You frequently see mountain bikers threading their way through the trails in Nose Hill Park, but just how suitable is it for gravel bikes when you get off the asphalt paths? Well, I’ve been up there many times in different seasons and have some thoughts on this. Firstly, though, I would advise that if you’re new to gravel biking and don’t have previous off-road experience, then get some initial kilometres riding the farm roads north or east of Calgary.
It’s true if you want to ride all the available trails on Nose Hill, then a mountain bike is more suitable than a gravel bike. A mountain bike has a bigger selection of low gears and suspension that make the riding easier on the legs, arms and seat. However, most of the trails are manageable on a gravel bike with wide-enough tires. 45mm tires are ideal but I have ridden on 38mm tires when the trails are firm and dry.
Most gravel bikes work well up to gradients of 10%, but Nose Hill has steep sides where the grade can exceed 15%. Climbing these on a gravel bike demands a huge amount of power or you will quickly run out of low gears. Also, there are the steep downhill sections where your speed can quickly build up so control can be difficult without front suspension. However, it’s still possible to find gravel trails at the top of the park that don’t have long steep slopes.
The best place to start out from is the northwest park lot on the Shaganappi Trail. An asphalt path begins at the southern edge of the car park by the washrooms, and taking this gives you a chance to warm up and test your bike on a firm surface. After two minutes of freewheeling downhill, you reach an intersection with a paved path ahead and another to your right. Left is a wide gravel ramp. A prominent sign indicating “Entering off-leash area” is your cue to turn right.
Here is a chance to run through your climbing gears on a gentle rise so that the very tops of the towers downtown come into view. Continue southwards on the path with ever more of the city coming into view. Most prominent are the Red, Green, Yellow and Orange Buildings at University City in Brentwood. Across the valley, you can make out the ski jump in the Olympic Park.
The path swings left again so you are travelling eastward turning back to the right with the Downtown towers in front of you again. You will have been riding about 15 minutes and will have covered 3km when you approach a copse of trees and can see the path below to the right. This is your cue to slow down as you are about to enter the gravel trail that branches off to the left. The trail is immediately before a steep hill sign “Maximum 10”.
Navigating the trails once you leave the paving is often a problem on Nose Hill. I have frequently found myself in a new area by accident. With this route, though, route-finding is not a problem as you continually skirt the “Off Leash Area” that is marked by signs on posts every 200m or so. If you always keep the “Off-Leash Area” signs on your left, you will be on the correct route. The gravel path you will be following is mostly one to two metres wide.
Almost immediately, you meet a downhill section into trees where the surface may be wet after rain. Keep your speed down and get used to controlling your bike on the loose surface. At any intersection, look for the “Off-Leash Area” signs ahead to take the correct turn. There is one short, steep section before you reach the Big Rocks viewpoint. Keep your weight on the rear wheel to avoid spinning out, but there’s no shame in walking up this ramp.
Your route bends more northerly past the Big Rocks Viewpoint from where you can gaze across Highway 2 to the airport and runway beyond. Continuing the circuit, you loop around a deep gulley. The paths here have gravel that can be deep and loose after heavy rain. Also, I recently found deep cracks eroded in the path from storm runoff, so keep your speed down as necessary.
After a sharp left turn, you encounter a slightly longer ramp that will definitely test your climbing skills and fitness. Again, walk if necessary as there’s only 15 metres to ascend. Your reward is a long section of gentle riding back towards the northwest. Always confirm the Off-Leash Area signs are on your left side. Eventually, the gravel runs out where you intersect the paved trail coming in from 14 Street NW. Take a left here and follow the path back towards your parking area Shaganappi Trail.
If you managed all the climbs on this route without walking, you may like one more challenge. At the point where you first turned right, 400m from the parking lot, you will remember there was a gravel ramp on your left. This gravel ramp will be on your right when retuning. Climbing this ramp takes you directly to the centre of the parking area. Otherwise, continue over the intersection and reverse your outbound route from the washrooms.
If you find this route straightforward, then you are ready to embark on another Nose Hill adventure. You could try to load a course on your bike computer or just wing it when you are on the hill. Sooner or later, you will find a slope that defeats you but you should quickly find your way back to rideable terrain. As well as the narrower gravel paths, you will find a veritable web of single-track mountain bike trails over grass and mud. Some of these descend steeply into the two deep gulleys on the eastern flank and are best avoided.
A number of routes are listed on the site below, but remember these are aimed at mountain bikers. Nose Hill Park Mountain Biking Trails | Trailforks ( Green trails are easiest under their grading system)