Elbow Falls Picnic Area

Trailhead: Park in the Elbow Falls parking lot located next to the #66 highway 35 minutes west of Calgary. Open year round.

Description: Elbow Falls is a favorite picnic spot that fills quickly due to it’s close proximately to the city of Calgary. There are several picnic tables located along the Elbow River that can be accessed by paved trails leading to the Falls. Unfortunately most of the picnic sites we’re washed away during the 2013 flood however the falls have not changed.

The interpretive trail along the river leads to three steel railed viewing points located next to the falls. During late fall and winter as the flow decreases the falls reach a height of 6m then to 3m during spring runoff. Depending on the season the pool located at the bottom of the falls can be crystal clear to mud brown. It takes about 30 minutes to explore the walkways and lookouts. You can continue hiking downstream of the falls for a short distance.

Elbow River Area Map PDF