Snowy Owl Snowshoe Loop: A Beginner and Toddler-Friendly Hike Near Calgary

Carmen Fourie
Apr 28
6 min read

Two people hiking in snowy woods, one carrying a baby. Overcast sky, snowflakes falling, surrounded by tall pine trees and a narrow trail.

We’re a family new to hiking, diving into the beauty of Alberta’s trails with our 2-year-old daughter, Elba. Today, we tackled the Snowy Owl Snowshoe Loop in Bragg Creek, our first hike in this area. Spoiler: it’s beginner-friendly, toddler-friendly, and a fantastic way to spend a morning in nature. Here’s our experience, tips, and why this 4.92km trail is perfect for families starting their outdoor adventures.

A smiling couple and child bundled in winter gear, standing in a snowy landscape with trees. Snowflakes falling around them enhance the joyful mood.

Trail Overview

Fitness stats image showing data: Distance 4.92 km, Elevation Gain 112 m, Moving Time 2:13:27, Avg. Pace 27:07, Calories 1157, Total Time 2:25:32. — Screenshot from All Trails upon completion

*TIP: Get the All Trails app it is worth it and download your route before you go. There is no cellphone signal on the trail.

Location: West Bragg Creek Day Use Area, Bragg Creek, Alberta
Distance: 4.92km
Elevation Gain: 112m
Total Time: 2 hours, 25 minutes, 32 seconds (with toddler breaks for puddle-splashing)
Trail Link: AllTrails - Snowy Owl Snowshoe Loop
Conditions: Mix of snow, rain, and mud; some icy patches but no cleats needed
Date: 28 April 2025 (Spring)
Busy: We literally did not see a single other person on the trail. We assume because of the weather. We only saw people in the parking lot and not many.

Two geese swim on a partially frozen pond surrounded by trees and dry grass. The scene is tranquil and wintry with muted colors.

Why It’s Beginner and Toddler-Friendly

Child in a floral jacket and orange boots walks on a snowy forest path. Evergreen trees and falling snow create a serene, wintry atmosphere.

This was our first hike at Bragg Creek, and the Snowy Owl Snowshoe Loop was an ideal introduction. The trail is well-marked (after a slightly confusing start—more on that below) and has gentle elevation, making it manageable for new hikers. For families, the flat sections and open spaces are perfect for toddlers to toddle or splash in puddles, as Elba did with glee.

Person carrying a child in a colorful snowsuit on a snowy path, surrounded by bare trees and overcast sky, creating a serene winter scene.

We carried Elba most of the way in our Ergo 360 carrier (back carry, her favorite at this age). We also love our Sakura Bloom Scout, but the Ergo 360 Cool Air was our pick today. If you’re carrying a toddler, I highly recommend learning proper carrier fit—check out Babywearing 101 the Facebook group for fit checks and tips. I am a big advocate for carrying properly - for safety and also for best of your and your kid's body. My husband carried our thrifted backpack (we’re still hunting for the perfect hiking one), and we managed just fine without fancy gear.

Woman carrying child in a floral hooded jacket and rainbow mittens through a snowy forest. Both wear dark outerwear; mood is serene.

Note: Aside from it being better for the environment, you will see that I buy most of our things 2nd hand, because it helps with the affordability of it. I bought both our carriers basically new off Facebook Marketplace.

Another note: Elba is wearing a balaclava I sewed (as a beginner) for her using a free pattern and one of Ian's merino wool base layers he was going to throw out. It is amazing and we use it often to protect her face from wind (she got wind burn / frost nip in winter which sparked making this). It is light and breathable and easy to make. I wrote a blog about it and shared a link to the free pattern I used.

Three people in winter jackets smile during a walk in a snowy forest. A blue bridge is visible in the background, and snowflakes are falling.

Tip: Kiddos are warmer in carriers because they are against us. You do not need to dress them in as many layers when they are in the carrier.

Getting There and Parking

We drove from Calgary (about 38 minutes for us because we live in the West of Calgary) to the West Bragg Creek Day Use Area, where there’s ample parking and bathrooms. The trailhead is a bit tricky to find; it used to start in a now-restricted area, so you’ll walk along the gravel road briefly to pick up the trail. Once you’re on it, the markers are clear.

Our Experience: Mud, Snow, and Toddler Joy

Child and adult walking on a snowy forest path. Child in colorful snowsuit, adult with backpack. Tall evergreens surround, serene mood.

The weather was a classic Alberta spring mix—snow and rain, and muddy trails with some icy patches. Grip is key, but we didn’t need cleats. As a barefoot and barefoot-shoe family, I wore my Vivobarefoot Primus Trail (The Primus Trail Knit FG Womens closest match to my discontinued soft-ground trails). My husband wore his Primus Lite III, though he’s shopping for barefoot trail shoes (stay tuned!). Elba rocked her rainboots (see my barefoot toddler rainboot blog) and thrifted Filii barefoot shoes ($5 on Facebook Marketplace—what a steal!). These worked great for the muddy, snowy conditions.

Adult and child walk through snowy forest. Child wears green and pink snowsuit. Tall evergreen trees surround them under a gray sky.

Elba spent some time walking, splashing in puddles, and exploring, but we carried her most of the way to keep the pace. We packed a rainsuit for her at the start, then switched to a snow jacket and MEC rain pants (secondhand, my go-to brand for kid gear).

Tip: bring spare clothes and socks for toddlers—mud and puddles are irresistible.

Another tip: I always keep a wet bag (or two) in my backpack for dirty or wet clothing. I use the ones we used back when we were using cloth diapers. I have several, but I like the Esembly one because it is nice and big (I have the one with two compartments if you can find it). I also have some like this that I use and place inside the Esembly bag. I have one that always has a fold up bucket and spade in it for Elba to play in water or with ground (I recommend this, you never know when your kiddo might want to play and how awesome for them if they can!).

A woman sits on a rock holding a child in a pink hat amidst a foggy forest. Trees surround them, with a hiking trail sign visible. — Breastfeeding on a tree stump

Since we practiced elimination communication and Elba is still breastfed, we didn’t need extra supplies for those. Check out my other blogs and YouTube channel for more on these topics if you’re curious. I did pack her some fruitbars from Costco - they have nothing but fruit in them and I like having them handy in my bag.

Person in a blue jacket walks on a snowy forest path beside a river, with tall green pine trees in the background, creating a tranquil mood.

A Stop in Bragg Creek: Monkeyshines Children’s Store

On the way back, we stopped in Bragg Creek at Monkeyshines Children’s Store, a gem of a toy shop. To commemorate Elba’s hike, we bought her first new (non-thrifted) Schleich grizzly bear toy. Schleich animals are incredibly realistic and high-quality, fitting our focus on recognizable, realistic toys for play. With more hikes planned, we’ll be learning about bear safety as a family, and this grizzly will be a fun tool for Elba to join in.

Hand holds a small, roaring brown bear toy with a tag marked "3+." Blurry background shows a window and outdoor greenery.

Tips for Hiking with a Toddler

Carriers: Invest time in learning to use a carrier properly. Back carries are best for heavier toddlers like ours.
Clothing: Pack spare toddler clothes, especially socks. MEC is currently my favourite brand, and I try to find their items second hand.
Footwear: Barefoot or minimalist shoes with good grip are great for muddy trails. See my blog for more on barefoot shoes or comment your questions we've been a barefoot family for many years.
No Gear, No Problem: You don’t need fancy hiking gear for this trail. A thrifted backpack and basic layers worked for us.
Pace Yourself: Let toddlers explore at their pace. Elba’s puddle-splashing added time but so much joy.
Safety: This is bear country - carry bear spray and have lots of chats and laughter along the way.

Snowfall over a frozen lake with bare trees and a forest backdrop. A colorful informational sign in the foreground. The mood is serene and cold.

Our Hiking Journey

This is our third spring in Canada, and we finally feel settled enough to dive into hiking as a family. I’m adamant that Elba spends much of her childhood outdoors, inspired by books like There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather (currently reading, with more nature-focused books queued up). We’re new to this, and our gear is minimal, but we’re excited to grow. Stay tuned as we upgrade our thrifted backpack, find my husband’s barefoot trail shoes, and share more adventures.

Note: I read a lot and gather a lot of information. Check out my reading lists and my other blogs for my nerdy (well read) insights :)

A child in a colorful snowsuit and an adult with a backpack walk along a snowy forest trail, surrounded by tall evergreens.

Final Thoughts

The Snowy Owl Snowshoe Loop is a fantastic starter hike for beginners and families. Its gentle terrain, toddler-friendly, and proximity to Calgary make it a great trail for some time in nature. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or, like us, just starting out, this trail delivers. Pack some spare socks, embrace the mud, and enjoy!

Happy hiking,

Carmen

P.s. I like to be present, and I limit screen time or device time, especially when outdoors - but I will start taking along our GoPro and filming some footage for vlogs for you to see more of the trail. You can check out my Youtube channel for that.

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