The short answer
Tom Campbell's Hill is an open, unfenced off-leash hilltop in NE Calgary above Bridgeland and Renfrew, near 13 Street NE and Centre Avenue NE. Its claim to fame is the best downtown skyline view of any off-leash park in the city, and it stays quieter than Nose Hill. It is unfenced, so it needs a dog with reliable recall. There are coyotes and no water, so bring your own and stay coyote-aware at dawn and dusk. A real plus: the hill drains fast, so it is often the clean, dry option when the river parks are muddy. One of the NE's best off-leash spaces.
Quick Facts
| Park | Tom Campbell's Hill off-leash area, NE Calgary |
| Size | ~27 hectares of open hilltop |
| Fenced? | No; recall needed |
| Views | Best downtown skyline view of any Calgary off-leash park |
| Location | 13 St NE @ Centre Ave NE (above Bridgeland/Renfrew) |
| Water for dogs | None (bring your own) |
| Ground | Drains fast, dries quicker than river parks |
| Wildlife | Coyotes present |
| Parking | Lot at the base |
| Off-leash bylaw fine | $100 if dog not under control |
Where It Is & The Views
Tom Campbell's Hill rises above the Bridgeland and Renfrew communities in NE Calgary, near 13 Street NE and Centre Avenue NE, looking out over the Bow River valley toward downtown. Park at the lot at the base and walk up. The reward at the top is the view: the downtown towers laid out below you and the river valley in front, which makes this a favourite for sunrise and sunset walks and for photos.
Because it is smaller and less famous than Nose Hill, it also tends to be quieter, even on weekends. For anyone in the inner NE, that combination of open space, real views, and smaller crowds is hard to beat. Standard Calgary off-leash rules apply here, set out in the City of Calgary Responsible Pet Ownership Bylaw.
Is It Right for Your Dog?
Dogs with reliable recall
A great fit. Open hilltop space for a good run, big views for you, and usually a calmer crowd than the marquee parks. If your recall is solid, this is a lovely daily walk.
Dogs without reliable recall or new rescues
Not yet. It is unfenced with coyotes around, so a dog that ignores recall can get into trouble fast. Keep a long line on, or use a fenced area like Sue Higgins while you train. Give a new rescue its settling time and reliable recall first.
Small dogs
Use judgement. The open, unfenced hilltop plus coyotes means keeping a small dog close, especially at dawn and dusk. In daylight on a well-used route it is generally fine, but a fenced park with a small-dog section, like Connaught, is the safer bet for a nervous little dog.
Coyotes & What to Bring
Like Calgary's other natural hilltop parks, Tom Campbell's Hill has resident coyotes. They usually keep their distance, but the sensible habits are worth repeating: leash your dog the moment you spot one, never let it chase, make yourself big and loud if a coyote approaches, back away slowly rather than running, and keep small dogs close. Dawn and dusk are the highest-activity windows.
And because there is no water and little shade up top, always bring your own water and a collapsible bowl, keep summer visits shorter in the heat, and in winter jacket a short-coated dog against the exposed hilltop wind.
Hours & Best Times
- Hours: 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM daily
- Quietest: weekday mornings
- Best for views: sunrise and sunset (be coyote-aware at dusk)
- Shoulder season: a top pick after rain or snowmelt, since it drains fast while river parks are muddy
- Winter: exposed and windy up top, so jacket a short-coated dog
Rules & Etiquette
- Under control at all times. $100 fine if your dog is not.
- Pathways are on-leash. Leash up on the connecting paths.
- Leash up for coyotes. The moment you see one.
- Pick up every time. Bag it and carry it out.
- Licence your dog. Mandatory over three months old.
Nearby Alternatives
- Want the bigger prairie hike? Nose Hill Park is the larger open option (also unfenced, also with coyotes).
- Need a fence? Sue Higgins Park in the SE is the largest fully fenced option, with river swimming too.
- Want water? River Park on the Elbow and Sue Higgins on the Bow both offer swimming.
Just adopted, and not sure which park yet?
Match the park to your dog before you head out. Our full guide ranks every Calgary off-leash park with a “best for X” matrix, from first-time and reactive dogs to big-space runners.
See the full Calgary off-leash guide →Tom Campbell's Hill FAQ
Is Tom Campbell's Hill off-leash, and is it fenced?
It is an off-leash area but it is not fenced. Tom Campbell's Hill is an open grassy hilltop in NE Calgary where dogs run off-leash with big city views, but there is no perimeter fence. That makes it a good choice for a dog with reliable recall and a poor one for a dog that might bolt. If you need containment, use a fully fenced park like Sue Higgins in the SE or the Bowmont fenced field in the NW.
Where is Tom Campbell's Hill and where do I park?
It sits above the Bridgeland and Renfrew area in NE Calgary, near 13 Street NE and Centre Avenue NE, overlooking the Bow River valley and downtown. There is a parking lot at the base, and because the hill is a bit of a local secret compared to Nose Hill, it is often less crowded even on weekends.
Are the views from Tom Campbell's Hill really that good?
Yes. This is one of the best downtown skyline viewpoints in the city, which is a big part of why people love walking a dog here. It is a favourite for sunrise and sunset walks and for photos, with the towers of downtown laid out below and the river valley in front of you. On a clear day you can see a long way west.
Are there coyotes at Tom Campbell's Hill?
Yes. Like most of Calgary's natural hilltop parks, Tom Campbell's Hill has coyotes, and owners report sightings, most often around dawn and dusk. They usually keep their distance, but leash your dog the moment you see one, do not let it give chase, and keep small dogs close. Skipping the dawn and dusk windows lowers the odds of an encounter.
Is there water for dogs at Tom Campbell's Hill?
No. There is no drinking fountain and no river access up on the hill, and there is little shade. Bring your own water and a bowl, and keep summer visits shorter in the heat. If your dog wants to swim, River Park on the Elbow or Sue Higgins on the Bow are the nearer options with water.
Is Tom Campbell's Hill a good option for NE Calgary dogs?
It is one of the better ones. The NE has fewer large natural off-leash areas than the NW or SW, so for anyone in Bridgeland, Renfrew, or the surrounding communities, Tom Campbell's Hill is a genuine local gem: open space, real views, and it is rarely as packed as the big-name parks.
Does the ground dry out fast after rain or snowmelt?
Yes, and that is one of its quiet advantages. The hill drains well, so it firms up faster than the low-lying river parks that turn to mud in spring melt and after heavy rain. When Bowmont or River Park are a muddy mess, Tom Campbell's Hill is often the drier, cleaner walk.
What is the best time to visit, and what are the rules?
Weekday mornings are quietest, and sunrise or sunset gives the best views (just be coyote-aware at dusk). In winter the exposed hilltop is windy and cold, so jacket a short-coated dog. The rules are the standard Calgary off-leash rules: your dog must stay under verbal or visual control, there is a $100 fine if it does not, connecting pathways are on-leash, you pick up every time, and a City licence is mandatory over three months old.