When exploring a city by foot feels too daunting and sitting in a car feels too removed, there’s only one option: rent a bike.

And nowhere in North America is more suited to bikers than Calgary. The Canadian city in the province of Alberta has the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America, with over 600 miles of trail. The pathways run all over the city, connecting downtown Calgary to river deltas and the Bow River to the trendy Kensington neighborhood. Even part of the Trans Canada Trail, which runs from the Atlantic to the Pacific and is the longest network of multi-use recreational trails in the world, cuts through the city.

If there’s somewhere you want to visit in Calgary, chances are good there’s a bike trail that will get you there. 

To see the city from the saddle, you’ll need to first find a trusty steed. Pick up a bike from Joe’s Garage (conveniently located off the Bow River Pathway) or Bow Cycle and get ready to conquer Calgary’s bike-friendly trails. (You’ll see plenty of runners and walkers, but no motorized vehicles are allowed except powered wheelchairs.)

Below are a few local routes worth mentioning:

Rotary/Mattamy Greenway: The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway is likely the most impressive route on this list. The over 90-mile pathway encircles the city, passing through over a dozen parks. You can take on the full route, split it over a few days, or bike out and take transit home. The options are endless.

Bow River Pathway: To get the lay of the land, pedal along the Bow River, where you’ll get views of the skyline and pass through sites like the Peace Bridge, Edworthy Park, and the Kensington neighborhood. The latter is best known for its food, street art, shopping, and hip spots like Aggüdo, a coffee shop frequented by Mad Men star Jon Hamm while filming Fargo.) 

Nose Hill Park: When you need to escape the city and get lost in nature, head to Nose Hill Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America. It may be technically an “urban” park, but the quiet preserve north of downtown Calgary will make you feel like you are miles out of the city. 

Glenmore Reservoir: The Glenmore Reservoir is around 30 minutes south of downtown Calgary by bike and is well worth the journey into the southwestern part of the city. A 10-mile bike path loops around the reservoir, which happens to be one of Calgary’s largest bodies of water, and passes through Weaselhead Flats, a delta that will make you feel as though you’re in the middle of nowhere — not the heart of Calgary.