{"id":6397,"date":"2007-09-17T09:00:26","date_gmt":"2007-09-17T15:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wend.ca\/?p=6397"},"modified":"2015-12-26T19:05:43","modified_gmt":"2015-12-27T02:05:43","slug":"big-hill-spring-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wend.ca\/?p=6397","title":{"rendered":"Big Hill Springs Provincial Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just Northwest of Calgary on the lower end of Big Spring Coulee, is Big Hill Spring Park. This is a favourite day trip destination for us because we can walk the dogs, exercise the toddler and get some fresh air all within our 2-hour toddler limit.<\/p>\n

I call this the Toddler Park<\/em> because it is great for any small kid who is active; there’s lots to see, water to play in, and neat rocks to climb on. There’s even the occasional surprise like a giant spider on a web, squishy mud puddles, a beaver, or ducks. The park has several waterfalls and at the base of the park near the parking lot is a little picnic area.<\/p>\n

The hike around the park is neither tough nor long but like the name suggests the park is situated on a hill so there is a bit of steep climbing as you work your way up the hill. However, what goes up must come down and the final bit of the journey is a steep downhill.<\/p>\n

A word of caution, if you’re in the park with a little one and they like to run down hills — particularly on their own — it can be pretty dangerous. There are lots of roots, rocks and cliffs that can trip up a super fast toddler who likes to be chased down hills.<\/p>\n

How to get there:<\/strong> Head west on Crowchild Trail and out of the city. About 10.5K past Nose Hill Drive \/ Crowchild turn right onto Lochend Road. From here drive North for another 11 km until you reach a junction and turn left. About 3 km later you will see the sign for Big Hills Spring Park; here you turn left. Drive until you find the parking lot.<\/p>\n