Living in Bowness, Calgary: Community Guide for Home Buyers

by George Brown

Quick answer: Bowness is a historic northwest Calgary community in the Bow River valley. It has older homes, newer infills and low-rise condos, its own main street and Bowness Park, one of the city's best-known parks.

I'm George Brown, a Calgary REALTOR® with LPT Realty. Here's what buyers should know about Bowness.

What it's like to live in Bowness

Bowness sits inside a bend of the Bow River, with the river on its north and east sides and 16 Avenue NW to the south. It was a separate town until it joined Calgary in 1964, and it still has a small-town feel, with shops and restaurants along Bowness Road.

Bowness Park is the big draw. It covers 30 hectares along the river, with paddle boating on the lagoon in summer and free outdoor skating in winter. Schools in the community include Bowness High School, Thomas B. Riley School, Belvedere Parkway School, Bowcroft School and Our Lady of the Assumption School.

Types of homes

About four in ten homes are detached houses, many of them bungalows from the 1960s and 1970s. You'll also find semi-detached homes, newer infills on older lots, and a good number of low-rise condos, which make up about a quarter of homes.

Getting around

16 Avenue NW and Stoney Trail are both close, so it's easy to head downtown or out to the mountains. Calgary Transit Route 1 runs from Bowness to downtown.

Who Bowness suits

Bowness suits people who want to live near the river and a big park, in a community with some history. It's a good fit for first-time buyers looking at condos or older homes, and for buyers who want to renovate or build an infill.

Buying tips for Bowness

Check flood risk. Parts of Bowness sit close to the Bow River. Look up the home on the City of Calgary's flood maps and ask your insurer about overland flood coverage before you firm up.
Inspect older homes carefully. Many homes here were built between 1961 and 1980. A good inspection should look at the foundation, electrical, plumbing and any past renovations, and whether permits were pulled.
Ask about infill nearby. New infills are going up on older lots. Check what's allowed on the lots beside the home so you're not surprised by a new build next door.

See homes for sale in Bowness

My Bowness homes for sale page shows every current listing, updated daily from the MLS®, plus live numbers on how many homes are for sale and the median asking price.

Browse current Bowness listings →

Thinking about buying or selling in Bowness?

I'm happy to walk you through the area, compare a few homes side by side, or tell you what your place could sell for. Call or text me at (403) 616-6309, or get a free home evaluation.