Get to know the Bow with Explore Cochrane

Get to know the Bow!

Join our Explore Cochrane event at Riverfront Park on June 25 and 26 from 10 to 3 p.m.

Learn how you can spend your entire summer on and along  Cochrane’s idyllic Bow River. We’ll have free food, demos and an opportunity to chat with our local tourism partners on how you can enjoy the Bow River this Summer. 

Register to get the schedule of events!

The Bow River lies central to many of Cochrane’s best adventures and is sure to help fill the warm days with pursuits of all kinds, including discovering the birds of Alberta, challenging disc golf courses, and picturesque bike rides.

Here are our top 3 picks to let the days flow by the Bow this season, without getting wet.

3 things to do at the Bow River in Cochrane 

1. Birdwatch with ease

Grab your camera and binoculars! Seeing the many birds of Alberta is as easy as stepping outdoors, but we have some favourite spots for you to see our fine feathered friends in all their glory. 

Cochrane is home to 46 parks and over 60 km of walking trails, so you can easily become engrossed in Mother Nature and all the birds of Alberta who call our area home. Along the Bow River, take a stroll through Riverfront Park and Mitford Park and you’re likely to spot blue herons, swans, and many kinds of ducks. In the spring, watch for ducklings and goslings, as well as baby house wrens and sandpipers along the banks of the Bow River. 

Over at Riviera Pond, you’ll come across goldfinch and northern flickers. The pond is also home to ducks and geese, which makes it another optimal spot for peeping ducklings and goslings through the rest of June. 

Always respect nature and aim to watch birds and other wildlife without interrupting or startling them. Remember to take only pictures and leave only footprints. 

2. Challenge your group to a round of disc golf 

Throw and go by the Bow! Located on the banks of Riverfront Park is the 9-hole Cochrane Disc Golf Course. Free for everyone to use, the disc golf course is an easy way to gather your friends and family for a few hours of fun and fresh air. Just remember to bring your own discs.

If you can throw a frisbee, you can play disc golf. Just like golf, play each hole in succession by aiming for the raised baskets. You’ll find scorecards and maps at the first tee, so you can keep track of your number of throws—and who’s buying ice cream after. 

Discs are widely available at sporting goods stores and are not the same as frisbees. Discs are smaller, but denser and designed specifically for throwing so you can master your technique faster.

3. Biking

Get out for a spin on two wheels! Multi-use trails perfect for a biking run parallel to the Bow River, so you can enjoy a scenic ride while you get in some exercise. 

There are plenty of stops along the river to take a break or to start your journey. For routes directly along the river, park at local favourites like Mitford Park or Riverfront Park, and bike to Matt Krol Park or Jim Uffelmann Memorial Park. It’s easy to create your own out-and-back route, or opt for a loop that takes you through town for a treat.

On the far side of the river, stop by Riviera playground, which connects to 4 km of multi-use paths throughout the Riversong area. The River Avenue Bridge is a pedestrian bridge to take you back towards the heart of downtown, but don’t forget to explore Riversong’s 100-acre nature reserve.

Choose your own adventure in Cochrane

Whether you’re interested in the fascinating birds of Alberta, or would rather try out a new disc golf course with your friends, you can learn more about these activities at our Explore Cochrane event. Explore Cochrane with us today—we know all the local secrets.