Note: as of Aug 7th, 2022 there is road upgrading being done on Horse Creek Road so this route it not paved the whole way as a result.
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Distance: 81 km
Estimated time: 4 hours based on cycling speed of 20 km/hr
Continue reading “Cochrane to Water Valley out and back”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate with option for a Beginner ride by turning around at Madden
Distance: 69.4 km
Estimated time: 3.5 hours based on 20 km/hr cycling speed
Continue reading “Goldenrod, Madden, Dog Pound Panhandle”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Beginner to Intermediate
Distance: 55.6 km
Estimated time: This ride takes approximately 3 hours Based on cycling speed of 20 km/hr
Continue reading “Canmore – Lake Minnewanka Loop via the Legacy Trail (Spring Road Closure Option)”It is possible to connect from Canmore to Lake Louise through bike pathways, low volume side roads, and the Bow Valley Parkway to experience a variety of biking options that are pretty much limitless. The following are just a few of the possibilities.
2022 Biking Season: The Bow Valley Parkway will be closed to motorized traffic for a portion of this year. This is an amazing opportunity to cycle this historic route without having to worry about sharing the road with cars. Please check with Parks Canada to verify the timing of the closure. According to the latest press release (May 3, 2022) ‘the section of the Bow Valley Parkway east of Johnston Canyon to Banff will remain open to public vehicles EXCEPT from May 1 to June 25 and from September 1 to 30 in 2022, 2023 and 2024 where public vehicles will not be allowed (as part of the 3 year cycling pilot on the Highway 1A).’
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Distance: 80 Km
Estimated time: Based on cycling speed of 20 Km per hour it would take roughly 4 hours
Continue reading “Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise, Route Combinations”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Beginner to Intermediate
Distance: 55 Km
Estimated time: Based on cycling speed of 20 Km per hour it would take roughly 3 hours.
Continue reading “Priddis to Black Diamond : A Peaceful Foothills Escape”
Note: As of June 3, 2021 the road surface is not as good as in past years. For the North gate to Summit route there are sections of rough pavement as well as a few herds of mountain sheep to contend with on your swift descent. Our current recommendation, is to do this route from the South gate to the Summit as the road is in better condition. On Sunday, June 12, 2021 there were cyclists reporting that it was snowing at the summit.
Ride Difficulty Rating: Expert , also an expert level of logistics and planning required!!
Distance: 98.9 km…darn, just shy of a metric century ride
Estimated time: 5 hours based on cycling speed of 20 km/hr, but you might be quite a bit faster because there is quite a long descent on this route.
Continue reading “Highwood Pass: Through Route to Longview; Gate to Gate to Gate; Kananaskis (North Gate) to Summit; Longview to Summit; South Gate to Summit…the options are endless”Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Distance: 58.5 km
Estimated time: 3 hours assuming 20 km/hr
Continue reading “Nanton to Chain Lakes – More Details Coming Soon”
Note: as of Aug 7th, 2022 there is road upgrading being done on Horse Creek Road so this route it not paved the whole way as a result.
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate to Expert
Distance: 64.6 Km
Estimated time: Based on cycling speed of 15 Km per hour it would take roughly 4 hours. Hilly terrain justifies a lower average speed.
Continue reading “Grand Valley to Bottrel : Foothills Challenge”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Beginner to Intermediate
Distance: 47.3 Km
Estimated time: 2.5 hrs (based on cycling speed of 20 km/hr)
Continue reading “Brown Lowery Millarville Loop Trip”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Distance: 71.5 Km
Estimated time: 3.5 Hrs (Based on cycling speed of 20 km/hr )
Continue reading “Rosebud Loop – Prairie Challenge”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Beginner to Intermediate
Distance: 47.7 Km
Estimated time: 3.5 Hrs Based on cycling speed of 15 km/hr (Incl. Ferry crossing and steep climb up the embankment)
Continue reading “Badlands Tour – Drumheller Dinosaur Trail”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Distance: 66.8 Km
Estimated time: 3.5 to 4 Hrs based on average of 20 km/hr (assuming some stops along the way)
Continue reading “Carstairs Loop – Spectacular Farmland Vistas”Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate
Distance: 101.7 km (or round it to 100 km! and call it a century ride)
Expected time: 5 hours based on 20 km / hour average cycling time
Continue reading “Century Ride from Turner Valley”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Intermediate
Distance – 58.7 km
Elevation Gain – 470 km
Maximum Grade – Uphill grade 3.3% at km 19.3 , downhill grade 3.2% at km 52.6 just before you turn south off Twp Rd 292 onto RR 35
Continue reading “Madden-Water Valley-Cremona (Short Version)”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Intermediate
Distance – 72.3 km
Estimated cycling time: Just over 3.5 hours based on an average 20 km/hr speed
Continue reading “Madden – Water Valley – Cremona”
Ride Difficulty Rating: Intermediate due to the distance
Distance: 84.3 km
Estimated time: 4 hours and 15 minutes based on cycling speed of 20 km/hr
Continue reading “Sundre to Bearberry”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Intermediate
Distance – 52.7 Km pan handle loop
Estimated Cycling time – 3.5 hours
Continue reading “Road to Nepal”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Intermediate due to the steep grades…not due to distance
Distance – 38.3 Km out and back
Estimated cycling time – 2 hours
Continue reading “Allen Bill to Forget me not Pond”
Spring/Summer/Fall 2022: Part of this route is closed to motor vehicle traffic this year which provides a unique opportunity to cycle the Bow Valley Parkway without any motor vehicle traffic. Check the Parks Canada website before heading out. As of the latest public notice (May 3, 2022) the section of the ‘Bow Valley Parkway east of Johnston Canyon to Banff will remain open to public vehicles EXCEPT from May 1 to June 25 and from September 1 to 30 in 2022, 2023 and 2024 where public vehicles will not be allowed (as part of the 3 year cycling pilot on the Highway 1A).’
All Creatures Great and Small!
Bow Valley Parkway cyclist reported both a black bear and a grizzly bear along the trail on the May long weekend. Be prepared and cycle in groups and bring your bear spray. CBC reported that Bow Valley Parkway cyclists are asked to mindful of salamanders crossing the road. So while you are scanning the horizon for the bears also take a look in your immediate road ahead for these little guys.
Ride Difficulty Rating – Beginner or Intermediate. The majority of this ride has grades less than 2%, and as an out and back you can always turn back at any point. It is a nice gradual uphill ride but just 5 km out from Lake Louise there is a steep uphill grade to the turn off to Lake Louise, then a steep downhill grade into town.
Distance – 111 km out and back
Estimated cycling time – 5.5 hours assuming 20 km/hr
Continue reading “Banff to Lake Louise (Bow Valley Parkway Hwy 1A)”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Beginner for shorter route, Intermediate with add on.
Distance – 44.1 Km out and back (with short loop near the end), 52.3 km with Cochrane hill alternative extension for Intermediate and Expert riders
Estimated cycling duration – Just over 2 hours…
Continue reading “Mountain View – Bearspaw to Cochrane Out and Back”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Beginner for short loop, Intermediate with the optional extension
Distance – 49.2 km circle route, option for an additional 44.0 km out and back
Estimated cycling time – 2.5 hours with out the extension
Continue reading “Sundre Timber Trail With Optional Extension on the Burnt Timber Road”
Ride Difficulty Rating – Intermediate and Expert
Elevation Gain – 848 m
Distance – 49.7 Km combination of loops and out and back routes
Estimated cycling time – 3 hours due to steep grades
Continue reading “Four Hills of Banff”
Cycle Alberta 