West of downtown Canmore the land quickly begins to rise and the town starts to thin out, so that by the time Spray Lakes Road has climbed to Canmore Nordic Centre, you’re only left with views of the urban area. This modern former Olympic facility provides more than 65km (37 miles) of groomed and track-set trails for both classic and...

Castle Mountain is Fernie’s most satisfying half-day hike and it’s one of it’s best mountain bike rides too – if you have the legs! The trail is interesting and varied, the views are spectacular, and there’s a satisfying summit too. This and the area below Castle Mountain is also an excellent place to bike early in the season and after...

Journey’s end for the scenic and mountainous Cavell Road – 24km from Jasper – via Hwy 93 & 93A – is a parking lot at the trailhead for the Mount Edith Cavell area. Here two marked trails lead into a valley from which a glacier retreated fairly recently to leave behind fragrant sub-alpine forest and flowery alpine meadows. The longer...

With few good mountain bike trails in the park, this is Waterton Lakes’ best circular ride, even though half is on access roads. But you get the roads out of the way early on, leaving a challenging climb and some lovely rolling singletrack to finish off. Start: Waterton, park on street. Directions (see map in photos): •Head north along the...

Every year around 9 meters (29 feet) of deep powdery snow settle in Fernie’s many wide mountain bowls, delighting skiers and making snowboarders rave. The terrain ranges from wide and easy green runs to daredevil chutes into lightly-wooded intermediate-level bowls where, on weekdays, you can often still find untracked powder snow at the end of the day. Fernie claims the...

Without question one of the best mountain biking destinations in the world, Fernie has so many mountain biking trails that you write a book about them. That’s why Fernie Mountain Bike Club has been involved in producing a slick book ($20) that’s well worth picking up at any local bike or outdoor store. Part of the proceeds fund all-important trail...

Scenic mountain bike ride with a bit of everything: town views, lakeside trails and plenty of singletrack. This is a good introduction to what Jasper has to offer fat tires without venturing far from town: and there are plenty of options to lengthen and shorten the well-marked trails too. Pick up a free trail map at the visitor centre or...

Superb ride that climbs above treeline for peerless prairie and Rocky Mountain views before a long twisty, rocky and rooty, but fast, descent. It’s a big ride that takes a lot of energy even if you shuttle it between the start and finish points (see map in entry photos). Without the shuttle, you’ll need to add a fairly shadeless 17km...

If you’ve seen the film Brokeback Mountain, you’ll already have seen some of the finest scenery in Kananaskis Country – since it was the location for much of it. Yet most first-time visitors to the region race straight from Calgary to Banff, ignoring Kananaskis Country, the dramatic foothills area that lines the eastern boundary of Banff National Park. Created out...

Step out of the Golden Eagle Gondola – the resort’s main lift – and it’s hard not to stop and gape at the remarkable pristine slopes that stretch ahead in a lofty wonderland of clouds and peaks. But what’s below just as seductive to skiiers and boarders looking for backcountry-style adventure, since the ski area encompasses many untamed open bowls,...

The Kimberley Nordic Club trail network lies beside Kimberley resort and encompasses 33km of track set trails with centre skating lanes, the longest loop being 7 km. Floodlit skiing is possible until 10pm and there’s a ice warm-up hut, with wood stove, drinking water, and free hot chocolate! The club website has a free downloadable map of the system which...

The Moonraker Trails just west of Golden have been built by locals in recent years to produce a superb 50km network of mountain bike trails. Huge climbs are absent but ups and downs frequent and the resulting singletrack trails are great fun to ride. Highlights are sections along the rim of steep-sided Canyon Creek at the southern end. But otherwise...

Great loop ride within a network of trails beloved by after-work riders from Calgary (1hrs’ drive). Don’t underestimate the ride though; there’s hard work involved. There are other options here too: for an easier ride stick to the south of the area, several shorter but reasonably technical trails head north from the lot, there is a good amount of signposting....

This loop takes in Musser’s Plateau trail, a superb but challenging trail with lots of rocky sections and steep stretches on narrow exposed trails. The more suspension the better! Start: From parking lot on North Star Drive, beside the resort lifts. (Pass resort on Gerry Sorensen Way and look for a left turn). Directions: A big grind up the face...

Cradled in a deep valley in the Purcell Mountains, Panorama’s ski area climbs a massive 4000 feet to offer some of the best seats in the house for views of the magnificent main spine of the Rockies – hence the resort’s name. But Panorama’s certainly not all about gazing into the distance, as below its windswept summit lies a virtual...

In winter the minor Pass Powderkeg ski hill offers a mere 14 runs, but these that span the range of abilities and are offered at prices far below that of nearby resorts like Fernie and Castle Mountain. But the real plus point is that the place is only lightly visited – making it a good tip for getting fresh tracks...

Swine Flu was built in 2009/2010 and became an instant classic. It’s sharp, steep and twisting, but doable climb leads to a viewpoint from where it’s downhill all the way on lovely flowing banked trails. It’s rated black but is pretty easy for the grade, if you’ve got the fitness… Start: Fernie Visitor Centre Directions: There are options, but the...

Built by local mountain bikers, this superb trail offers dozens of challenges and some great views from a canyon rim. Technically the trail is pretty straightforward, though it does have its steep and rocky ups and downs; but big climbs and descents are absent. There’s video footage of bikers on the trail here. Start: Park beside the Lillian Lake Rec...