Fish Creek Provincial Park is one of Calgary’s most popular parks, and is actually the second largest urban park in the whole of Canada. It’s a fantastic place to ‘get away’ from the city, and the park is so large, it always feels like there is a new trail or section of the park to explore.
But, did you know that in the winter Fish Creek Park has its own ice falls? They are certainly not as dramatic as the ice falls at Grotto Canyon near Canmore, but considering that they are located right here in Calgary, they’re a great option when you want to stay local.
This is a short blog post that gives a little more information about the ice falls, as well as some photos to give you an idea of what you can expect when visiting.
WHERE ARE THE ICE FALLS LOCATED?
The Fish Creek Park ice falls are located near Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant, towards the southern end of the park. If you’re driving, you can park in the large lot next to the restaurant. (By the way, Bow Valley Ranche Restaurant is one of our favorite dining spots in Calgary!)
From the parking lot:
- Follow the maintained gravel path south toward the bridge. The path is flat and accessible for most people, including those with strollers or wheelchairs.
- When you reach the bridge, don’t cross it. Instead, turn right and follow the footpath along the riverbank.
- After a few minutes, you will see the ice falls!
THE FISH CREEK ICE FALLS
You could be forgiven for not knowing that these ice falls even exist, as in the summer there is no waterfall at all. Instead, there is little more than a trickle most of the time, and it resembles more of a wet or ‘weeping’ wall than anything else. But in winter, the groundwater seeps through the porous sandstone cliffs and freezes into stunning ice formations.
The ice cascades down the rock face, creating a beautiful natural ice sculpture. The best place to photograph the falls is from across the river, where you can get a nice shot with the contrast of ice falls with the trees in the background.
CAN YOU GET CLOSE TO THE ICE FALLS?
If you want a closer look, you’ll need to cross the frozen river – but be careful!
💡 Safety Tip: Never walk on frozen water unless you’re 100% sure it’s safe. When we visited, someone had thrown a stone onto the ice, and it broke through – definitely not safe to cross in that spot!
When we visited, crossing right in front of the falls would have been dangerous as there was quite a lot of slushy ice on top of the river. You can also tell how warm it was from the fact that Jess is only wearing a T-shirt in the photos! However, if you continue along the river a bit, you’ll find some shallower sections where crossing is much safer. Here are some photos of Jess up close to the falls.
THE FISH CREEK PARK ICE CAVES
Just to the right of the falls, you’ll find a small rock overhang that some people call “ice caves.” While they aren’t true caves, kids love climbing inside!
A close up of how big the caves are….
During the winter there are some pretty cool ice formations inside. They look almost alien like!
If you decide to explore, be sure to wear ice cleats, as the area in front of the falls and caves can be extremely slippery.
OTHER THINGS TO DO IN THE PARK
Fish Creek Park is a great place to visit year-round, whether you’re here for the ice falls in the winter or the picnic areas, biking paths, and wildlife viewing in the summer. It’s also one of our 40 recommendations for things to do in Calgary. These are some of our favourite activities in the park:
- Visit the Bow Valley Ranch Visitor Information Centre to learn more about the historical aspects of the park, wildlife and flora / fauna
- Walking & Biking Trails: The park has miles of paved and unpaved trails, perfect for hiking, cycling, and jogging.
- Wildlife Watching: Keep an eye out for deer, owls, and even coyotes!
- Riverside Spots: There are plenty of cozy coves along the river where kids can splash in the water during summer.
- Picnic and BBQ Areas: There are plenty of designated spots equipped with tables and fire pits, perfect for a summer BBQ.
- Sikome Lake: There is even a man-made lake which is a great swimming spot in the summer.
Just to show how far removed you can get from the city – this photo is from a recent winter hike in Fish Creek Park. If you didn’t know better, you might think it was taken in Kananaskis or the Rockies!
We hope you enjoy your visit to Fish Creek Park and get a chance to see the ice falls and caves!
