Tot-Friendly Mountain Bike Trails in & around the Bow Valley
The first time I saw a front-rider seat mounted on a bike carrying a happy-go-lucky toddler, I thought to myself: I GOTTA GET ONE OF THOSE! They aren’t that cheap, so I made sure to peruse Facebook Marketplace frequently. When I noticed one come up (listed for a mere 16 minutes!), I jumped on it. Almost immediately, we were out and about cruising the streets of Canmore. Our 10-month-old baby loved it… And so did we!
In true Canmore fashion, it was suggested by a fellow Mama Nurture’er that we level up and test out the green mountain bike trails at the Canmore Nordic Centre and the Goat Creek Trail to Banff. Absolute 10/10 success! This type of activity truly fills my cup! It feels like I can still bike through the single-track lush mountain forests, with the added bonus of my little adventure bub along for the ride - Plus a few mamas and après beers too! Unfortunately, the Goat Creek Trail is closed this year; But there are so many other trails in the Bow Valley that are perfect for mountain biking with the kids riding shot gun!
Loki Trail (Three Sisters Mountain Village)
I found this one to be an extremely do-able green trail… And I highly recommend it! It consisted of very few narrow sections, only small roots, and just a handful of downhills. The forest has been thinned (thanks to the Town of Canmore’s FireSmart efforts!), so it’s a stunning combination of pruned trees and grass on the forest floor. The light penetrates through in the most stunning way! The trail can be accessed via Three Sisters Mountain Village or Peaks Drive (my go-to!); Just head east up the powerline, and find Loki on your left ~1.5 kilometers in.
Fun Forest (Quarry Lake)
The name says it all! Like Loki, this trail is located in the forest below the powerline. It’s quite short, as it’s more of a connector trail. However, it’s still loads of fun (and includes some features you can try out kid-less!). The best part of it all: It goes downhill all the way to Quarry Lake, so you can end the ride with a splash. It’s perfect for the whole family! The access is also from Peaks Drive, right off the road on the west side.
Georgetown Interpretive (Canmore Nordic Centre)
This is the greenest of the green. No large boulders or roots, and quite wide - Almost like a quadding trail! Some good climbs, though totally do-able! Dare I say: A great way to work for your lunch when you reach the old townsite? The ghost town itself has a picnic table and few plaques about the history of the town. This may be the best mountain biking trail to start off on. I usually take the extension of the Legacy Trail switchbacks (by the TransAlta plant) up towards the Nordic Centre, and head west at the first fork.
Get In/Get Out (Canmore Nordic Centre)
I find this one to be a bit more technical of a green ride. It’s narrower and “flowy”, and includes the perfect amount of basic skill-testing parts scattered here and there along its entirety. It’s a fun one for the kids, but even more so for the riders! Head west from any of the parking lots at the Canmore Nordic Centre, hug the southern side of the Biathlon range, and you’ll enter the “Get In” portion of the trail, which later links up with “Get Out”.
Healy Creek (Banff National Park)
This one’s similar to the Georgetown Trail, in that it’s very beginner friendly. Lasting for a total of ~16 kilometers round trip, this trail starts/ends at the Healy/Brewster Trailhead on the Sunshine Village Access Road. For those feeling extra energetic, pair this one with some vertical at Sunshine Slabs!
… And although the parking lot is closed for construction this year, the Goat Creek Trail and the High Rockies Trail are two goodies worth checking out next summer! They depart from the same trailhead and split off at a junction not too far in. The Goat Creek, as you may know, takes you all the way to Banff. You can cap the ride with a picnic and play at Central Park, and hitch the Roam bus home. On the other hand, the High Rockies continues for 80 kilometres (!!!) along the Spray Lakes Road into Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It has many entry/exit points along the way, with sections ranging from green to blue - So you can take your pick!
These are just a few “shot-gun-seat-worthy” bike trails in the area, but I’ve been eyeing up some of the green routes in Sibbald (just east of the Bow Valley). If any fellow readers have other suggestions, please let us know as I love getting new ideas on these sorts of adventures.