, head to one of the many parks in the area. Bragg Creek Provincial Park has trails that run alongside the Elbow River, while Elbow Falls is known for its stunning waterfalls. West Bragg Creek is great for mountain biking.
Many people spend a few days camping in the Bragg Creek area. There are several campsites nearby including Gooseberry Campground and McLean Creek. You can also go glamping in a dome at Elevated Escapes.
Plaza Theatre
Price: Tickets start at $9.99 for adults, $7.99 for children and $6.99 for seniors
Address: 1133 Kensington Rd NW, Calgary, AB
Why You Need To Go: Looking for a fun date night idea? The Plaza Theatre is an iconic Kensington landmark that goes above and beyond your run-of-the-mill movie theatre.
Built in 1920, the building that houses the Plaza Theatre was originally an auto mechanic shop. It was transformed into a cinema in 1935 and has been showing films ever since.
Recently renovated in 2021, The Plaza now has a hip pink lobby, a cafe where you can grab beverages and snacks and a speakeasy-style bar with a patio. Then there is the theatre that shows a mix of classic, independent and new release films.
Plaza Theatre website
Big Hill Springs Provincial Park
Price: Free
Address: Cochrane, AB
Why You Need To Go: Escape to a world of waterfalls and gently bubbling creeks at Big Hill Springs Provincial Park. The park is just a 35-minute drive northwest of Calgary, making it an easy day trip from the city.
The park has two main hiking loops that take you through the forest and along Big Hill Creek. Along the way, you'll find picnic areas and plenty of places to stop and get some great nature shots.
After you explore the park, be sure to make a stop in Cochrane. This magical small town close to Calgary gives Wild West energy with its historic wooden shopfronts and prairie surroundings.