Griffith Woods Park

Our first visit to Griffith Woods Park was on a perfect blue-sky fall day. We needed to feel that connection with nature but we didn’t have the time to head to the mountains. So, Griffith Woods was the perfect solution. The park is located off the #8 highway and accessed through the community of Discover Ridge in SW Calgary.  Griffith Woods Park is 93 hectares of pathways and woods that meander the shores of the Elbow River. Wilbur and Betty Griffith bequeathed this land to the City of Calgary as a special protected natural preserve.

A paved path travels from one end of the park to the other accompanied by overhead power lines that run alongside this entire community. If you’d like to escape the strollers and cyclists, venture off onto one of the gravel or dirt trails. More times than not, they will take you to the banks of the Elbow River. You may even end up at a pond, with a bench, so you can sit and watch the birds. This is a place to breathe deeply and relax.

There are wetlands and oxbows to navigate. If you are lucky you may see deer or possibly even a moose!

With a canopy of trees above you it is easy to forget that you are in the city. At times, we felt a bit lost on the windy trails. But, fear not! We only needed to find a clearing and look for the power lines off in the distance to reset our inner compass.

The park is home to one of the only mature White Spruce forests in the city.  It is also a great place to see Northern Flickers – if you’re into birdwatching. Whatever your inclination, this is a lovely place to visit.

We spent about an hour exploring the trails and walking the riverbank. We were alone with only the sound of babbling water or the rustling of leaves as they fell from the trees. It was also lovely to explore the lesser used trails. In addition, it was fun finding another park in the city where we could be one with our biophilia.