Griffith Woods Park in southwest Calgary offers a beautiful, family-friendly nature escape within city limits. Located along the Elbow River, this park has it all: wildlife, creeks, flowers, quiet places to relax, and lots of opportunities for kids to run wild and get their hands wet and dirty.

I stumbled upon Griffith Woods by mistake and couldn’t believe I’d never heard of it in more than a decade living in Calgary. After my find, we were on our way to Griffith Woods a few days later.

Griffith Woods Park is a natural environment park and part of the self-guided walking tours highlighted by the City of Calgary.

While the park can be accessed year-round, we visited on a very hot spring day, so the several creek crossings we found were very welcome, especially by our kids. We spent a couple of hours walking the “secret paths” (as my son called them) in the woods while most visitors walked on the paved path. And of course, most of our time was spent cooling off in the creek with stepping stones.

I’m thrilled we found a new amazing nature walk, which we’ll now frequent often. In this blog post, I share with you:

• What we liked and didn’t like in Griffith Woods
• Quick summary & tips
• 5 Cool facts about Griffith Woods

What we liked at Griffith Woods

• Rugged nature
• Not crowded
• Lots of creek crossings
• Plenty of shaded spots
• Cool features for kids – bridge, stone stepping, little paths through the trees

What we didn’t like at Griffith Woods

• I can’t find a single thing, honestly

1. Kids' adventure sandals for the happy feet
2. Jan & Jul Sun Hats with UV protection without chemicals (our full review)
3. Lifestraw bottle so you can safely drink directly from the creek or river
4. Snackle box for the little snackers and family picnics
5. Kid's Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+ with kid-safe ingredients or a sunscreen stick for easier application
6. Water repellent blanket so no moisture, sand, or dirt stays on
7. Buckets & shovels, a magnifying glass, or binoculars for the most fun outside

Quick summary & tips

• Griffith Woods are in the Discovery Ridge neighborhood, SW Calgary
• All paths are flat and easy to walk on
• Total of 4.5 km of walking paths
• It’s 1.2km from the parking lot to the creek crossing with stepping stones
• All trails are bike & stroller friendly
• Toilets are located at the beginning of the trail
• Bring sandals for the kids so they can run around in shallow creeks
• Big hits were the buckets and shovels we brought
• Follow the map and directions from Google Maps, and play the name game

5 Cool facts about Griffith Woods:

🌲 A Rare Urban Forest

Griffith Woods is one of only two large stands of White Spruce within Calgary parks. Found in a few city parks, this natural area plays a key role in supporting local ecosystems, thanks to the sheltered environment and moist valley.

🐾 Wildlife Hotspot

The park has over 200 bird species, including Northern Flickers, Gray Jays, Boreal Chickadees, and Great Horned Owls. There are occasional sightings of moose, deer, red squirrels, and even black bears.

🌸 Rare Wildflowers

Griffith Woods features several orchid species that are uncommon in Calgary. You can see the Small Round-leaved Orchid, Yellow Lady’s Slipper, and Sparrow’s-egg Lady’s Slipper. But also other flowers, such as prickly wild roses, twinflowers, and cutleaf anemone.

🐾 Beavers at Discovery Ridge Pond

Discovery Ridge Pond is a favorite spot for observing beavers. You can often find them swimming or working on their lodges. Come early in the morning or evening for a better chance of spotting them.

🧭 Historical Roots

Griffith Woods Park was once part of the Griffith family estate. Wilbur and Betty Griffith donated the land to the City of Calgary in 1998, and Griffith Woods Park was officially opened in 2000. In the 1800s, this area was home to some of the region’s earliest ranching efforts.

Wishing you a fun day at Griffith Woods!