Experience Cycling in the Mountain Parks Just seconds into my descent down Superberm, one of the fastest, flowiest downhill mountain biking trails at Kicking Horse Resort, the exhileration, the fear, and the fun-factor goes off the charts. After hitting a few super-fast berms, I pop off a little jump and feel the wonder of weightless. (A really short, just-inches-off-the-ground flight, but it was a flight nonetheless!). Indeed, ripping down the mountainside on a full suspension bike is speaking to me. I’m definitely listening.
all abilities can enjoy. While the journey takes approximately two hours to complete, first-timers will want to stop numerous times to soak in the stunning views, linger at the viewpoints, and enjoy a few snacks along the way. Many people make it a full-day, there-and-back adventure, you can also make it a oneway trip and take a shuttle back to either Banff or Canmore. ROAM public transit offers regular shuttles (with your bike) to get you back to your starting point.
While mountain biking is one of the coolest and craziest things I’ve done in the mountains, I’ve long since realized that it certainly isn’t the only way to enjoy the mountains on two wheels. Far from it. From e-bikes to road bikes, and everything in between, there are tons of great biking adventures to be had in the mountains. And they all have plenty of merit. Here are four of the best biking excursions that the mountain parks have to offer. Fear not, none of them require mandatory air time. (With the exception of heli-biking, of course!)
The Old Coach Trail in Radium Hot Springs: Traversing high on arid benchlands – with spectacular views of the Columbia Valley Wetlands and the Purcell Mountains – the 9 km outand-back Old Coach Trail between Radium and Dry Gulch makes for an fun family-friendly bike ride. Although you will likely encounter some roots, rocks, and pitchy sections, the gravel trail is rated “green.” Travelled by cars and carriages over a hundred years ago, this trail features spectacular viewpoints and abandoned relics (mainly old cars rusting away in the trees!) of a long-gone era of coach and automobile travel.
Biking the Rocky Mountain Legacy Trail Between Canmore and Banff: Meandering in close proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway, the 22km paved pathway that links Canmore and Banff is a beautiful, family-friendly adventure that cyclists of
Mountain Biking in Golden: True, the downhill single-track trails at Kicking Horse Bike Park are phenomenal! However, Golden is fast-becomming a mountain biking Mecca for all genres of riding. Cross-country enthusiasts have a handful of
Photo Courtesy of Mike Nimmo at Kicking Horse Resort
Waterton Lakes National Park Photo Courtesy Travel Alberta / Katie Goldie
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Jasper National Park Photo Courtesy Ryan Bray
