It's still only October, but thanks to COVID-19 and Calgary's fickle weather, it's time to start planning for winter. After a summer full of park picnics, patio meals and backyard hangouts, the arrival of cold weather and the wet stuff will require a pivot to winter-appropriate outdoor activities. And if the rush to snag home fitness gear and bikes this spring/summer was any indication, equipment for traditional winter sports might soon be hard to find.

Here are a few ways you can stay active and social in and around Calgary this winter:

Nose Hill Park looms large over Calgary's northwest – an expanse of unspoiled grassland enveloped by the vastness of an ever-evolving city. Nearly unchanged from the days when herds of buffalo roamed the Prairies, the park now serves as a stomping ground for the herds of Calgarians that jog, walk and bike their way around its 300 kilometres of trails every day.

An etiquette refresher for Calgarians on the move

Calgarians enjoy the largest urban pathway network in the country. Over 800 kilometres of pathways and 95 kilometres of trails throughout the city connect communities for a variety of users. As we approach the middle of another beautiful summer, it's a great time to review pathway etiquette for walkers, joggers, in-line skaters, pet owners and cyclists.