Family hiking - why & where?

Milk River, Alberta. Photo: Tom Hardjowirogo

​When we first moved to Calgary in 1981 from Toronto with two young children in tow, we hardly knew about outdoors activities – much less hiking at the time. Having lived in big urban centres previously, outdoors activities were not foremost in our minds. We were quite curious therefore when we heard our friends and colleagues talking about outdoors activities they had done with their families over the weekends. This was how Terry and I got to know the places around Calgary - like Bragg Creek, Kananaskis, Canmore or Banff.

Having gone through our research from looking at maps to reading weekend columns at the Calgary Herald, Terry and I decided to try these day trips ourselves. We ended up quite awed and impressed with what we saw, and thus began our love with the natural places we have around Calgary – for us to enjoy and hike in the cool temperature, and the clean fresh mountain air that we breathe. 

Although we hike in all seasons, we have always considered ourselves purely as recreational hikers and therefore tried from the start to engage our children as we were learning more about hiking together as a family. For example, we initially took them on ‘mini hikes’ for a few weekends, and gradually get them to come along with us to try longer hikes as we gained more confidence – always mindful in making sure that they enjoy the experience of hiking with us as a family. 

When our children were fairly young, we simply dressed them and brought them along on our hikes, and in hindsight we were glad that they were always excited to come along with us. As they grew older, and started to have activities of their own however, we had to prepare our hiking trip differently and plan them ahead of time, including having to ask them if they’d want to come along. This became pretty much the approach we had to take if we wanted them to come along, at the end doing them for special occasions such as for someone’s birthday etc.

Big Hill Springs Provincial Park (now closed for renovation until next year)

Benefits of family hiking
​We start and end our hikes by praying together – for the safety of everyone, but also to express our gratitude for joy of our experience. We have been very grateful for the wonderful blessings and gifts that God has given us – from the awesome natural environment that we are privileged to enjoy, the peace that we experience, as well as the emotional support and bonding through walking together and communicating with each other during the hikes.

While hiking in nature, negotiating our paths and enjoying the sceneries around us, our minds tend to be freed from much of the burdens of our daily lives and allowing us to absorb the beauties that we see along the way. A good friend of ours remarked that whenever they visited us here in Calgary, he felt as if his lung has been cleansed by the air that he breathed here. Having lived here for so many years, most of us probably take for granted the cleaner and purer air that we breathe daily in Alberta, especially when we hike in the mountain and hills around the province. ​

Tom & Terry Hardjowirogo

Beautiful Canadian Rockies. Photo: Tom Hardjowirogo

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Our favourite places
We are blessed here in Calgary, to have so many places available for us to enjoy hiking, both in as well as out of town. Living in the Northwest part of the City – literally 10 minutes of walking distance from our home, Nosehill Park  has become our favourite hiking place, and we take advantage to hike it every chance we get, especially for one or two hours after supper during the summer or winter months. The climb to the top from where we live is fairly steep but gradual, and is always worth it – as we’d be rewarded with views of the City, the Airport, as well as the Rocky Mountains all in one swoop once we get there.
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In addition to Nosehill Park, the following are our favourite places  for hiking with my wife or the whole family, pretty much to suit how much time we have: 

• In Calgary: Confederation Park (NW); Bow River Pathway; Bowness Park (NW), Glenmore Park (SW) & Fish Creek Provincial Park (SW)
• An hour away from Calgary: Big Hill Spring Provincial Park; Bragg Creek, Elbow River Valley 
• Provincial and National Park: Both Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park also have excellent family hiking trails with various levels of difficulties. 

Glenmore Reservoir, Calgary. Photo: Tom Hardjowirogo

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Written by Tom Hardjowirogo. Tom and his wife Terry are parishioners of St. Luke's Parish, Calgary.