Downhill Karting Calgary: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

Downhill Karting is one of Calgary’s best summer activities and is always one of our go-to attractions when friends visit with their kids.

We’ve been four times and have had a fantastic experience on every visit. Interestingly, it’s operated by the same company behind the Skyline Luge in Queenstown, New Zealand, which we enjoyed during our 100-day family sabbatical.

It’s a great activity for children of all ages. Younger kids can ride tandem with an adult, while children aged six and older who meet the height requirements can drive their own kart. Our kids started out riding with us and then wanted to drive themselves once they felt comfortable.

A Quick Bit of History: What Is COP?

Downhill Karting is located at WinSport's Canada Olympic Park, better known to locals as the "COP". The site played a major role in the 1988 Winter Olympics, hosting events including ski jumping, bobsleigh, and luge when Calgary first welcomed the Games.

If you've seen the film Cool Runnings, you might recognize the COP. The movie was loosely based on the real Jamaican Bobsled Team, who made their Olympic debut in Calgary in 1988, and many of the bobsleigh scenes were filmed right here on COP's sliding track.

Even better, the bobsled used in the movie is still on display outside the Day Lodge, making it a fun photo stop before or after your ride.

COP remains a busy year-round destination. In winter, it's one of Calgary's most popular spots for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing, while summer brings mountain biking and Downhill Karting.

Downhill Karting itself only runs from May to October, and it's closed over the winter. Hours vary throughout the season and are weather-dependent, so it's worth checking the current hours before you head out, especially if the forecast looks unsettled.

Note: There's no single pass that covers everything at COP. WinSport sells separate passes for its winter activities and mountain biking, while Downhill Karting has its own ticket packages (which I'll cover below). If you're planning to do more than one activity during your visit, you'll need to book each one separately.

Where to go on Arrival

When you arrive, head to the Downhill Karting base area to check in, pay (if you haven't already pre-paid), and collect your helmet. There's plenty of parking on site, so you shouldn't need to worry about finding a spot.

One thing that might not be obvious when you first visit is that you don't enter through the Day Lodge (pictured above).

Instead, the Downhill Karting entrance is located to the right of the building, where you will see green and black signage (see photo below).

Walk up the path to the ticket booth to collect your physical pass, which will be scanned at the chairlift entrance. Staff can also answer any questions about ticket options, height requirements, and tandem riders.

Using the Calgary Attractions Pass

We used the free Calgary Attractions Pass for this visit, which is a digital pass from Tourism Calgary that unlocks discounts at participating attractions around the city, including Downhill Karting. If you're planning to visit a few attractions while you're in Calgary, it also includes deals at places like the Calgary Zoo, Calgary Tower, and TELUS Spark, so it's well worth signing up for the grand total of zero dollars.

Each offer can only be redeemed once per pass, and you'll need to show it in person when you check in, so the only downside is that you can't book and pre-pay for your tickets in advance.

The Downhill Karting offer gives you three rides for $33, saving $5 off the regular adult price of $38.

2026 Pricing

Ticket packages are based on the number of rides you'd like to do. We've always opted for the 3-ride package, but there are a few different options depending on how long you want to spend on the hill.

• 2 Rides: Child $31 / Adult $34

• 3 Rides: Child $34 / Adult $38

• 4 Rides + 1 Digital Photo: Child $40 / Adult $44

• Pee Wee Rider: $12 unlimited rides (for children over 2 years old and between 85 cm and 110 cm tall)

Safety Requirements

To ride solo, children must be at least 6 years old and 110 cm tall, with both requirements applying. Kids aged 2+ who are between 85 cm and 110 cm can still join the fun by riding tandem with a paying adult.

If your child is right on the height or confidence threshold, I'd suggest booking the 3-ride package. Use the first run as a tandem ride so they can get a feel for the course, then decide whether they'd like to tackle the remaining runs on their own.

After checking in, you'll need to pick up a helmet before heading up the chairlift. Helmets are included and are mandatory for all riders. There are five different sizes to choose from.

Before your first run, staff will give you a quick safety briefing. They'll sit you in the kart and show you how to start, stop, and steer, then make sure you're comfortable with the controls before sending you off. The whole process only takes a minute or two.

Once you've completed your first ride, you'll receive a hand stamp that allows you to use the faster repeat-rider line for the rest of your runs, which makes the second and third trips up the hill much quicker.

Downhill Karting Calgary Experience

You start by taking the chairlift to the top of the hill. Each chair seats up to three people and offers great views of Calgary, along with a close-up look at the old Olympic ski jump towers. The ride only takes a few minutes, but it's all part of the adventure, especially for kids.

One tip from experience: when getting off the chairlift, wait until you reach the green line before stepping off. Jess got off a little early and took a tumble, so we've already learned that lesson for you!

There can be a queue to get on a kart, especially for your first run of the day when you need to complete the mandatory training and receive your stamp. Weekends tend to be busier, but in our experience, the wait times are generally quite reasonable.

Once you're at the top, it's time for the fun part. The karts are gravity-powered and easy to use. Our kids, aged 9 and 11, had no trouble riding them, and most children quickly get the hang of it.

The track is 1.8 km long with more than 50 turns as it winds its way down the hillside. There are some tighter corners and a few chicanes where you'll need to slow down, but that's all part of the fun. The karts handle well, although I have seen a few people lift a wheel when taking corners too quickly.

Most riders are sensible, but some people do like to go fast, which can feel a little intimidating for less confident riders. That said, you can easily control your speed and take the course at your own pace. There are also plenty of opportunities to pull over and let faster riders pass.

The track surface is generally smooth, although there are a few bumps along the way. After a couple of runs, the vibrations can make your hands a little sore, so biking gloves are worth bringing if you have them.

This photo was taken during our trip to New Zealand, but the karts you'll ride are identical

At the bottom, you'll either head back to the chairlift for another run, if your pass includes multiple rides, or return your helmet and finish up for the day.

Don't forget to check out the photo area. Photos are taken automatically during your ride and can be viewed at the end by scanning the image on the side of your helmet. If you spot a photo you like, you can purchase and download it as a souvenir of your run. A single digital photo costs $9, but the larger packages work out to a lower price per photo.

If you've purchased a 4-ride pass, one digital photo is included and can be redeemed at no additional cost.

Is It Worth It For Families?

Yes, 100%.

This is one of the best family activities in Calgary, and the fact that we keep coming back (this is visit number 4 now) says it all. It works brilliantly for families with kids, with plenty of fun for every age we've brought along.

If you're deciding which package to go for, we think that 3 rides is the sweet spot, enough to get comfortable, build some speed, and actually enjoy it without overdoing it.

As mentioned earlier, it's worth grabbing the Calgary Attractions Pass before you go. It's free and genuinely worth having, even if you're only planning to use it for this one attraction.

All in, the whole visit takes around an hour and a half for the standard 3-ride package, including the safety briefing and time between runs.

If you're planning a longer Calgary trip, this fits perfectly into our 2 Day Itinerary for Exploring Calgary, as well as all of our Alberta content here, which covers everything from Waterton Lakes and Drumheller to our favourite Rockies hikes.