Nose Hill Park Map

Nose Hill Park, situated in the northwest quadrant of Calgary, Alberta, spans over 11 km² (4.2 sq mi), making it the fourth-largest urban park in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Established in the 1980s and operated by the City of Calgary, the park is open year-round, providing a natural retreat for both wildlife and residents.

History and Preservation Efforts

In the early 1970s, the land that is now Nose Hill Park was at risk of residential development. Hartel Holdings, aiming to create a new community, requested changes to the existing zoning laws. However, a coalition of local communities, notably North Haven, and the Calgary Field Naturalists’ Society (now Nature Calgary), rallied together to protect Nose Hill from development.

In 1972, the City of Calgary offered Hartel Holdings $6,873 per acre for the land, and by 1973, urban development on 4,100 acres in the Nose Hill area was restricted as the city explored acquiring the land. The City adopted a municipal plan for Nose Hill Park in 1979, and the Master Plan for the park was incorporated into the City’s General Municipal Plan in 1980, proposing the creation of a large regional park.

In 1984, a pivotal moment came when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favor of the City of Calgary in Hartel Holdings vs the City of Calgary, granting the city the right to purchase land on Nose Hill at its own pace. This decision paved the way for the official designation of Nose Hill Park as a protected area in the 1980s.

Wildlife and Environment

Nose Hill Park serves as a sanctuary for a variety of wildlife, including large mammals such as white-tailed deer and coyotes, as well as smaller species like porcupines, northern pocket gophers, and Richardson’s ground squirrels. The park’s diverse habitats attract birds of prey, including northern harriers and Swainson’s hawks, which feed on smaller animals like mice and voles.

The park is home to a significant native rough fescue grassland ecosystem, hosting over 66 native vascular plant species. However, these grasslands are considered endangered in North America, with more than 95% lost to various threats. Despite this, Nose Hill’s diverse habitats provide a vital refuge for over 198 wildlife species.

Geological Formation

Nose Hill Park’s unique landscape has been shaped by millennia of natural processes. A large river flowing from the mountains deposited gravels atop the hill’s bedrock, composed of sandstones and shales. The last ice age, around 15,000 years ago, saw ice sheets erode the rock and gravel, leaving glacial till on the hill’s summit as they retreated.

The formation of Glacial Lake Calgary in the area led to the deposition of sediments on the hill’s sides, while the Bow River played a crucial role in eroding these sediments and shaping the south side of the hill.