How to Stay Active in Winter in Calgary

Staying active in winter in Calgary can be tough. It’s not just the cold that’s the problem, though—it’s also the lack of daylight hours, especially in December and January. That being said, it’s important to keep active when it comes to maintaining your health and happiness even during the darkest months of the year. Luckily for you, we have a variety of suggestions to help you stay active all winter long!

Hit the trails in Fish Creek Park

Fish Creek Park is open year-round, so it’s a great option if you’re looking to get out of the city and enjoy nature while keeping active in winter. The provincial park has a variety of trails that are perfect for walking, running, fat biking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing. With over 80km of trails to choose from, there’s no shortage of routes to take. Not to mention when you live in Wolf Willow, the community is just steps away from the park, making it super easy to access. There is currently one walkway directly linked from the community (with a parking lot) with six total access points planned. Just make sure to bundle up before you hit the trails!

Turn your garage into an exercise center

One way to keep active in winter is by turning your garage into an exercise center. Your garage (or your flex room or unfinished basement) is a perfect space for exercising if you have the extra room. You can do a variety of different exercises at home depending on the amount of space you have, like stretching, cardio exercises, strength training, or yoga. Creating a fitness space in your garage is also an excellent opportunity to have friends or family members who are also looking to stay fit during the cold winter months join in as an accountability partner or spotting buddy!

Many homebuilders in Wolf Willow offer home models with garages. Laned homes come with an option to build a detached garage in the backyard, or you can go with a front garage home. Some townhome models, like alliston at home, have a garage as well.

Join a gym near Wolf Willow

If creating a home gym isn’t for you, consider joining a gym this winter! There are many gyms and rec centres in the southeast Calgary area, including:

Fitness 1440

Fitness 1440 is located in our neighbouring community Legacy, and has 24-hour access with their membership, so you can hit the gym whenever it works for you. This gym has top of the line equipment and offers plenty of classes that cater to all levels of gym goers, including Zumba, private boot camps, yoga, strength training, cardio, and Barre & Beyond Barre. They also offer personal training if you want to focus on your individual fitness goals.

Fitness 1440 is just off 210^th Ave, which is the road that will be finalized in 2023 that connects Wolf Willow to Legacy, making it a soon-to-be super accessible gym from the community.

Anytime Fitness

Anytime Fitness is located just up the hill on 194^th Ave in Chaparral. Here you can connect with a coach that will help create a plan for your personal fitness journey, or you can hit the floor to work out on your own. One of the benefits of joining Anytime Fitness is that you have global access to more then 4,200 gyms worldwide, and they’re open 24/7 for your convenience.

YMCA in Seton

Did you know the YMCA in Seton is the world’s largest YMCA!? Located just a short drive away from Wolf Willow, members of the YMCA can enjoy an aquatics centre, leisure pool, fitness campus, and various sports facilities for a well-rounded experience. There are also programs you can register your kids for as well as childcare, so the whole family can stay active together. If you don’t want a full membership, they also have drop-in classes you can take to test out before you make a commitment to join.

Trico Centre for Family Wellness

Similar to the YMCA, the Trico Centre for Family Wellness, located near Willow Park, also has a large range of amenities, including an aquatics centre, ice arena, gymnasium, and fitness centre. They have many child and youth programs, from gym classes, gymnastics, arts & crafts, swimming lessons, and more available.

Mall Walking

If you’re looking for something that’s both indoors and a bit more economical, consider walking in the indoor malls! Calgary has two major malls in the south – Southcentre Mall, the closest to Wolf Willow, and CF Chinook Centre. Mall walking can be done both individually or in groups and is very popular amongst the older population due to its comfortable indoor temperature and safe, level walking environment. Plus, you’ll have easy access to amenities like washrooms and benches, as well as plenty of drinks and snacks to treat yourself to during your stay.

Ice Skating

There are tons of public outdoor ice skating rinks in southeast Calgary. This beloved winter activity will surely get your heart pumping, whether it’s to play hockey, figure skate, or to just enjoy an afternoon out with friends on the ice. The closest rinks to Wolf Willow are:

• Chaparral Community Adopt a Rink – 135 Chaparral Valley Square SE 
• Walden Community Adopt a Rink – 34 Walden Heights SE 
• Legacy Skating Rink – 424 Legacy View SE
• Shawnessy Outdoor Rink – 302 Shawinigan Dr SW
• McKenzie Towne, Prestwick Fountain Park 27 Prestwick Common SE 
• McKenzie Towne, Elgin Adopt a Rink – 433 McKenzie Towne Dr SE

Household Chores

We know, this one shocked us too. Did you know doing household chores like vacuuming, sweeping, or shovelling snow can count towards your weekly fitness goals? If your home has stairs, running up and down those can be an easy workout too!

Plus, if you or your kids are looking for some volunteer experience, becoming a Snow Angel is as simple as adopting a sidewalk and keeping it clear all winter long. Wolf Willow is a very tight-knit community, so be on the lookout for those who might need help clearing their walks throughout the snowy season!

We hope this list of winter activities will help you find a way to stay active in Calgary during the colder months.