Cross Conservation Big Loop

As this is being written it’s currently a numbing -28c (-38c with windchill!) and it’s a safe bet that hiking is not on the minds of many in our local area. Well, maybe in distant dreams of summer…dear friend the sun, a warm breeze, trees, flowers and butterflies and a trail to somewhere magic. Then with an unmistakable pop the bubble bursts and reality returns, a look outside bringing one to literal tears. Someone from Winnipeg was heard to say how much it feels like home…“it’s long-sleeve shirt weather today!” That’s how cold it is here. Not sure if Hell’s frozen over yet, but in Calgary’s it just hit absolute zero.

Here’s one for the to-do list that can be done year around, even today if properly prepared, but done by us back in the summer of 2019. Then the ground was dry and the temperature something two digits and with a plus in front. Here it’s the longest loop presently possible in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conversation Area (taking in a maze of different trails) just a bit south of Calgary. Amidst rolling terrain, it’s meadows and aspen groves and in spite of being close to the big city, it’s feels far removed from all the chaos and crazy. What a great place to spend the day with nature and it’s just a short drive away.

Park at the end of 160th Street SW south of 22x. As of 2020, there’s a ten dollar fee per car to park here – it was by voluntary donation when we visited (and we paid). Also note, groups of eight or more have to pre-register online (scroll down for link). There’s an info kiosk at the trail head that can help you get up to speed as to conditions and routes.

Head south and soon on pass the Belevere House Education Centre. Not much after, go right and take in the Aspen Trail, a tree-lined swath of grass through the woods. At each junction there’s signage and every now and then “facilities”, picnic tables (some with shelters) or viewing benches. Then there’s interpretive plaques along the way too. Stop and learn something!

The trail rises and drops. Sometimes it’s grassland, sometimes it’s heavily treed. The Mountain Trail comes in from the left and soon after leave the Aspen Trail behind and go right on the Paradise Trail. So many flowers about on our visit. If you’re into these, and you time it right, this place might just be be a slice of heaven for you. We’re pretty useless at IDing them…Lily, Gaillardia, Aster, Buffalo Bean?

Eagle-eye Connie finds her share of Four Leaf Clovers along here. She can spot one a mile away.

More pasture, awash with colour, you’ll soon come to the West Side Lookout, the most westerly limits of the property. Below it’s a treed valley and beyond more rolling hills. What a peaceful spot. Far in the west, it’s the majestic Rockies a bit obscured by haze on our visit. How close are we to Calgary again? This place seems so natural and untouched.

Above Bear Valley come to a picnic table with scenic views which becomes our lunch spot. Meat, cheese and trail-wine (ssh, don’t tell anyone) and its a state of bliss. The city’s unseen not far to the north, but here we feel away from it all. The trail so far, for us, has been at worst moderately busy, and at times we’ve gone long periods seeing no one. Back in motion, it’s more meadows and more aspen groves. The tall grass bends on the breeze, the dew sparkles and it’s the weight of the world lifted.

Side trails along here takes one to nice lookout points. Join up with the Fescue Trail (Fescue is a type of hardy grass) and turn right. There’s many trails on the property as you can see. No longer in use, and below, is the Pine Creek Trail, that’s being reclaimed. In days past, this would have allowed an even larger loop than done this day. Rocks and a sign with a stern warning remind one to keep off it.

There’s a steep drop down into a moist wooded area, home to Cow Parsnip (that pungent smell). Bugs of all kinds love them. Meet up with the Rancher’s Trail, keeping right. Then it’s uphill, hit the Mountain Trail briefly, pass the Belvedere House (remember it earlier?) with the Teepee (or Tipi) out front. Moments later, with the Calgary’s Skyline briefly in view, you’re back where you started at the car. There were a few larger ups and downs, and many smaller ones this trek, and in the end it’s a fair bit of cumulative elevation gained overall, a bit deceiving considering the general easy going nature of the plains to foothills transition area here.

There’s many other trails in the Cross Conservation Area, and no doubt we’ll likely pay them a visit one day and of course speak about it here. We babble on way too much.

From the horse’s mouth…

“The Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area (ASCCA) consists of 4,800 acres of rolling foothills land. It was donated by Ann and Sandy Cross for the protection of wildlife habitat and conservation education.” Their website: Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.

Till the next hike, stay warm.

Easy hikes…
Three Sisters Pathway Canmore.
Zephyr Creek to Painted Creek.
Back to Brown Lowery.

If you wish more information about this route, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: July, 2019.
Location: Just south of Calgary, AB.
Distance: 9km loop.
Height gain maximum: 100m.
Height gain cumulative: 250m.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate.
Technical stuff and notes: Suspect it’s mosquito central come wet weather.

At the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area.

On the aptly named Aspen Trail.

Learning along the way.

It’s easy going the whole time.

Sometimes in the trees…

Bring a picnic.

Whoo’s there?

The terrain is gently rolling.

Cross Conservation is conveniently close to Calgary.

It’s a pleasant outing on a fine summer’s day.

Drops of dew.

The trail’s a mowed swath through grass.

It’s an easy going kind of place.

Of course Connie finds one.

Flowers, flowers everywhere.

On the Paradise Trail.

Haze obscures mountains in the distance.

A bit of purple.

Of all kinds…here’s a Gaillardia.

Open spaces and big skies.

Aspen’s afford a little shade.

Hard to believe the big city is not far away.

Connie’s staked out a lunch spot ahead.

Asters…we think.

Bear Valley below.

Buffalo bean?

A fine view looking southeast-ish.

Connecting with the Fescue Trail.

Mostly we were alone.

The Pine Creek Lookout.

Views can be surprisingly far reaching.

Back into the trees.

Common to the area, it’s Cow Parsnip.

This way…

Destination: that little hill centre.

Coming to Belvedere House.

All you need to know at the start.

Calgary in the distance.

The Cross Conservation “Big Loop”.