Trip Report

BEARSPAW RESERVOIR: A hidden gem for paddlers

Author: Bryan Hume // AQ Ambassador

If you’re up for a bit of a tricky put-in, Bearspaw Reservoir is a lesser-known gem that’s perfect for a flatwater paddle. It’s a great option if you want to rack up some decent kilometers without driving too far from Calgary. But before we dive into the details, here’s a little history. The Bearspaw Dam was built in 1954 to deal with winter flooding and ice buildup on the Bow River as it ran through the city. The reservoir got its name from Chief Masgwaahsid (Bear’s Paw), one of the chiefs who signed the 1877 treaty at Blackfoot Crossing.

The reservoir itself is long and narrow, making it great for paddlers who like steady, flatwater trips. It’s located on the Bow River just west of Calgary, near Springbank, and is fed by Bow Lake—north of Lake Louise on the Icefields Parkway.

If you don’t mind a bit of effort to get on the water, Bearspaw is a peaceful spot with plenty of space to explore, beautiful views, and no need to venture far from home. It’s the perfect little escape when you need a break from the city.

In the past, there was easy access to the north side of the reservoir, where a kid with a kayak or canoe could park at the base of the dam, walk up the access road, and launch right beside it. Unfortunately, that access point has been closed off for years.

Currently, there are no formal public access points on the reservoir, but there are several informal ones, including one I’ve used frequently without any issues. The south side access, now listed on Paddling Maps, used to be quite challenging. A few years ago, it required careful footing to climb down a steep embankment to reach the water’s edge. However, someone with some solid skills recently built a sturdy, well-anchored set of stairs down the embankment, making access much easier.

This spot is often shared with anglers casting lines from the bank. While the put-in and take-out are more manageable with a buddy—especially for longer touring kayaks or canoes—I’ve had no trouble getting my crossover kayak in and out on my own.

Getting out on the water with some of the competing demands of work and life can be tricky but this little secluded gem offers local paddlers a chance to get on the water for a quick paddle fix and still manage daily commitments. If it’s a longer paddle you’re looking for, Bearspaw offers a round trip shoreline distance of somewhere around 25 km. Regardless of which direction a paddler heads out in, and there is an abundance of wildlife that can be seen on the journey. There are many species of birds that frequent the area including eagles, double-crested cormorants and occasionally swans. Deer can also be spotted along the south shore.

For paddlers who want to have a little fun playing in some easy eddies, it’s great to head west and upstream toward the headwaters where the flow offers a few of areas to play in. The distance one can go heading upstream really depends on the time of year and the flow rates coming downstream from Ghost Reservoir. Early on in the season this section can give you a bit of a workout and is a good spot to practice some ferrying in the current.

Heading east toward the dam itself are some lake property homes on the south side and farmland on the north. Periodically a train will interrupt the solitude of the paddle as the Canadian Pacific Railway has its main line running along the river valley to the north. There are a couple of lovely lush green coves on the south side of the reservoir that definitely helps a person feel that they’re nowhere near the city.

There are two public park areas that are to be built along the shoreline, Bearspaw Legacy Park on the southwest side of the reservoir and Haskayne Legacy Park on the southeast side. These two parks have been on the books for quite some time but apparently the first phase of Haskayne Legacy Park should be completed in the fall of 2020. I’m crossing my fingers that they will eventually offer easy waterfront access. Until then I’ll carry my boat from the parking access point, across a short field, down the wooden staircase to the water’s edge and enjoy the solitude and create my own momentum with a paddle on Bearspaw.