The Best Mountain Biking Trails and Bike Parks in Alberta

Mountain biking is wildly popular throughout Alberta, from the height of the Canadian Rocky Mountains to the rolling prairies.

In the northern half of Alberta, the trails begin within riding distance of the provincial legislature in the capital city of Edmonton. The Edmonton River Valley is the largest urban parkland in North America and home to 160 km (99 mi) of maintained pathways. The park also includes an endless network of mountain bike trails that range from beginner to expert. Further afield, dedicated mountain bike parks are beginning to open in cities like Grande Prairie and smaller towns like Hinton and Edson.

Mountain bikers in Calgary usually travel west towards the Rocky Mountains, to places like Canmore, Bragg Creek and Crowsnest Pass. All three destinations offer a mix of machine-made, flow-style trails and technical single-track, along with standard beginner-rated double-track trails. These communities are home to thriving bike groups too, who develop new trails every year.

As trail networks continue to grow in every community, selecting the best rides becomes more difficult each year. These five rides are an introduction to the thriving mountain bike scene in Alberta.

High Rockies, Kananaskis

Ride highlight: This is a truly epic ride, combining purpose-built single-track and double-track trails with stunning views of the Canadian Rockies. A highlight of this 16.3 km (10.1 mi) trip includes the suspension bridge across Blackshale Creek and wide-open panoramas that will stop any cyclist in their tracks.

How to get there: The High Rockies trail parallels the Smith Dorrien Trail scenic highway between the Goat Creek trailhead and the Peninsula Day Use area. The Chester Lake parking lot, located 48 km (30 mi) from Canmore along the Smith-Dorrien Trail, is roughly the halfway point.

Lake Minnewanka Shoreside, Banff National Park

Ride highlight: The Minnewanka trail receives plenty of sunlight, so it's often the first snow-free trail in the spring and the last snow-free trail in the fall. Despite that, its riding season is still short, because it's closed to bikes from July 10 to September 15. When it is open, it's one of Alberta's best cross-country mountain bike trails. The singletrack traces the shoreline, offering stunning views towards Devil's Gap. Most riders opt for the 30 km (18.6 mi) out-and-back ride to the Warden Cabin; however, the trail can be extended beyond Banff National Park into the Ghost River Wilderness Area.

How to get there: From Banff, it's 10.1 km (6.3 mi) to Lake Minnewanka along Banff Avenue, which becomes the Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive when it crosses beneath the TransCanada Highway.

Merlin View, Bragg Creek

Ride highlight: Merlin View is a West Bragg Creek classic and the perfect introduction to mountain bikers riding this area for the first time. This 6.2 km (3.9 mi) singletrack is highlighted by easy-to-climb grades, sweeping corners and fun rollers, jumps and tabletops. It's an intermediate trail that can be ridden in either direction. Most riders opt to ride counter-clockwise, choosing the steeper climb and longer descent.

How to get there: Merlin View is accessed via the Braggin Rights trail, which begins at the West Bragg Creek Day Use Area, just 8.8 km (5.5 mi) west of Bragg Creek.

H2H (2018) - Black, Edmonton

Ride highlight: Located entirely within Edmonton's river valley, the H2H (2018) - Black route, which can be ridden in either direction, connects all the best river valley trails into a single ride while avoiding traffic lights and road crossings. It's predominantly a mix of beginner and intermediate trails, with a few expert sections mixed in to increase the difficulty.

How to get there: This 41.2 km (25.6 mi) point to point ride can be accessed from either the Strathcona Science Provincial Park in northeastern Edmonton or from Terwillegar Park in southwestern Edmonton.

Tree tracks off the beaten path

Hinton Bike Park, Hinton

Ride highlight: From skill areas called Dirt Jam and Drop Zone to flow trails named Stinger and Flow Master, the Hinton Bike Park has options for every rider. In total, the free mountain bike park offers 23 total trails: 11 green trails, eight blue trails and four black trails.

How to get there: The Hinton Bike Park parking area is along Robb Road, just 2 km (1.2 mi) from the TransCanada Highway.

Red Deer Mountain Bike Park, Red Deer

Ride highlight: Dirt jumps, constructed features and cross-country single-track are all at the Red Deer Mountain Bike Park. The three signature trails are all rated black, and each trail requires its own unique skill: Sweet 16 features 16 dirt jumps, Can of Worms combines teeter totters and machine-made turns, and Skinny Line has two North Shore-style wood features.

How to get there: The Red Deer Mountain Bike Park is east of Gaetz Avenue and west of Riverside Drive. The main parking area is located at the corner of 48 Avenue and 79 Street.

Nitehawk Adventure Park, Grande Prairie

Ride highlight: The Nitehawk Bike Park might be surrounded by the province's flat northeast prairies, but it is home to the most vertical of any bike park in Alberta. Either an annual pass or day pass is required to ride the trails, which includes either a shuttle service or lift access (depending on the day) to maximize downhill riding time. Hold Tight is a fun introduction to the area. This intermediate trail features a series of bermed corners and optional jumps and wood features.

How to get there: Nitehawk Bike Park is located 20 km (12.4 mi) outside Grande Prairie on Alberta Highway 666.

Need-to-know info for trail riding in Alberta

For visiting mountain bikers, there are a few things to keep in mind on an upcoming cycling trip to Alberta:

• Transporting a bicycle can be difficult. Some local bike shops and bike rental locations rent bike racks; however, it may be necessary to disassemble a bike and transport it inside rental vehicles.
• Bike rentals are widely available in Alberta, especially in the major riding destinations of Jasper, Banff, Canmore, Calgary and Edmonton. Finding rentals can be challenging in smaller communities.
• Helmets are recommended for all cyclists; however, they're legally required for anyone aged 17 or younger.
• Detailed information about most trail networks and individual trails can be found on Trailforks.com, a free biking resource popular across North America.
• Wildlife is abundant in Alberta, including black and grizzly bears. Mountain bikers are always encouraged to make noise while riding and carry bear spray.