Bones of the Elbow is set in Griffith Woods Park.
Griffith Woods Park is a 93-hectare natural environment park along the Elbow River in southwest Calgary. Created in 2000, it was named after Wilbur and Betty Griffith, who donated part of their estate to the city so the land could be preserved as a nature area.
The park is known for its flat walking trails, boardwalks, oxbow wetlands, and one of Calgary’s few large stands of mature white spruce. Balsam poplar, orchids, wetlands, and abundant birdlife make it feel more like a hidden forest than a city park.
It is also a particularly sensitive landscape. Griffith Woods borders Tsuut’ina Nation land, and the park’s trails, wetlands, and riverbanks are protected because of how easily the ecosystem can be damaged. Visitors are asked to stay on designated trails and respect fencing and signs near the Nation boundary.
With its wild river, dense forest, and layered history, Griffith Woods Park was a natural fit for Bones of the Elbow. It feels secluded and ancient even inside city limits, which makes it a powerful backdrop for a mystery about remains, memory, and jurisdiction.
Follow the investigation into remains uncovered along the Elbow River in Bones of the Elbow, Parks Pat Mystery #18.
