The Bragg Creek Walk

Sounds like this might be a peculiar kind of shuffle or hip-hop, but it is a pleasant, stroll in the Provincial Park and another in the Hamlet of Bragg Creek. It’s a pleasant walking tour of Bragg Creek. Enjoy some nature and some quaint country living, shopping and dining.

Jump to a map of the Centennial Trail

The Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association built the Centennial Pathway in honour of Alberta’s 100th birthday. Completed in October of 2005, the pathway used to connect the commercial and community centre of Bragg Creek with the natural world that surrounds us. Unfortunately, the 2013 flood washed away part of the trail that connected the Provincial Park to the hamlet. So, this is now two walks, one through the park and one in the hamlet. You can park by the Elbow River near the Original Trading Post or in the hamlet to begin the hamlet walk. Park near the entrance to the park, at the east end of the parking lot, to walk through the woods, down to the Elbow River and back. There is an option to continue past the trail hazard sign until you reach the highway. I can’t recommend walking on the shoulder towards the hamlet, but it does connect to the sidewalk and the hamlet walk.

For a perfect day out, start in the Bragg Creek Provincial Park where you can barbecue your lunch on the firepits provided. Picnic tables, toilets, play areas, ample parking and trash bins are also provided.

Head out for a pleasant hike through the forest and along the river bank in the park. Drive a short distance to the roadside parking near the Trading Post on White Avenue where you can start your 1 kilometre walk along the Centennial Trail. The hamlet trail is a paved sidewalk beside White Avenue. Do yourself a favour – check it out. Stroll along the sidewalk, past homes, restaurants and shops into the Hamlet of Bragg Creek. Browse the malls and wind up your walk on the Balsam Avenue bridge across the Elbow River. A leisurely stroll, there and back, will take about 2 hours (that’s without stopping to shop or dine along the way).

The hamlet walking tour

The Italian Farmhouse Restaurant
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This is one of two fine dining restaurants in Bragg Creek - we used to have four. They serve pizza, pasta and other tasty treats. The patio is great for chillin' in the summer and the atmosphere is warm and cozy. The have very pretty ladies working there. I know that's sexist, but I'm just stating the obvious. You can order a take-out pizza, but you can't get home delivery in Bragg Creek. There are caterers who will bring delicious East Indian and vegetarian meals to your home, but you need to plan ahead. The Farmhouse is great if you want to get out of the city.
At the entrance to Bragg Creek
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The ATB is the only bank in Bragg Creek, but we have two bike shops. I guess that says something about us. Who needs money when you've got rad trails to ride. Well, local businesses need money. Please stop and shop or dine on your way through Bragg Creek the Gateway to Kananaskis.
Balsam Avenue Bridge
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This is the only way to get to and from West Bragg Creek and Wintergreen. Needless to say, that's a cause of concern for those residents who learned what it means to be trapped, as happened in the 2013 flood. The bridge was closed for almost 3 days. People who were in the city couldn't get home to feed livestock, and anyone with a medical condition couldn't get out for treatment - etc., etc. Despite loud calls for an emergency exit, nothing has been done in the four years since the flood.
The Steak Pit
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Also known as the Snake Pit, this might have been the most illustrious of our fine dining restaurants. Loaded with character, it was a great place to enjoy the best of Alberta - red meat, lounge singer music, rustic atmosphere and hand-crafted wooden name signs that you could hang at the entrance to your home. Gord Schultz owned it and he entertained patrons on his piano. What a shame. It got all but destroyed in the flood of 2013. By then Gord had sold it and the will to recover just wasn't there. I think the property has been turned over to the Seniors' Fellowship so they can build a senior citizens home. The A-frame motel rooms out back have been torn down.
Start or End Your Walk Here
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This is the Elbow River opposite the Original Trading Post on White Avenue. There are two lanes for parking alongside the road, but it's limited. You can also start your walk in the hamlet where parking is easier. From here to the hamlet it's all paved sidewalk. The shoreline is made of large stones called rip-rap. They're tricky to walk on, but fun, if you want to take the risk. They're designed to be flood resistant, although that didn't work out very well in 2013. This section of road disappeared along with the rip-rap. Across the river you can see part of Luke Christopher's "Winterfell" rock art. It's very cool, but may not endure a flood.
Gone but not forgotten
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This was part of the trail on one of the islands that got washed away. Too bad. The thing is the trail can't go on the shoreline as it's a steep cliff with private property on top of it. So, in effect the Centennial Pathway doesn't exist anymore.
The Elbow River
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If you park by White Avenue near the Trading Post in one of the two lanes provided, you can scramble over the stones to get to this view back toward the hamlet
The Bragg Creek Trading Post
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Floods and time have taken their toll so, only this store and the Scoops and Shakes ice cream store occupy original buildings. Although the Trading Post has been faithfully restored to it's original design, it is virtually a new, renovated building. Originally it was a general store where you could buy just about anything from groceries to aboriginal crafts. Now, it's mostly a boutique where you can buy native arts and crafts - mukluks, dream catchers, leather jackets, even a jingle dress. It's a must see when visiting Bragg Creek.
The Bragg Creek
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The creek, which starts on Moose Mountain and meanders through West Bragg Creek, empties into the Elbow River here, across from the Trading Post.
The hamlet sidewalk
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After a short walk from the parking area, along the river, with a visit to the Trading Post, you can start your stroll through the hamlet on this sidewalk that leads to the commercial centre.
Riverside Chateau
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This elegant and charming guesthouse on the Elbow River is one of only a few accommodations in the area and the only one in the hamlet. It's a beautiful log building that was lovingly renovated after the flood.
Bavarian Inn Restaurant
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Anybody up for Wiener Schnitzel? How about spaetzle? This Austrian themed restaurant has a well-earned reputation for great food, good service and a pleasant atmosphere. Maybe you just want to enjoy a stein of beer on the patio while soaking up the summer sun. Treat yourself to something special.
County Park
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This piece of public greenspace along White Avenue has a series of trails that lead through forest down to the river. It's a bit rough, but a fair amount of work has gone into cleaning up what was once a bit of a party place.
Private residence
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Nothing much to look at here. I imagine the flag and banner are gone, but this represents the pride of place and the creative character of Bragg Creek in a way no one can deny. Back in the 1970s the community was known as a hippie hangout and craft centre. We still have a lot of crafty people, but we've been gentrified and we're now, mostly, a respite for affluent oil and gas people.
Archer's Antiques
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Wish I could provide more detail, but I do know this was a heritage house located in Calgary that Archer moved to Bragg Creek and restored. It's an extraordinary work of dedication to the cause of preserving history. The house is a work of art and the items on sale are exquisitely restored. Archer, himself, has been here forever. He travels the country in search of period pieces, some of which have been installed in the house and others that he offers for sale. Well worth a visit.
Wake Siah Lodge
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This is another treasure of our history. Please don't enter the private property. Someone lives there. It's located next to the ice cream store on White Ave. Ida May and Harry White's Wake Siah Lodge, on what is now White Ave. (also known as the Heritage Mile), is where the first youth hostel in North America was located. The Barclay sisters founded youth hosteling in Canada here in 1933. There's a plaque on the road. It was designated a National Historic Site, January 17, 2012
Scoops and Snacks
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Eating ice cream has to be one of the most popular pastimes for both visitors and residents in Bragg Creek. This and the candy store in the shopping centre are very popular on warm summer days. The interesting thing about this location is that it was originally "Whites Trading Store". Yes, White, the namesake of White Avenue, apart from the homesteaders who settled here, Ida and Harry White were legendary as merchants and operators of the Post Office. Somewhere in history the Trading Store moved to the Trading Post and that itself has an important place in our history.
White Avenue
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Roads don't change much and this one isn't much different. But, hidden underground now are water services pipes that were installed in 2013. Yes, that's right, in the middle of the chaos created by the flood, the county installed water services in Bragg Creek. What a mess it was. It was also more or less successful. More because residents no longer have to worry about water contamination due to septic fields leaking into wells and hauling in pure water to put in their holding tanks. Less because the cost of water is very high. But, more again because the moratorium on development, due to the water problem, has been removed.
Bragg Creek Centre
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The old, beloved centre, build by some of the old-timers with donated materials, burned to the ground. Residents rallied to raise funds and develop the plans for a new one, which was built in the year 2000. It has a great gym floor/concert hall, meeting rooms, washrooms (that's big in Bragg Creek) and facilities for a nursery, a commercial kitchen - just about everything we need to support social, recreational and and cultural activities. I guess that's why they call it a community centre.
Front Porch Square
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Here you'll find the insurance and registries office, an accountant, a chiropractor, a landscaper and other services that locals need. I originally built this walking tour in 2005. When I came to renew it in 2017 (let's call it my Canada 150 gift to Bragg Creek) I was shocked when I realized how much had changed. So in a few years, when you walk by, don't be surprised that some of the businesses have changed and it looks different, but I'll bet the insurance and registries is still there.
Village Market 1
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Creekers Bistro offers delicatessen dining. Care in the Creek is a doctors office/clinic and the IDA Pharmacy can fill a prescription, sell you a magazine, stationary and lots more. Some of the essentials of life
Another view of the Village Market
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There's a liquor store, a bike shop and in another part of the mall, food services, real estate and an art gallery. Although many businesses cater to visitors, just about everything residents need is available.
The Trading Post II
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Also known as the Shell Mall, the Teghtmeyer's, who own the Original Trading Post store on White Avenue, built this mall in 1996. The log structure is classic architecture and classic Bragg Creek. They're good at this stuff. The Trading Post is a classic and they've also restored the old Dance Hall across the river at the bottom of Bracken Rd. In the gas station store, you can buy anything from fishing gear to home baked muffins. The mall has a great coffee shop, a Subway restaurant, an Art gallery and a pet store. It's a great meeting place as it is at the entrance to Bragg Creek.
The Tsuu T'ina Nation
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This is one end of the Sarcee Reserve. The other is in Calgary, about a half-hour drive away. The nation owns the land in the Redwood Meadows town-site, just down the road, but residents own their homes. During the last weekend in July, the Tsuu T'ina hold a huge Pow Wow and Stampede, called the Gathering of Nations. People come from all over North America to enjoy the festivities. It's quite a party and lots of fun. Traditional dancers often wear brightly coloured outfits festooned with feathers and all kinds of decoration.
Esso
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I'm sorry, this is an eyesore and an assault on the unique character of Bragg Creek.
Bragg Creek Shopping Centre
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I call it the wooden mall as the other big one is built of concrete blocks. It was built in the '70s and has a lot of character - and a few problems, like leaky roofs and ancient plumbing. But, the current owner has invested heavily to upgrade. It has a new parking lot and new drainage as well as a new coat of paint. Still there are empty spaces. It's hard to make a living here. Business is seasonal and many visitors come for the scenery, not the merchandise or the meals. The thing is, as one of the first settlers said, you can't eat the scenery.
Fall leaves
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The fall season doesn't last very long. It's a kind of blink and you'll miss it thing. But mid September is a great time to come for colour. These Japanese Maple leaves on the pathway linking the two main malls are from an import, but they're pretty spectacular nonetheless. The only deciduous trees in the foothills are poplar. They turn yellow in the fall. There are a lot of them and the hills light up with brilliant colour.
Balsam Avenue
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The main drag. White Avenue used to be the commercial centre, but Balsam is now the busiest thoroughfare. A lot of that has to do with the large number of stores, restaurants and services located there, but the street also leads to the bridge over the Elbow River. Besides the Shopping Centre and the Old West Malls, the other side of the street has physiotherapy, a restaurant, a vet, Yoga, a bank and a bike shop. For your convenience, the street even has street lights - cool eh? They're solar powered. The revitalization plan envisions more development.
The Seniors' Centre
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Their official name is the Bragg Creek Snowbirds Seniors Fellowship - the Snowbirds for short. This is a nice log structure built just after the millennium. It's actually three buildings that came from B.C. and were combined into one large hall. Members of the group can rent it for special occasions. It has a kitchen, a pool table and a fireplace. They seem to have great comradery as well as time and resources to do some good work. Lately the Bragg Creek Historical Society have been holding their public meetings there. They have some artifacts on display, but it's kind of a private club.
Infusion Restaurant
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So sad, at least for me as this was my favourite restaurant. But, during the 2013 flood, the building filled with mud and there was no alternative but to tear it down. I can't remember the name of the restaurant at the time, it was many years ago, something to do with a wheel - the owner put a chalkboard sign out saying that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston had eaten there. Oops, they came here to get away from publicity. The food was great. The atmosphere was wonderful. The owners moved to southeast Calgary, Evergreen I think. There's a county revitalization plan. Maybe a new Infusion restaurant would do the trick.
The Old West Mall
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Built in 1996 by Bob Everett, this is another classic that evokes an era of cowboy culture. It's weird that a German immigrant, Irmi, owns it. She's such an endearing character. She's what I love about Bragg Creek - it's cosmopolitan, but it's all about celebrating our roots. The Brainbar restaurant, The Harder's do landscaping, video production and publish the High Country News. There's a Real Estate office and probably one of the most enduring businesses in Bragg Creek, Crabapple Cottage where you can buy ladies fashion garments that you won't find anywhere else. Out-of-the-way, but right in the middle of our world in 2017.
The Brainbar
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The Brainbar has an interesting history. It was once owned by the Moffats, a boy band that enjoyed some celebrity. They called it "Gringos". As the Brainbar it now operates as a restaurant, Internet Café, a store for branded merchandise, an advertising agency and the seat for a run at political office as the Councillor for the County of Rocky View. "The Brain", AdMaki, is a driving force behind the Chamber of Commerce, the Trails Association and the Firefighters Heros in the Sky.
Elbow River from the Balsam Ave. Bridge
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What can I say - a river flows, ignorant of place and history. That big rock slab used to be land and homes. The flood of 2013 was devastating for Bragg Creek. Businesses were lost, residents were challenged and our future was at stake. This photo is kind of iconic in the way it shows what we've lost. There are others, like the Infusion restaurant that isn't there any more and the Trading Post that was rebuilt even though it was all but lost. Some say the earth here was gouged out by rip rap washed downstream acting like a sand blaster to rip the earth from the rock. I don't know, it's just sad to see.

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The Provincial Park Trail


					
							
				
					Before the flood
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										A highlight of the walk used to be this view from the lookout over an S-curve in the Elbow River. The flood of 2013 cut a new channel in the river so most of the water flows straight through here now.
																		
															
							
				
					Start of the Park Trail
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										Shhhh! Don't tell anyone. This is a kind of hidden treasure. This was the beginning, or end, of the Centennial Trail when it was built in 2005. It's buried in the woods at the east end of the Provincial Park parking lot, near the entrance. There's an unmarked post. The trail has, apparently, been abandoned, but that just makes it all the more special. Let's keep it a secret. It begins with a nice walk through the woods. Further on there's a lookout over the river, then a walk along a stony beach, over a bridge and back to your car in 30-40 minutes. The park has toilets, garbage bins, parking, fire pits and picnic tables. 
																		
															
							
				
					A walk in the woods
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										Although the trail doesn't appear to be maintained any longer, it is still a very nice walk with interesting things to see along the way.
																		
															
							
				
					Thanks to the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association
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										The GBCTA built this trail. They have done a great job of developing an extensive network of trails in West Bragg Creek, Kananaskis. They are now (2017) building a trail, which is part of the Trans Canada Trail, along the West Bragg Creek Road. There's another one that connects Banded Peak School to the Community Centre, along Highway 22. They've been busy.
																		
															
							
				
					Elbow River Lookout
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										When we built the trail, this was a dramatic view over an S-turn in the river. The near channel was a trickle and the far channel made an abrupt turn to form the S. Amazing, the power of natural forces that change the landscape. Of course, that is made abundantly clear further upstream at what was Allen Bill Pond and the Elbow Falls recreation area. Still, this is a dramatic viewpoint over the river and there's even a bench where you can rest a while.
																		
															
							
				
					Hazardous?
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										Not really. There are (in 2017) a couple of large trees that have fallen across the path as you follow the trail down to the river. So, you step over them. I appreciate that some folks may have trouble with that, but really it's not a hazard. It is a bit tricky at the bottom where the last step isn't there, but again you walk around it. Let's call it an adventure instead of a hazard. 
																		
															
							
				
					Down to the Elbow River
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										The last step down to the shoreline is a bit tricky, but the reward is worth it. This is the view looking back towards the Trading Post and the hamlet. When the trail was built, you could easily cross a series of islands, but now (2017) you have to turn left and walk along the stony beach. You can continue to walk along the shoreline, or keep to the left to reconnect with the old trail.
																		
															
							
				
					The trail that isn't
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										It was a great idea. We'll build a trail that connects the forested Provincial Park with the goods and services in the hamlet. At the time, these little piles of rock in the river were covered with trees and brush. We cleared a path through the vegetation and all was well until the monster flood of 2013 scoured the islands clean, dug deep channels between them and destroyed the trail. We had even built some trails and boardwalks on the shoreline below the park, but they're all gone now too. So now the link is broken and what was once the Bragg Creek walk is now the two walks. They can still be done in an afternoon, you just need to drive from one to the other.
																		
															
							
				
					The way home
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										You can wander along the shoreline or through the brush, but if you want to combine the park and hamlet walks, I recommend this trail back to your car. It's kind of hidden, but if you keep to the left as you walk along the shoreline, you'll find an opening in the trees that connects to the old pathways along the shore at the bottom of the Provincial Park. The shoreline paths are gone, as is the boardwalk we built across wetland. But that's not an issue as the wetland is now dry land.
																		
															
							
				
					Civilization
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										Once you get back on the trail, turning left at the connection from the shoreline, you'll find this bridge. I was shocked to see it. The adventure became the well trodden path. The path less taken became the easy way out. We did a lot of work to make the Centennial trail accessible, then the flood made it inaccessible, then here was this bridge that made it accessible again. It was weird. Anyway, you just follow the path up the hill, past the babbling brook and you wind up on the trail where you began. Then you're back in your car and off to the Bragg Creek Walk. You can thank the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association with a donation.


	
	
			
		
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Centennial Pathway Map

The hamlet walking tour

The Italian Farmhouse Restaurant

At the entrance to Bragg Creek

Balsam Avenue Bridge

The Steak Pit

Start or End Your Walk Here

Gone but not forgotten

The Elbow River

The Bragg Creek Trading Post

The Bragg Creek

The hamlet sidewalk

Riverside Chateau

Bavarian Inn Restaurant

County Park

Private residence

Archer's Antiques

Wake Siah Lodge

Scoops and Snacks

White Avenue

Bragg Creek Centre

Front Porch Square

Village Market 1

Another view of the Village Market

The Trading Post II

The Tsuu T'ina Nation

Esso

Bragg Creek Shopping Centre

Fall leaves

Balsam Avenue

The Seniors' Centre

Infusion Restaurant

The Old West Mall

The Brainbar

Elbow River from the Balsam Ave. Bridge

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The Provincial Park Trail

Before the flood

Start of the Park Trail

A walk in the woods

Thanks to the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association

Elbow River Lookout

Hazardous?

Down to the Elbow River

The trail that isn't

The way home

Civilization

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Download an Acrobat (printable) Map

Bragg Creek