Weaselhead Flats hike
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Weaselhead Flats hike
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Escape to nature without leaving the city! Weaselhead Flats offers 237 hectares of pleasant pathways tailor-made for chilled-out hikes and gusts of fresh air. This area is more of a network of routes than just one individual walk, so you can go on an aimless wander or find a path you like. And we have the directions for our favourite loop below!
Getting there
You’ll find the Weaselhead Parking Lot at the far southwest part of the Lakeview neighborhood. It’s at the corner of where 66 Ave Sw meets 37 St SW.
About
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Family friendly | Yes |
| Route Signage | Average |
| Crowd Levels | Moderate |
| Route Type | Circuit |
Weaselhead Flats
Elevation Graph
Weather
Route Description for Weaselhead Flats
Get ready for a lovely mid-city meander in Weaselhead Flats! The following hike focuses on a particular loop, but you can always explore and create your own adventure in this area.
From the parking lot, go slightly towards the right (imagine walking counter-clockwise around the Reservoir). You’ll find yourself on a path walking down. Continue the descent until you reach the bridge. Take some time here as it unveils stunning views towards the Reservoir. Look out for beavers roaming around this bridge during sunset!
After leaving the bridge behind, take a right turn at the info board—you’ll find yourself walking on the footpath along the Elbow River. Soon you’ll reach another—smaller—bridge. Follow the path for more vistas of the river. En route, you may spot some damaged trees—this is due to pileated woodpeckers.
Notice as the path bends slightly to the left. Eventually, you’ll start to drift away from the river and will reach a small crossroad. Go straight once you get to this point. However, you can always extend your walk!
The path to the left takes you to the information board near the bridge. You’ll meander through some forest to reach here. Go to the right, and you’ll come across the river again. This path is short and will eventually connect to the Elbow Pathway.
If you go straight, you’ll merge onto the Elbow River Pathway.
Once you get there, turn left, and continue going straight. Soon, the parking lot will come into view.
Insider Hints
The parking lot is rarely full, but you can also look for a parking spot in the North Glenmore Park nearby if it happens to be packed. Doing this would add a nice extension to the hike—and you’ll get to walk further along the Reservoir.
Calliope Hummingbird is known to live in Weaselhead Flats. It’s the smallest bird in Canada, and also the smallest long-distance migrating bird in the world.
After rainy days, the path along the Elbow River might get muddy. You can still enjoy the paved path and the beautiful views from the bridge without any worries.
If you are into biking, you can bike around the whole Reservoir via the Elbow River Pathway.
In very rare cases (every couple of years or so), a lone black bear ends up wandering to the park, so we advise to keep your eyes open just in case!
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Meng Hin Jai 4 years ago
Beautiful and refreshing walk. The trail is not strenuous, so it's good for anyone who wants to try it.
Mike Constance 4 years ago
It is a nice trail to relax, take in nature, and just escape the city. A very nice experience.
Aaron P. 5 years ago
This is a beautiful, peaceful hike right within the city limits. The pave trails are shared with bicycles so be careful. Overall, it was really relaxing and peaceful.
Nigel F. 5 years ago
Lots of natural beauty. We enjoyed it a lot. The trail was consistently flat.
Artemis H. 5 years ago
Our family enjoyed this simple walk. There are lots of spots to rest and have some picnic.
Atlanta R. 5 years ago
The trail was in great shape. Wandering along the river was great. There are some wild ducks when we visited.
Ewen P. 5 years ago
Beautiful views in all directions. It was a short, relaxing hike.
lavenderheaven 5 years ago
The trail was not busy especially in the morning. It was fairly easy and good for kids and dogs.
Rebekah L. 5 years ago
Pretty cool trail. It range from nicely paved to sloshing on the water's edge and several grades in between.
Paul D. 5 years ago
Fascinating scenery and wildlife. There were birds, chipmunks. It's also common to see some fishermen and joggers. Even though the day was a bit cold and cloudy we had a great time.