Calgary to Cochrane

Okay, here’s an odd choice for a hiking trail – let’s follow access roads that parallel the CPR”s rail line along Bow River, travelling from the Bearspaw Dam on the west edge of Calgary all the way to Cochrane. Sounds like a interesting idea and in spite of being close to major population centres, we’ll travel through a valley not often visited by people.

This trip is from way back in 2004, in fact it was July 1st 2004, Canada Day and I can not think of a better way to spend it then doing this.

Now before anyone gets too concerned, we’ll be travelling near the rail line, but not necessarily on it. Railways always seem to have access roads paralleling their rights of way and we’ll use those as a path, well back from the tracks most of the time. And if we do get close to the track, say due to the terrain, we are always mindful of trains and stay well back when one passes. We did not want to give the crews something to worry about.

This was a one way trip and we had a shuttle car parked in Cochrane allowing us to get back into Calgary easily.

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This “trail” starts at the Bearspaw dam parking lot. The area in and around here is (or was) a popular spot to walk your dog, stretch your legs, or to go fishing, although as of 2013 it appears the place is now off limits and the whole area has been fenced off. I am not sure what’s in store here, and so as of today the trip we did might not be possible. Although I understand the Glenbow Parks Foundation is hoping to build a paved path next to the train tracks all the way from the their namesake park just east of Cochrane into Calgary. So things could change and we’ll keep you posted.

Starting down the tracks just past the dam (why did I not take a picture of it), we head west hugging a steep hillside – the track is to your left with the reservoir right beside it. Here we are close to the tracks and we keep an ear open and an eye open for approaching trains. And as it turns out, this day will be a busy one on the tracks and we’ll seen over twenty pass in the time it takes us to travel the line. In fact, at times as soon as one passes another is right on it’s tail and we can see both snaking away together separated by only a small distance. Business must have been good for the CPR in the summer of 2004 and I am sure the line was near or at capacity the day of our trip.

All the trains seen were powered by GE AC4400 locomotives. The railway has a large fleet of them.

Before long the valley opens up and we’re not feeling so squeezed and it’s here we cross the one and only road we’ll cross on the entire trip, a gravel track that heads to a farm house. Some dogs from here approach us, but they are friendly. Which leads to one recommendation, when travelling in places like this, dog encounters are quite possible and not all may be so happy to see you. We always bring doggie treats which seems to appease most aggressive dogs, but we also bring an emergency whistle and the sounds seems to drive them away. It drives them crazy. We’ve only had one worrisome dog encounter, but it ended well.

As we head west the valley and Bow River drop away some and we are treated to unobstructed views of the forested river flats below and the hillsides above us and in places not single sign of civilization can be seen. Outside of the train tracks of course. We are only thirty or so kilometres form the centre of Calgary, yet it appears we are far removed from anything and anybody. I almost expect to see an Indian encampment on the flats below, and buffalo roaming the meadows ahead, and cowboys corralling cattle. The illusion is that powerful.

The only section that requires you travel on the tracks themselves is a stretch where the hillside is quite steep. Perhaps it’s 500 metres long or so, but there are little coves and gullies that one can bail into should a train approach. As of 2013 there is a paved pathway on the flats below, part of the new Glenbow Park, would allow you to bypass this section. Along here there used to be a sandstone quarry (above us on the hill) and it supplied building materials to lots of sites in Calgary and elsewhere. At the time of our passing, I was unaware it was here and only learned about it recently.

Shortly after we come to some large flats, which are flanked by barren hills to the north. Unbeknownst to us at time, we are at the site of the former town of Glenbow. A total ghost town it’s now home to a provincial park, but at the time of our visit it was simply a cow pasture. There is one building here, what was the towns store as it turns out, along with some debris from the remains of a brick factory. On a recent visit, the brick pile seems smaller leading me to believe that people have been removing then. The area were are in is now well within the Glenbow Park, and today there are pathways and such to explore.

Glenbow is but a footnote in history and some hundred years ago a small town existed here. A very small town that lasted for perhaps a dozen years, with it’s main industry being sandstone quarrying and brick making. Not much remains, the store, the brick piles and an old chimney. That’s it and if you blink you might miss the place.

Not long after Glenbow, we start seeing signs of civilization closing in, although nearly the whole trip we occasionally have glimpsed houses on the slopes above us. The feeling is still one of remoteness though, except for that endless stream of passing trains.

Before long we are in Cochrane and I spot an old train station in an industrial area. I think it came from Gleichen AB, from the Buffalo Jump Station arts and crafts store along the highway. As a side note, I don’t know if it’s still in Cochrane however, which invites further research.

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We hear some rumblings and it’s not before a storm rolls in. We take refuge under some bushes and wait it out, but it’s a deluge. Nothing is going to stop it and we get drenched. So much fun!

Before long the storm passes and we are back at the car, looking like drowned cats.

As mentioned, this trip, as we experienced it anyway, is not likely doable any more. Parts have been fenced off, paths are now in the area and so on. Things differ now and in particular the Glenbow Parks has really changed the face of things and now that section sees a lot of people, where are on out trip we saw no one. Not a single person.

To see how how the Glenbow Ranch Park looks today, including the meadow where the town of Glenbow sits, check out these links…
Glenbow Ranch western trails
Town of Glenbow

To see a similar hike we did, following a rail line, click the link below…
Calgary to Okotoks

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

Date of adventure: July 1, 2004.
Location: Bow Valley between Calgary and Cochrane.
Distance: Did not measure, estimate 20-25km one way.
Height gain from start: Negligible
Height gain cumulative: Negligible
Notes: Trains, watch for trains!

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CPR train Calgary

A trains passes, one of twenty plus we’d see this day.

Westbound CPR train

As soon as one is gone, another is right behind it.

CPR AC4400 9752

CPR 9752 is a GE AC4400 series locomotive.

Bow Valley near Cochrane

It’s hard to believe we are not far from a major city. And another train passes.

Horses near Cochrane

The whole trip we saw trains (lots), a couple dogs and some cows and horses. No people.

Passing CPR train

A pattern that repeated many times this day, a train passes. I had hair back then!

Between Calgary and Cochrane

Taking a break – and a train.

Hawk's nest

A hawk’s nest.

Glenbow AB store

The old store in the town of Glenbow.

Glenbow AB bricks

There used to be a small brick factory here and these are the remains.

Glenbow Alberta store

A close up of the store. Fast forward to 2013, it’s still standing but leaning a bit more.

Pastures and prairies

Again, we are not far from a large population centre, but you’d never know it.

CPR train Glenbow AB

Yet another train passes, number fifteen or so.

Glenbow Park old chimney

Cows keep an old chimney company.

Calgary to Cochrane

For most of the trip we follow rail access or maintenance roads that look like this.

Cochrane AB storm

A storm rolls in.

Train station in Cochrane

To the west we see an old train station.

Bow River Cochrane

The Bow River as we approach our destination.

Cochrane AB train

It’s a deluge as the last train we’d see rolls by.

6 responses

  1. Bob Niznik says:

    All the way to Cochrane—good for both of you! 20 trains–wow! As I had mentioned in a recent comment in your third post regarding Mitford, I had walked on several occasions from the dam to the quarry site (’88-’92; back when one could still access the dam area). Your first photo appears to be along that stretch that is a short distance above the dam where one is very close to the tracks and must be aware of approaching trains. The fourth photo appears to be at a point where a long siding (named Bearspaw ?) (and south of the quarry site) is situated, and the photographer is more-or-less facing NW. During these walks, I was fortunate to have experienced good (and ‘dry’) weather, but on several occasions elsewhere I have been caught in a downpour–most of those times I had a rain jacket with me, which spared me from getting totally soaked.

    • I don’t think we could do the walk today. Not that we’re not fit enough, but that access is now, well, different as you know. We were pretty naive then and perhaps a tad reckless doing what we did. We’ve not seen so many trains as we did that busy day. Yes, that section is narrow and extra care was needed.

  2. Jen says:

    This looks like such a nice trip!

    Your site is so interesting. You know all the best places.

  3. HollyHolly says:

    You mention a paved path along here now, do you know for sure if its in place?

    • ChrisBigDoer says:

      The Glenbow Ranch Park website shows the trail in place, although it does not appear to continue all the way to Calgary. At the time of our last visit (last August), the was a gate at what they call “The Narrows” blocking further access, although the trail could be seen continuing further east. So at this point I am not sure and this may mean a visit to the place is in order. In the spring.

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