A Stroll through Paddys Flat, Kananaskis Country

On June 24 I went on a walk in Paddys Flat. I had passed the campground before on the way to other hikes such as Nihahi Creek and Mount Romulus, but I had never stopped in the area. Paddys Flat is a great spot if you want to go hiking with kids or you’re looking for a half-day excursion.

The campground is about 15 minutes passed Bragg Creek on highway 66. There is a day parking area in the campground and a network of trails creating a loop adjacent to the Elbow river.

Trails in Paddys Flat

Paddys Flat includes a 2.2 km return trip interpretive trail. It also connects to other trails in the area, such as Riverview Trail which can be accessed from the west end of the interpretive trail. We followed a trail map from AllTrails that was a slightly longer loop.

Paddys Flat Hike Summary

• Difficulty: Easy
• Distance: 6.4 km
• Elevation: 176 metres
• Trail type: Loop
• Time: 1.5-2.5 hours
• Trailhead: Paddys Flat Day Use

Hiking along the Elbow River

We followed these trails along the river for about an hour. The area was nice for a hot day because there was lots of shade available and the trail has very little elevation. The entire loop is 6.4 km with only 176 metres of elevation making it an accessible trail for hikers of all skill levels. Both are great options if you are looking for easy hikes that are not too far from Calgary!

The wildflowers on the trail were in full bloom! I was definitely stopping to smell the roses along the way.

Before making our way to the river for lunch we came across a deer in the forest. It was scratching its head and seemed to be unaware or unphased by us walking by.

We ate lunch on the rocky riverbank and let our dog cool down in the water. After taking a break here to eat, we made our way back through the forest.

The trails are well maintained. Many people from the campground use the trails as well. I would definitely consider this campground in the future! I have always liked Little Elbow campground which is a few kilometres upstream from Paddys Flat, and didn’t realize how similar the two areas are.

This was a short excusion, only around 2 hours, but could have been longer if we had decided to do the whole trail. We stopped at the Heart of Bragg Creek, a plant-based cafe, on the way home for iced coffees.