These trees are part of a birthplace forest planted in 2007 for all of the children born that year. The neat thing about these forests is the diversity of tree species planted. How many different kinds of trees can you spot as you walk?

Watch for evergreen coniferous (cone-bearing) trees like the often-confused spruce and pine. Spruces are the ones that look like Christmas trees and have a cone shape. Their needles are short and come straight out of the branch. Pine have much longer needles, which are usually bundled in groups.

When in doubt, you can shake hands with a tree branch and see how it feels. Is it a:

• Spiky spruce
• Pokey pine
• Friendly fir
• Lovely larch

As you continue down the path, it will veer to the left, and you will see a less distinct path heading off to the right. Take this right-hand path to stay on the guided walk route.

You will soon approach the creek bed, imagining the city disappearing around you. Instead, you are surrounded by an open prairie, like the First Nations people who used to use this space long ago. You may have even seen herds of bison grazing in the distance. The prairie winds can be harsh, but this valley offers protection from the elements.

Though it may not look diverse, the grasslands around you are essential ecosystems. Originally, this was all native prairie grassland, which is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world, with only 3% remaining. An essential part of this ecosystem is the Fescue or bunch grasses. They were one of the primary food sources for the herds of Bison that once roamed this area. In order to survive in the dry summer sun, these grasses have developed roots that can go down six feet or more! This makes Fescue very resilient to grazing.

Creeks and rivers are often considered almost alive in that they are continually moving and changing. Over time, this creek has flooded, bent, and changed course many times. This is important when uncovering how this area was used in the past. Floods stir up soil and silt and deposit it in other areas. In the same way that rings in a tree can tell us about each year in that tree's life, these deposits can tell us a lot about the life of the creek and the people and animals that have used it over time. West Nose Creek Park is home to several different archaeological sites. Evidence of campsites, bison bones, and pieces of tools have been found in the area. Along with oral histories, these pieces of evidence help us to have a better understanding of the historical importance of this area. 

Many of the steep hillsides along West Nose Creek are covered in native shrubs. You might see species like Saskatoon, silverberry, northern gooseberry, Canada buffaloberry and wild rose. This diversity of bushes is excellent to have, not just for the beauty of the species but for the habitat. May small songbirds find food and nests in the bushes on these slopes. Listen for the "sweet-sweet-sweet-I'm-so-sweet" of the yellow warbler, the distinct "meow" of the grey catbird, or the melodic squeaky chirping of an American goldfinch. If it isn't too noisy during your visit, consider coming back at dawn or dusk to hear the symphony on the hill. 

Take a moment to observe the creek and listen to it trickling along.

While stopping on or near the bridge, set a one-minute timer, then pause, look, and listen to everything around you. How many sounds did you hear? Did you notice any new wildlife? How about insects?

We don't always notice insects until we slow down. Many insects in the park start their life cycles in the water or on the creek's shore. They eventually hatch into their adult stage and take flight. These insects are food that keeps lots of other animals healthy, but they can tell us a lot about how healthy the creek is, too. When we see an insect that we know only survives in very healthy water, we call it an indicator species. It indicates that the creek is clean and healthy. Some water quality indicator species to look for are mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies.

The northern harrier is a common bird of prey seen in this park. It is unique because it is an adaptation usually used only by owls. This adaptation or unique physical feature is its disc shaped face. The facial-disc helps to trap sound, so the harrier can hear small rodents moving in the grass as it floats low over the prairies. Watch for this bird of prey flying low or standing on the ground. They build their nests on the ground amongst the prairie grasses — so it is a good idea to keep them safe by staying on the trail and keeping your dog on a leash. 

Look to your left as you cross the bridge, and you will see an exposed creek bank with small holes. These holes are dug by little birds called bank swallows. The males dig the holes, then the females build the nest inside. This an excellent place for them to nest because it has good protection from predators and has lots of food provided by the creek. Bank swallows are specialists in eating flying insects, but to do this, they have to be incredible acrobats in the air.  Watch for them flying around above West Nose Creek. A creek-side condo means fresh food outside your door when you’re a bank swallow. 

The tall grass in this park is excellent camouflage for one of our urban predators - the coyote. Coyotes benefit from the productive creek habitat by eating mice and voles. Coyotes are generally shy when they see humans. If you are concerned about walking in a park that coyotes call home, just remember to keep your pets on a leash, make lots of noise and wave your arms if a coyote approaches. Generally, you needn't be concerned about coyotes; instead, enjoy admiring these adaptive hunters. If you are lucky enough to see a coyote hunt, you will notice them using their big ears to listen carefully, their long snout to sniff the air, and their quick wits to pounce on their prey. Imagine finding and catching a mouse with your bare hands. We would dare you to try, but let’s leave them for the coyotes and northern harriers.

If you have extra time, consider taking the paved pathway to this awe-inspiring feature. This split rock has been here for thousands of years since a glacier dropped it as the glacier melted away. When you find a big rock all on its own, like this one, it is likely left by a glacier, and so given the name glacial erratic. Over time, this rock has split from a freeze-thaw weathering cycle. It was likely also used by bison to rub off their winter wool. See if you can walk through the middle or take a back scratch like a bison.