Things To Do With Your Kids – The Watcher Woods

Sep 5, 2019

3 min read

I’ve mentioned before about how we love to spend time in Fish Creek Park. There’s so much to explore and it’s great for casual walks, aggressive mountain bike rides and everything in between. I’ve written about our favourite places, how to get to the ice caves and now I want to tell you about a section of Fish Creek that I didn’t know existed, despite the fact that I have been going to Fish Creek for over 20 years.

The “Watcher Woods” is a small section of Fish Creek Park where the trees have been adorned with little carved wooden faces. There are a series of teepees and lean-tos and the best part is no one knows who put this all there. Clara found it really cool, and as her and Ryker grow I can picture their imaginations running wild.

First, let me start off by saying that I did not name this section The Watcher Woods. I, in fact, find that name a little spine tingling. But that is how it was described to me by Holly from Swim Kids Calgary, so that is the name we will go with.

Second, I need to preface this post with the fact that I found this VERY hard to find. I went down on three separate occasions by myself and was unable to find it. Eventually I had to resort to asking for a guide and Holly and her dad were kind enough to lead the way.

So with that in mind, I will do my very best to explain how to get there. I’ve included lots of pictures as well as a screenshot of my Google Maps as I was standing in them. I took the pictures of the trails in August of 2019. Being that it’s nature, the exact look and location of trails could change over time. You can carry these instructions with you as you go if you’d like, but part of the fun is getting lost and trying to find your way.

How to get to the Watcher Woods in Fish Creek Park

The Watcher Woods is located in between the Bebo Grove and Marshall Springs Fish Creek Park entrances. You could get to it from either direction. We went down via Marshall Springs, but I got so turned around that the direction you get there from really doesn’t matter.

First, let me start with the screen shot of my Google Maps as I was standing in the forest. This will give you an idea of where it is.

You don’t truly know the panic of a 1% battery till you’re a diabetic, alone in the Watcher Woods

From Marshall Springs you follow the paved path down until the paved path forks. Take the right fork and follow that. You’ll see a mountain bike sign post on your left. If you get to the bridges you’ve gone too far.

Now, there are a couple of ways to enter the forest. There’s a single track mountain bike entrance, complete with sign post. There’s a couple of small walking paths as well. These pictures were taken when Clara and I entered by the bench. I know that’s vague. I’m sorry.

The entrance by the mountain bike sign post

The entrance Clara and I used. The bench is just to the right of this.

Once in the forest, you’ll want to take this path

Then this path

When you’re here you want to take the path on the right.

If you’ve meandered this far (it’s not a long distance, Clara easily did it) you’ll suddenly come upon the Watcher Woods, BUT it’s likely the first thing you’ll notice is this:

If you’re staring at this, at the same angle that I took this picture, then the faces on the trees are located behind you. Who put this here? Do people stay in it? Is it remnants from Charles Ng? These are the creepy questions I chose to ask myself while there.

Finally, here are some of the things you’ll find in the Watcher Woods. Clara loved them, especially the bear and the tiny fairy door. I haven’t posted all the faces here, those are for you to discover 🙂