Calgary's Douglas Fir Trail has an update on its long-term closure
The Douglas Fir Trail in Calgary has been off limits for over two years, and the City just released an update on its closure.
A section of the popular southwest trail in Edworthy Park has been closed since November 2023 due to erosion and safety concerns, and it still hasn’t reopened.
Back in August 2025, the City said it was finalizing agreements and wrapping up a geotechnical study to determine the best long-term fix for the unstable slope. The study, which examined a 1.5-kilometre stretch of the trail, was completed in October 2025.
The trail saw some progress with the western portion conditionally opening to the public in November 2025, but a recent inspection showed unsafe trail conditions, and it closed again on Feb. 18, 2026.
City of Calgary
In a recent update, the City said that repair work on a smaller section of the slope, around 150 meters above the Bow River Regional Pathway, is progressing as planned.
Construction started in September 2025 and is expected to be substantially completed by October 2026.
While that construction is underway, the City also shared that it has secured funding for the detailed design phase of the broader Douglas Fir Trail repairs and is in the process of hiring an engineering firm to determine the long-term repairs needed to reopen the trail.
However, funding for the construction of the broader Douglas Fir Trail has not yet been secured, and the City says it plans to pursue that funding in the 2027 to 2030 budget cycle, meaning a full reopening timeline remains uncertain.
When funding is secured, the work will focus on targeted trail repairs and improvements, small trail realignments away from vulnerable areas, drainage improvements to reduce ongoing washouts, and vegetation protection and restoration.
You can learn more about the Douglas Fir Trail online.