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A classic after-work ride featuring amazing views.


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Map Key

9.4

Miles

15.2

KM

80%

Singletrack

6,057' 1,846 m

High

4,520' 1,378 m

Low

1,838' 560 m

Up

1,838' 560 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

28%

Max Grade (15°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Usually good from May to November.

Overview

This is one of the classic old school XC loops in the Calgary area: non-technical climbing rewarded with a nice long descent. The 2013 flood damage has been fixed up, although a big part of Jewell Pass will feel very different from pre-flood.

Need to Know

There aren't really any surprises on this loop. Ride it counter-clockwise, as the climb up the Prairie View Trail singletrack from the west is nasty.

Description

The loop is Prairie View Trail to Jewell Pass to Stoney Trail and then down Prairie View Trail back to Barrier Dam.

From the Barrier Dam trailhead, ride the gravel road along the top of the dam with Barrier Lake on your left. The road meanders away from the lake and tilts uphill after a km or so. That short climb ends at the junction with Stoney Trail and the powerline. Keep going forward into the trees as the trail narrows a bit, and turns uphill on a looser gravel path with some ruts to navigate. You'll encounter a cutline trail at the top of another climb - cross it and continue.

Prairie View climbs up 11 switchbacks on a wide, packed gravel and dirt surface. It's literally wide enough to drive a truck on. Some of the switchbacks are steep and/or loose, but there's nothing overly challenging here beyond the fight against gravity. The last switchback is a left-hander, and if you look to your right as you ride by you'll see the entrance to the Camp Chief Hector DH. Keep cruising up the hill and you'll eventually pop out at a lookout where you can see a very big chunk of the valley and get an idea of how far you've climbed.

But wait, there's more! Another climb awaits around the bend to the right. The infamous scramble is at the top of a steep climb. The trail forks below the scramble, and either direction will get you to the same place. Shoulder your bike and do your best impression of a mountain goat up the rocks. You'll pop out at the base of a microwave relay station [maybe?], which marks the true high point of the trail. Killer views! Don't fall off!

The descent begins with scree and abruptly makes a right turn into the forest. It's all downhill from here - a screaming 2km descent with a lot of roots, a few small drops and lots of loose rock. It's easy to go too fast and wind up in the rhubarb, but it's super fun! Depending on your arm strength and suspension travel, the last 400m or so may leave you with clenched and sore hands. You'll pass the entrance to Razor's Edge around here, so watch for it on the right if that's what you're looking for.

The junction with Jewell Pass Trail and Quaite Valley Trail is a little open area with trail signs. Jewell is to the left, and takes you back toward Barrier. Quaite is on the right and leads to Hwy 1. Jewell Pass starts off on twisty singletrack with opportunities for air if you keep your speed up. The flooding of 2013 destroyed a big chunk of Jewell, but it was rebuilt by the Friends of Kananaskis Country. It's got some flow and rolls more than the old trail. There's one short climb out of the gully, and then you're descending to Stoney Trail and a quick ride back to Barrier. Be aware that Stoney is very popular with horses - you're almost guaranteed to run into groups on horseback on the weekends.

An option to extend this ride is to do the normal ride and then do a loop on the Camp Chief Hector DH. It adds 45-60 minutes depending on how fast the climb goes.

Contacts

Land Manager: Alberta Parks

Shared By:

David Mills

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 4 votes

#2574

Overall
  4.0 from 4 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
50%
3 Star
25%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#4

in Alberta

#2,574

Overall
3 Views Last Month
2,700 Since Aug 23, 2014
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult

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Photos

A view of Baldy on the other side of the lake.
May 7, 2014 near Canmore, AB
Looking forward, remembering the past.
May 7, 2014 near Canmore, AB

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Current Trail Conditions

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