Paddling near Airdrie, Alberta

Airdrie sits in Rocky View County on Alberta's prairies, just north of Calgary, with the Canadian Rockies rising to the west. The paddling scene here revolves around the rivers draining out of that mountain front — the Bow River is the closest and most popular run, while Ghost Lake to the west near Cochrane draws stand-up paddleboarders. The Airdrie Kayak Club serves paddlers across Airdrie, Crossfield, and Cochrane, and Calgary-based outfitters and instruction programs are readily accessible to the south.