Edworthy Park

Location    map
South Access – 5050 Spruce Dr. S.W. (Bow Tr. & Spruce Dr. S.W.)
North Access –  Shaganappi Trail and 16th Avenue.

Parking: There are two parking lots – one at the south end and one at the north end of the park. As the park is narrow both provide great access to any part of the park. If you are wanting to minimize walking to the inclusive playground, the south parking lot is much closer.

Features: pathways, picnic areas, covered picnic areas, river access, firepits and BBQ stands, gazebos,  to the North and East of the park there are off leash areas.

Playground: There is a new inclusive playground on the south side of the park and three other smaller playgrounds in the park.

Amenities: Angel’s Cafe at the North of the Park (across the river), washrooms open seasonally.

Seating:  There are tons of picnic areas many of which can be booked through the City of Calgary website. Some areas have a covered picnic area and there are two gazebos. Most picnic areas have fire pits and grills.

Overall: Edworthy Park is hands down one of the best places to have an outdoor picnic gathering in the city. The picnic areas are plentiful, but there are trees set up so that you can often feel quite secluded from the other groups at the park. Edworthy Park is a huge park and all the pictures are from the lower Edworthy area.

The park also contains the Upper Edworthy area to the South which has hiking trails, an off leash dog park and would be good for nature watching. The Lowery Gardens and Douglas Fir Trail are located to the East and are along the Bow River Pathway.

There is an off leash dog park and nature watching in this area as well. The Lowery Gardens was a market garden when Calgary was young and the Douglas Fir Trail is named for the numerous Douglas Firs along the trail some of which are 350 years old. These areas are much more wild than the Lower Edworthy area.

From the North parking lot you need to cross the river to get to Edworthy Park.

To the east of the bridge is an outdoor fitness area right along the bike path.

Angel’s Cafe is located right at the end of the bridge.

They have a fair bit of seating indoors and on the patio. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and have baked goods and a small ice cream counter with Chapman’s ice cream.

Even though Edworthy park is located right along the river, there is surprisingly few places that you can access or even really see the river.

There are two spots (one on either side of the bridge) where you can get right up to the river. The East one (above) is smaller but easier to get to than the west spot.

This is a great spot to throw rocks into the river.

Picnic area across the bridge. There are 4 different playgrounds in Edworthy Park, this one is the closest to the northern end.

One of the covered picnic areas.

Playground number two is in the middle of the park on the west side, near some covered and non-covered picnic areas.

Playground number 3 is on the opposite side of the park on the eastern side of the park.

There is a gazebo and picnic areas nearby.

The 4th playground and the south parking lot are on the other side of the train tracks. These tracks are in use and if you are lucky you might get to see a train while you’re at the park. Make sure to look both ways!

The south parking lot is right next to the inclusive playground.

Inclusive Playground near south parking lot. This playground is the biggest and best of the playgrounds at Edworthy Park (and one of the best in the city!)

There are washrooms right next to the inclusive playground.

There are quite a number of flat grassy areas, pathways and lots of trees in the park.

If you are looking for a park for a family day or gathering, Edworthy Park is a great pick!