Information
Landmark: Canada Olympic ParkCity: Calgary
Country: Canada
Continent: North America
Canada Olympic Park, Calgary, Canada, North America
Overview
Canada Olympic Park, nestled in Calgary, Alberta, is a top spot for sports and recreation, with a history that echoes through its ski jumps and winding trails.Built for the 1988 Winter Olympics, it’s now a lively, year-round spot where athletes and visitors mingle, from kids skating under bright rink lights to hikers tackling rugged trails.COP plays a vital role in Calgary’s sports scene and draws crowds for outdoor adventures, school programs, and family days-picture kids racing sleds down a snowy hill.Canada Olympic Park sits on Calgary’s western edge in the Paskapoo Slopes, just minutes from downtown, where foothills rise gently against the skyline.The park sits at Bowmont Park, right beside the hum of the Trans-Canada Highway.COP was first built for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, when icy winds whipped across the slopes and crowds filled the stands.The park was alive with Olympic energy, hosting alpine skiing, bobsleigh, luge, skating, and other thrilling events.After the games ended, the site turned into a bustling sports park, with bright turf fields and busy courts that still anchor Calgary’s athletic scene.Size: Spreading across more than 2,000 acres, the park offers room for everything from snowy cross-country trails to lively summer festivals, making it one of Canada’s largest.Canada Olympic Park offers everything from ski slopes dusted in fresh snow to sleek sports facilities, drawing visitors in every season.First.Since hosting the Winter Olympics, COP has stayed true to its roots, keeping winter sports at the heart of the place, from crisp morning ski runs to late-night ice rink sessions.At the park, winter draws crowds for skiing and snowboarding, with slopes that suit everyone-from first-timers wobbling through fresh powder to seasoned pros carving fast, clean lines.From the Olympic ski hill, the city stretches below like a glittering map, with mountains and forests rolling out in every direction.At Canada Olympic Park, you can race down the icy bobsleigh track in winter, feeling the sharp wind whip past as you experience the thrill of an Olympic run.During certain times of year, you can hop into a bobsleigh with a pro at the controls, the icy track rattling beneath you.Besides downhill runs, COP maintains groomed trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, giving you a slower, quieter way to take in the crunch of snow and crisp winter air.Skating: When winter settles in, you can glide across the ice on the town’s designated outdoor rinks, the crisp air stinging your cheeks.The park also has indoor skating rinks, where you can glide across smooth ice without worrying about the weather.Number two.Summer sports and recreation thrive at COP; though it’s famous for snowy slopes, the place hums with activity all year, from sunlit mountain bike trails to grassy soccer fields.When the weather warms up, Canada Olympic Park comes alive with summer fun, including mountain biking on trails that weave through pine-scented hills and welcome riders of every skill level.The mountain bike park offers everything from tight, technical trails to fast downhill runs, with a few sharp jumps that rattle your handlebars.Zipline: At COP, one of summer’s biggest rushes is clipping in and shooting over the ski hills, wind in your face and the ground far below.Gliding down the zipline, you see the park spread out beneath you like a living map, and it’s a favorite thrill for visitors chasing a burst of outdoor excitement.The park offers a mini-golf course-great for families and first-timers-plus lessons and driving ranges for anyone eager to sharpen their swing.COP offers plenty of places to play-open lawns for picnics, shady spots for board games, and lively areas where families can run, laugh, and explore together.Number three.Another standout at Canada Olympic Park is Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, where you can step inside and explore stories of athletes and teams who’ve shone on both national fields and the world stage.Visitors can wander through exhibits that trace the history of Canadian sport, where the Hall of Fame brings legendary athletes and game-changing moments to life with hands-on displays and cases brimming with trophies and worn leather gloves.Olympic Legacy: The Hall of Fame showcases a wide range of Olympic athletes, with a special focus on those from the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary, and lets visitors glimpse how the roar of that event still shapes Canada’s sporting culture.Interactive exhibits invite visitors to try their hand at sports challenges-like testing the speed of a slapshot-or explore Canada’s achievements across a range of athletic disciplines.Number four.Canada Olympic Park’s WinSport Academy and Training Facilities also house WinSport, a leading organization that helps athletes train and grow-sometimes on crisp early mornings when the track still glistens with frost.WinSport Academy is a cutting‑edge training hub where athletes from all kinds of sports-Alpine skiing and snowboarding, bobsleigh, luge, skeleton, track and field, hockey, figure skating, and gymnastics-come to train.You might spot a young skier carving down a practice slope while, nearby, an elite competitor sharpens their skills for national or international events.The park runs programs for every level, from weekend enthusiasts to world‑class contenders.Five.Olympic Legacy Canada Olympic Park still stands as proof of the 1988 Winter Olympics’ success, its ski jumps rising against Calgary’s crisp blue sky.Visitors can explore the Olympic legacy through exhibits, events, and park features built for the Games, including the tall Olympic Cauldron, where the flame burned during the 1988 Winter Games and still stands today.From the park’s hilltop, you can take in sweeping views of Calgary, the rugged Rocky Mountains, and the Olympic Ski Jump Tower gleaming in the distance.You can find Canada Olympic Park at 88 Canada Olympic Road NW in Calgary, Alberta, where the crisp mountain air greets you the moment you arrive.You can get there easily by car, and there’s plenty of parking right on-site, with wide spaces ready when you pull in.The park stays open all year, though the hours shift with the season and what you’re doing-an early morning hike in summer starts long before winter’s frost melts.Before you go, check the hours-especially if you’re planning on something like skiing or a fast bobsleigh run down the icy track.Heads up-activities at COP don’t all cost the same.Some are free, others might set you back the price of a cup of coffee.You can walk into the park for free, but if you want to ski, zipline, or tear down the trails on a mountain bike, you’ll need a ticket or a pass.You can also pick up a WinSport membership or grab a day pass for a quick visit.Canada Olympic Park welcomes families with plenty to do, from a gentle playground for toddlers to thrilling slopes and trails that keep adults chasing adventure.Canada Olympic Park buzzes with activity year-round, hosting everything from lively winter carnivals to thrilling ice skating competitions, complete with the sound of blades cutting across the ice and the smell of hot cocoa in the air.Canada Day celebration, bright flags snapping in the summer breeze.
