5 Calgary communities for buyers who like to ski
The skis are tuned up and waxed ready for another season on the slopes or cross country. Skiing is a fantastic past-time and excellent exercise and in Calgary, we’re so lucky that the mountains are just an hour away.
If you’re looking for a home in a Calgary community that brings the mountains even closer, here are a few neighbourhoods to consider.
Crestmont
This small enclave of upscale homes is just south of the Trans-Canada Highway on Calgary’s western edge. There’s just one road leading into this secluded community and residents are only seconds from the highway west to Nakiska, Banff and Lake Louise. It’s also just west of Winsport Canada Olympic Park, so keeners can even ski at night on the well-groomed slopes right next door. Homes in this community are less than 20 years old with fewer than 1,500 people living here. The neighbourhood is surrounded by native trees and grasslands with outstanding western views. In fact, the homes were constructed in such a way that everyone has an unobstructed view. On days that you can’t get to the mountains you will certainly be able to admire them.
Heritage Pointe
This golf course community is on the southern edge of Calgary in the Pine Creek Valley. It is just east of Highway 2. With a quick zip down Dunbow Road, you can be on the road south to the Crowsnest Pass and Fernie or Kimberley. Heritage Pointe features luxury homes surrounding the centre piece 27-hole course. The natural terrain is ideal for the cross country enthusiast who can simply ski out the back door of your home. The high end community of Artesia is right next door. When the west leg of Calgary’s ring road is completed in the next five years it will be far easier for Heritage Pointe residents to access the Trans-Canada west to the mountains.
Oakridge
The estates subdivision of Oakridge, a 40-year-old community in the south west, is located on the south side of the Glenmore Reservoir and is the ideal community for cross country ski enthusiasts and folks who like to snow shoe. South Glenmore Park and the Weaselhead Natural area are right out the door with several kilometres of trails to enjoy all winter long. The west leg of Calgary’s ring road will be open in a few year’s time, enabling Oakridge Estates residents quicker access to roads west to the mountains via Southland Drive. Getting south to Highway 2 towards Crow’s Nest Pass will also take less time once this freeway is completed.
Aspen Woods
In this West Calgary neighbourhood, the mountains appear so close you can almost touch them. You can almost feel the deep powder beneath your skiis. This community on the backside of the escarpment on Calgary’s western edge is the closest you’ll get to the Kananaskis and still be in the city limits. Aspen Woods has several country-estate style homes and is also where Calgary’s most expensive home is located. Both re-sale and new construction homes with many exciting new condo projects are available in Aspen Woods. A beautiful new community just 45 minutes away from Nakiska, the ski area created for the 1988 Winter Games.
Silver Springs
Another North West community with quick access to our westward highways and another fantastic area for cross country skiing. The Silver Springs Golf Course, Bowmont Natural Area and the BP Birthplace Forest in this neighbourhood offer both flat and hilly terrain and when those big flakes of snow start to fall the cross country trails grow quiet and still. Silver Springs was built in the 1970s with single-family homes and a variety of maintenance-free multi-family developments. A nice community for buyers of all ages.