Jumped Up Loops

The Jumped Up Loops project will create a small stacked-loop trail system based on the popular Jumpingpound Loop trail in the Sibbald Creek area of Kananaskis (Hwy 68).  Construction began in April 2024 and is expected to last two to three years. Most of the trail will hopefully be machine-built by professional trail-builders (provided we can raise the funds), while the remainder will be built by volunteer crews lead by CMBA.  The project is supported by the Recreation, Education and Partnerships unit at Alberta Forestry and Parks.

The project was first conceived in 2013 as an alternative to the relatively new but already busy trails at West Bragg Creek and Station Flats. The concept was for a more accessible trail system that caters to a broader audience, including less advanced/strong riders and other users such as hikers and runners. To that end, the grades would be mellow and the views plentiful, yet with enough technical challenge to make it fun for all.

The initial concept and design for the loops was scouted, refined and proposed to the government’s management team for Kananaskis trails in early 2013.  It was met with enthusiasm, but some procedural hurdles, the 2013 floods and competing priorities lead to it being shelved for several years while CMBA concentrated on other ongoing projects. The concept was re-floated with government representatives in 2021, and in summer 2022 discussions began about the process required to develop the trails under the new Trails Act (2022).

It took 18 months to navigate the new process, which itself was still being developed and implemented, with most of the work occurring inside the government. CMBA is grateful to the Recreation Management team at Alberta Forestry and Parks for their efforts to gain the many required approvals and complete the consultations necessary for the project to go ahead.

In the course of the consultations, CMBA made several adjustments to the trail design and construction plan to better fit around other land users. This included access and buffer zones for cattle grazing and examination of logging harvest plans to minimize overlap between the trail and logging blocks & roads.  CMBA continues to collaborate with West Fraser (formerly Spray Lake Sawmills) over the timing of their upcoming harvest and our construction of the trail in the western section of the area.

Ridgeback trail

The Ridgeback trail was envisioned by CMBA as a replacement for always-muddy Tom Snow (South) between Station Flats and the bottom of Moosepackers trail. The 9km trail (in four parts – R1 to R4) was built in 2009 – 2010 by CMBA and has been regularly improved and maintained by CMBA volunteers ever since.

Since Ridgeback was built, the West Bragg Creek trail network has been developed to the east by BCT and the trails on Moose Mountain to the west have been developed by MMBTS.  CMBA made significant upgrades to Ridgeback in 2015-16, including several boardwalks and new signage, taking advantage of the temporary logging roads. CMBA worked closely with Spray Lake Sawmills to mitigate the impacts of the logging and the logging road crossings on the trail.

Moose Packers trail

The 2.8km Moose Packers trail links the West Bragg Creek trails and Ridgeback to Moose Mountain. It was adopted by CMBA in 2010 and CMBA volunteers regularly clear deadfall and overgrowth and make occasional repairs to the many switchbacks.

City of Calgary

CMBA worked closely with the City Parks department for many years and constructed and improved many natural-surface trails on City lands. Since a reorg in 2020/21, trail management has fallen under the City Pathways department, which sadly does not value or generally even recognize natural-surface (single-track) trails as an asset. Furthermore, policy changes relating to Historic Resources and volunteer-work have made it very difficult for CMBA to perform any useful trail maintenance or improvement.  CMBA remains in communication with the City and consults where possible on matters pertaining to trails.

Some of CMBA’s earliest trail development occurred in Bowmont Park in the city’s north-west. Several sections of trail were built or improved in the 2000’s (pre Trailforks!) and work continued into the 2010’s, including the CMBA Link trail.  In 12-Mile Coulee (just north-west of Bowmont Park), CMBA volunteers have made several upgrades over the years and, where required by the City, some reroutes for sustainability. The City consulted regularly with CMBA when they used provincial infrastructure funds for trail work in 12 Mile Coulee in 2021-22.

The property developer Trinity purchased 260 acres of land at Paskapoo Slopes (adjacent to Canada Olympic Park), which contained a substantial informal trail network formerly known as Eastlands. Trinity is developing the lower 100 acres and has turned over the upper 160 acres to the City for the creation of the Medicine Hill Regional Park. CMBA worked with Trinity to reroute some trails before the development work started.

Trails have been around for many years in the Bottomlands area, which is located just east of the communities of Winston Heights, Renfrew and Bridgeland in the Nose Creek Valley. Over the last 10 years, CMBA has organized trail days to improve the existing network and add new sections for better access and flow. The result is about 5km of mellow singletrack, with some punchy climbs, suitable for beginner to intermediate riders.