Great Canadian Outdoor Activities thread

[Calgarian]

Was talking about mountain biking in the skyline thread and it made me curious what are the outdoor recreation options like in your city?

Calgary has COP for biking in summer and skiing / snowboarding in the winter, there are lots of parks and something like 800km of paved trails in the city. Just outside the city is Kananaskis Country (about 4000sqkm including several parks and protected areas) wherre there is amazing biking, hiking, rock climbing, white water rafting and a million other things to do.

What kinds of outdoor activities do people in your city do?

[sdimedru]

continuing discussion from that thread...

Originally Posted by Calgarian

^Hows the mountain biking in Edmonton? those parks along the hill there must have some nice trails.

It's unreal how good we have it in the city.. so glad I got back into biking last year.

My favorite right now is the CSG course at Strathcona Science Park, its addicting and perfect for someone just returning to the sport (honorable mention to to Miners Shaft in Kennedale Ravine which was where I took the photo Coldrsx posted

[Calgarian]

I may have to check it out next time I'm in town. Some of my favourites here are Bowmont park (trail cut into a near cliff face called Sideshow Bob) that connects to 12mile coulee.

Such a gnarly little trail.

https://www.trailforks.com/photo/13257355/

[SignalHillHiker]

St. John's has a limited number of options for outdoor activities, but what it does have is generally easy accessible and of an exceptional quality.

The main one for me is, of course, hiking. Raw nature is only ever a few minutes away. This is about a 20-minute walk from the heart of Water Street (and this portion of the trail allows mountain biking):

Quidi Vidi Trail by R C, on Flickr

Within the city, the Grand Concourse is one of the most extensive urban trail systems in North America. It looks like a proper trail along rivers, streams, and lakes but includes lots of areas that are just sidewalk.

Within east driving distance of the city there are many other world-class hiking trails - most of them forming part of the East Coast Trail System but many others standing alone, like the Skerwink Trail or Gun Hill Trail.

It's my favourite outdoor activity, by far, and if you're brave it can easily be done here year-round with snowshoes or padded rubbers.

Brigus Lighthouse Hike by R C, on Flickr

La Manche by R C, on Flickr



The Spout by R C, on Flickr

Tors Cove to Witless Bay by R C, on Flickr

La Manche to Brigus South by R C, on Flickr

The coastline is also excellent for rock climbing.

Torbay by R C, on Flickr

Then there are more regimented activities - sea kayaking, whale watching, ziplining, camping (there's a campground in Pippy Park, right in centre city), cross-country skiiing, swimming (especially in freshwater lakes, including hilltop ones with gorgeous views of the city), berry-picking, hunting, foraging (herbs, mussels, etc.). A lot of these activities require weather conditions that are not common here - swimming, for example, you might only get two months of the year.

Snowmobiling is hit or miss. The snow cover often completely disappears several times over the course of our near-zero winters, so for that people generally drive well outside the city to the interior of the island.

[sdimedru]

^^ Looks cool, next time I'm down on business I'll have to pack the bike. Have never thought to do that....



Amazing how different the terrain is! (although I know 45 min west of Calgary you'll find more wooded trails)



https://www.trailforks.com/photo/12660449/

From Pipedream, which is a very popular one apparently, I've yet to try...


https://www.trailforks.com/photo/11719251/


https://www.trailforks.com/photo/11719332/

[Calgarian]

Calgary is spoiled with mountain bike trails in and around the city, West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain have terrain that can rival pretty much anything found on the west coast, though they are very much seasonal trails here. Just got into biking last summer, wanted a way to get in shape and keep the momentum up from snowboard season. I definitely made the right choice. West Fish Creek and Nose Hill are the best spots in the city, and if you pay $35 you can get lift access biking at COP, the trails there are short but are actually quite good. Fish Creek and 12 Mile Coulee will looks very similar to the pics you have posted of Edmonton.

[Calgarian]

St John's looks like A hikers paradise!

[sdimedru]

Originally Posted by Calgarian

Calgary is spoiled with mountain bike trails in and around the city, West Bragg Creek and Moose Mountain have terrain that can rival pretty much anything found on the west coast, though they are very much seasonal trails here. Just got into biking last summer, wanted a way to get in shape and keep the momentum up from snowboard season. I definitely made the right choice. West Fish Creek and Nose Hill are the best spots in the city, and if you pay $35 you can get lift access biking at COP, the trails there are short but are actually quite good. Fish Creek and 12 Mile Coulee will looks very similar to the pics you have posted of Edmonton.

awesome, thx for the tips

[Coldrsx]

I live at the top of bank on the north side of the river valley in Downtown for context:

-x-country in Victoria Park down the hill from me
-tobogganning in Gallagher Park across the river
-oval skating in Victoria Park down the hill from me
-golfing in Victoria, Riverside just in front of Downtown
-Tennis at Kinsmen down the hill from me
-canoe/kayak in the river, floating for the first time next weekend (usually Pembina)
-Outdoor hockey in Riverdale or Cloverdale just SE along the river
-Single-trac MTB various points/places, Terwillegar used to be cool.
-Paddle-board rentals are just starting in Louise McKInney Park on the east side of Downtown for use on the river.
-Fishing in the North Saskatchewan
-Working on my waterskiing on the NSR

[TownGuy]

Cobourg being on the water sailing is pretty popular. Also dragon boating.



The Northumberland County forest is just outside of town and offers various trails for a number of uses.



Gf and I personally use the forest for hiking

[Denscity]

Haha outdoor activities is all we DO have here. We have everything.

[DrJoe]

Really? Everything? Did you completely ignore the post previous to your own which mentioned sail boating? How much of that happens in the interior of BC?

[240glt]

^ tons of sailing in the BC interior. We had a Kestrel sailboat when we were kids and we used on Kalamalka lake all the time. Every town close to a lake in BC has a sailing club

[Rollerstud98]

Originally Posted by DrJoe

Really? Everything? Did you completely ignore the post previous to your own which mentioned sail boating? How much of that happens in the interior of BC?

Quite a lot from the cities right on the lakes. Checked a couple marinas and most were littered with masts the same as the pictures above.

[240glt]

Originally Posted by Coldrsx

I live at the top of bank on the north side of the river valley in Downtown for context
-Working on my waterskiing on the NSR

Only a complete fucking moron would attempt to waterski on the North Sask.

[DrJoe]

Those little dinghy like sailboats don't count.

[240glt]

^ 18 footer with a cuddy doesn't count as a dinghy. That's what we had. Lots of folks have bigger boats on the interior lakes

I take it you've never been

[speedog]

Originally Posted by DrJoe

Those little dinghy like sailboats don't count.

I know you won't want to hear this and you won't want to believe it either but sailing in Calgary and even more mind blowing, Calgary is home to Canada's largest sailing school. Who'da thunk that?

[logan5]

Oh my god. A shit storm brewing over which city has the best sailing.

Obviously it's Vancouver.

[Coldrsx]

Originally Posted by 240glt

Only a complete fucking moron would attempt to waterski on the North Sask.

It has been done, last year, by friends. Worked fine.

As long as river levels are 1.5m-2m, you are good.

You've changed man, or maybe not.