Discover Black Diamond

Black Diamond offers several specific places to visit during your stay: the Friendship Trail, a dirt track for bicycles, an off-leash area for dogs, and local art offerings. The differences between these places range from a paved path for walkers, joggers, and cyclists to a dedicated bike track with rollers and banked turns.

Friendship Trail: Path, viewpoints, and history

The Friendship Trail trailhead is in Black Diamond. The gentle, paved path is 3 km long and is described as suitable for walkers, joggers, and cyclists. Viewpoints and secluded resting spots are located along the path. This gives the trail a different character from a single sports facility: the focus here is on a route with several features along the way.

The Friendship Trail also passes the site of the old McPherson coal mine. Scenic stopping points and a specific connection to mining history are among the trail's various features. If you are interested in both, you can assess the trail not only by its length and paved surface, but also by its viewpoints and the historic site it passes.

Cycling at Erma Joy Brown Park

The Diamond Valley Bike Pump Track is located in Erma Joy Brown Park in Black Diamond. The dirt track is designed for pedal-powered bicycles and has rollers and banked turns. This makes it quite different from the Friendship Trail: there, you can expect a 3 km paved path for several user groups; here, the track is designed specifically for cycling, with its own distinct layout. The Bike Pump Track is open from sunrise to sunset. Operating information can change, so check the hours before your visit.

Off-leash area by the Sheep River

The Black Diamond Dog Park is at the end of 2nd Street NW and is an off-leash area for dogs. A metal pedestrian bridge crosses a creek in the park; the park also offers direct access to the Sheep River. For travelers with a dog, the designated off-leash area is a different destination from the bike track or paved Friendship Trail. The bridge and river access are additional specific features of this park.

Local art and crafts

Bluerock Gallery in Black Diamond specializes in local visual art and crafts. Its offerings include ceramics, jewelry, and books. This makes the gallery a place to visit for travelers interested in art and handmade work as well as outdoor activities.

The Market in Black Diamond offers local art and homemade preserves. The retail selection can change; if a specific product is important to you, ask about the current selection before visiting. Together with the gallery, these two places showcase different aspects of local art, while the preserves at The Market add a connection to food.

The main attractions are easy to distinguish when choosing activities: the Friendship Trail offers a paved route with viewpoints and a connection to the old McPherson coal mine; the Pump Track is a dirt track for bicycles; and the Dog Park combines an off-leash area with a bridge and direct access to the Sheep River. You can explore art and crafts at Bluerock Gallery and The Market. This lets you plan your stay around the interests that matter most to you.

Discover more destinations: Okotoks, Beiseker, De Winton, Bragg Creek, Airdrie, Redwood Meadows, Calgary, Water Valley

For the broader travel overview: Division No. 6.