Park Tours

Fish Creek Provincial Park is a vast cultural, historical and ecological resource. The Friends’ tour program offer tremendous opportunities for visitors to learn from experienced guides about a variety of topics including history, nature, engineered wetlands, plants and even ghosts!

The 2022 Park Tours season will soon be coming to a close. When it is all said and done, we will have hosted a total of 38 tours, engaging over 300 members of the public and raising over $2,000 for stewardship and conservation initiatives in Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Thank you to all who took part, and a special thanks to our Volunteer Tour Guides, Tour Assistants and Minibus Drivers!

Whether you prefer to ride your bike, hop on the minibus, enjoy a walk or wheel around, we look forward to exploring the park with you again next year.

In an effort to remove barriers to participation, tour fees are quite low and support people attend free of charge. Proceeds from the Park Tours program are reinvested in stewardship and conservation initiatives in Fish Creek Provincial Park.

Here’s what we offered in 2022:

WALKING TOURS

• • Mindfulness in the Park – Engage your body and mind as we explore the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations surrounding us in this beautiful natural landscape. Wellness walk facilitated by Charis Falardeau, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer.
    
  • Alien Invasion – They come from afar… alien plant species invade, threatening the ecosystem. Learn about alien and native plant species in the park during this leisurely, family-friendly walk hosted by Annette Ng, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer.
    
  • Nature & History – Join Friends of Fish Creek Founding Member, Wayne Meikle, as he shares his 30+ years of experience working in Fish Creek.
  • Growing Up at the Ranch – Hear stories from Dennis Burns’ personal history of growing up at the Bow Valley Ranch from 1951 to 1971.
  • Ghost of Fish Creek – Scheduled for the evenings of October 26 & October 27, 2022. Advance registration required. Click here to learn more and to find link to register.

MINIBUS TOURS

These tour were hosted on our open-air, electric golf cart where we can cover more ground to see more of the park! This is a great option for those with mobility challenges.

• • Choose Your Own Adventure History & Nature Tour – You never know what you’re going to get on these minibus tours, as the direction of travel and topics covered are up to the tour participants themselves. Each tour will be unique, so sign up for more than one!
  • Birds on Wheels – A taste of summer birding without the summer heat! Join us as our electric minibus takes us to a variety of habitats within the park. Where we go and what we see will depend on where the birds are that day. BYOB (bring your own binoculars) as loaners are limited.
  • Max group size on Minibus Tours: 9

CYCLING TOURS

• • Pedalling Park Potpourri – A potpourri of information about Fish Creek Provincial Park touching on the plants and animals that live in the park, the many ways humans have left their mark over the years, and the ways that Alberta Parks and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society are working to conserve and protect Canada’s largest urban provincial park.
  • Max group size: 12

WHEELING TOURS

These tours are shorter in length and cover shorter distances to provide opportunities for those using wheelchairs, walkers, canes, strollers and scooters to take in a tour experience that matches their abilities, both in stamina and mobility.

• • Growing Up at the Ranch – Hear stories from Dennis Burns’ personal history of growing up at the Bow Valley Ranch from 1951 to 1971. This shorter version of this tour will stick to flat, paved terrain, max group size 10 + support people.
  • Pedalling Park Potpourri – A potpourri of information about Fish Creek Provincial Park touching on the plants and animals that live in the park, the many ways humans have left their mark over the years, and the ways that Alberta Parks and the Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society are working to conserve and protect Canada’s largest urban provincial park. Tour hosted by Rose & Will Ratliffe, long-time Friends of Fish Creek Volunteers. This shorter version of this tour will avoid hills as much as possible and distance will be determined by group abilities. Suitable for folks using adaptive bikes, scooters, and other mobility devices. Max group size: 8 + support people.
  • Mindfulness in the Park – Engage your body and mind as we explore the sights, sounds, smells, and sensations surrounding us in this beautiful natural landscape. Wellness walk facilitated by Charis Falardeau, Friends of Fish Creek Volunteer.  This shorter version of this wellness experience is suitable for folks using wheelchairs, walkers, canes and other mobility devices. Max group size: 10 + support people
  • Wheeling Tour distances to be determined by group’s abilities

We look forward to touring the park with you again next year!

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Private Tours

Private Walking Tours are available for groups of up to 20 people from June to October, 2022. Tour Guide and Tour Assistant provided. Great for seniors groups, church groups, youth clubs and more!

1 hour tours – $100 group rate for group up to 20 people
2 hour tours – $150 group rate for group up to 20 people

Private Minibus Tours are available for groups of up to 9 people from June to September, 2022. Driver and Guide provided. A ride on the minibus is a great way to introduce your out-of-town guests to your favourite park. It also makes a great way to celebrate a loved one’s birthday or anniversary!

1 hour tour – $200 group rate for group up to 9 people
2 hour tour – $250 group rate for group up to 9 people
3 hour tour – $300 group rate for group up to 9 people

We are no longer accepting bookings for private tours for 2022.

If you are interested in booking a private tour for 2023, please call the Friends of Fish Creek at 403-238-3841 and listen to the recorded message to access the staffperson responsible for 2023 Park Tours.

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Photo Credit: Julie Gordeau, Capture Nature Photo Contest (2017)