Calgary/Northwest

Northwest Calgary is in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Kensington, which surrounds the intersection of Kensington Road and 10 Street NW across the Louise Bridge from downtown (in the neighbourhoods of Hillhurst and Sunnyside), offers an inner-city experience with many independent shops, restaurants and pubs. Montgomery and Bowness are former towns that amalgamated with Calgary in the 1960s, but still have a small-town feel; both communities are along Bowness Road with Montgomery on the north/east side of the Bow River, and Bowness on the west/south side of the Bow River (north of 16 Ave NW/Trans-Canada Highway).

Understand
Northwest Calgary is a large quadrant with urban and suburban qualities.

By CTrain
Northwest Calgary is served by the CTrain Red Line, part of the light rail transit system operated by Calgary Transit. Leaving downtown, it travels past a number of the major landmarks, before travelling down the centre of Crowchild Trail near the University of Calgary, to Tuscany station at the edge of the city. Stops of interest include (from east to west):


 * Sunnyside: connects to Kensington.
 * SAIT/ACAD/Jubilee: connects to SAIT, the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly ACAD), and the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium.
 * Banff Trail: connects to McMahon Stadium and Motel Village.
 * University: connects to the University of Calgary.
 * Brentwood: transit hub with numerous bus connections; alternate access to the University of Calgary.
 * Crowfoot: connects to the large Crowfoot Crossing shopping complex.
 * Tuscany: connects to the neighborhoods of Tuscany, Royal Oak and Rocky Ridge; north terminus of the Red Line

By bus
Northwest Calgary is connected to other parts of the city by Calgary Transit. The following routes are good ways to get in and around:


 * MAX Orange (#303): express bus with limited stops; runs down 16 Avenue NW (east of West Campus Blvd), connecting Northeast Calgary with Brentwood CTrain station.
 * #301 (BRT): express bus with limited stops; runs down Centre Street/Harvest Hills Blvd, connecting City Centre with North Pointe Park & Ride (Harvest Hills Blvd & Country Village Way NE).
 * #305 (BRT): express bus with limited stops; runs down Bowness Road and Kensington Road, connecting City Centre with WinSport (Canada Olympic Park).
 * #1: runs down Bowness Road and Kensington Road, connecting City Centre with Bowness Park.
 * #3: runs down Centre Street south of 78 Avenue N, connecting to City Centre.
 * #4: southbound from Northeast Calgary along 10 Street NW, continues to City Centre (reverse of #5).
 * #5: northbound from City Centre along 10 Street NW, continues into Northeast Calgary and returns to City Centre (reverse of #4).
 * #19: runs down 16 Avenue NW (east of 19 Street NW), continuing into Northeast Calgary.

By car
Northwest Calgary is the region most influenced by topography, with the Bow River and eastern extent of the foothills causing streets to depart from the traditional grid and limited connections to other areas of the city, especially further away from the city centre. Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway) passes east–west through Northwest Calgary along 16 Avenue NW. Highway 1A (Crowchild Trail) runs northwest–southeast beyond 24 Avenue NW. Stoney Trail (Highway 201), Calgary's ring road, connects to other regions of the city, but ends at Highway 1 on the west side of the city.

Crowchild Trail is the main freeway through Northwest Calgary, and during off-peak times is the best way from Southwest Calgary and the City Centre (via Bow Trail), with 14 Street NW and Centre Street serving as good alternative routes into downtown. Memorial Drive, 16 Avenue NW (Highway 1), John Laurie Boulevard/McKnight Boulevard, Beddington Trail, and Country Hills Boulevard are major routes that connect to Northeast Calgary.

Take-out only restaurants
These food outlets have no tables inside. You pick up your order and take it away to eat elsewhere: your hotel room, your car, a picnic table at a park.

Cafés
Starbucks and Tim Horton's are everywhere in Calgary. If you're looking for something different, try one of these.

Stay safe
All hospitals operate 24-hour emergency departments.