Great Canadian Outdoor Activities thread
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? |
continuing discussion from that thread...
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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 https://s2.postimg.org/t3ftxd2pl/Image.jpg https://s1.postimg.org/3qy5zz8qn/rsz_image2.jpg |
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://ep1.pinkbike.org/p6pb13257355/p6pb13257355.jpg https://www.trailforks.com/photo/13257355/ |
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): https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4233/...6f0df89e_b.jpgQuidi 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. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4205/...5e96c067_b.jpgBrigus Lighthouse Hike by R C, on Flickr https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8841/...3eab18b1_b.jpgLa Manche by R C, on Flickr http://i.imgur.com/D8Wt2pH.jpg?1 https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7607/...cdbc44d1_b.jpgThe Spout by R C, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7071/...4b758e54_b.jpgTors Cove to Witless Bay by R C, on Flickr https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7151/...b6fb7a6a_b.jpgLa Manche to Brigus South by R C, on Flickr The coastline is also excellent for rock climbing. https://farm1.staticflickr.com/442/1...14ae78ca_b.jpgTorbay 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. |
^^ 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://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb12660449/p4pb12660449.jpg https://www.trailforks.com/photo/12660449/ From Pipedream, which is a very popular one apparently, I've yet to try... https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb11719251/p4pb11719251.jpg https://www.trailforks.com/photo/11719251/ https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p4pb11719332/p4pb11719332.jpg https://www.trailforks.com/photo/11719332/ |
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.
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St John's looks like A hikers paradise!
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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 |
Cobourg being on the water sailing is pretty popular. Also dragon boating.
http://i.imgur.com/n7bGWgK.jpg The Northumberland County forest is just outside of town and offers various trails for a number of uses. http://i.imgur.com/lIVi7yB.jpg Gf and I personally use the forest for hiking http://i.imgur.com/Llgb2Fa.jpg |
Haha outdoor activities is all we DO have here. We have everything.
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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?
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^ 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
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Those little dinghy like sailboats don't count.
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^ 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 |
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Oh my god. A shit storm brewing over which city has the best sailing.
Obviously it's Vancouver. |
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As long as river levels are 1.5m-2m, you are good. You've changed man, or maybe not.:uhh: |
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