Canmore & Banff, AB

Cycling in Western Canada

In July, I had some time off work and was invited to go to Canmore and Banff (Alberta Canada) for a week. This holiday would be spent on bikes (of course!) riding some famous trails in the Canmore and Banff area. 

Canmore is a town about 28 kilometers from Banff and linked by a cycling / hiking trail called the Legacy Trail (Trail info HERE). The Legacy Trail is actually in Banff National Park and connects to various trails so one can traverse the park via these trails.

I stayed in Canmore as it's slightly less expensive than staying in Banff; I used the Legacy Trail almost daily to go into Banff and cycle around. 

I first gave the Legacy Trail a try, cycling from Canmore to Banff, and back. 

First, here's a look at the route I took:

                                               

(click the image above to enlarge if needed)

Here's what the trail looks like; it's paved the entire way:

The Legacy Trail runs pretty much parallel to the Trans Canada Highway 1 East/West. There was one rest area on the route with portable toilets. You'll see a variety of people using the trail -- roller cross-country skiers, cyclists, hikers, and those on rollerblades. The trail also has a number of bear and electrified animal gates that you'll have to open and close behind you. From Canmore, park at the Visitor's Centre off the highway, cross the road and the trail starts. If you're fit, it should only take about 30 minutes to ride all the way into Banff. Dress warm as this trail is at elevation and can be windy. I wore leggings and a long-sleeved jersey -- yes, even in mid-July! If you notice the route photo map above, the temperature on my ride was only 13 C. 

In Banff, you can enjoy a number of shops and tourist places; I had the most amazing pizza here from a side street place off the main strip. Signage notes you should walk with your bike in the town itself and if you bring a lock, there are plenty of places to lock your bike. There are public toilets and a visitor's information centre staffed by both city employees and Banff National Park workers, who can help you and answer questions. 

Main Street, Banff (below).

During the summertime, it was closed to vehicle traffic.

On another day, I tried the Lake Minnewanka trail which diverts off the Legacy Trail after the halfway-to-Banff point. According to the website, "The lake is 21 kilometres (13 miles) long and 142 metres (466 feet) deep. It is a beautiful spot, popular for picnicking, mountain biking, hiking, canoeing, diving, and snowshoeing" (Banfflakelouise.com, n.d.).

This trail features a long loop from the lake through the park and has many hills; it's not recommended for those who are not experienced or fit riders. You should feel comfortable riding 40+ kilometers. Let's take a look at the route I used...

Lake Minnewanka route, from Canmore:

                                             

                                      (click the image above to enlarge if needed)

Lake Louise is likely known to you as it's the most famous lake in Banff; however, if you visit this area, I would recommend Lake Minnewanka more. It's far less crowded and touristy. We saw many people spread out and enjoying the fine day either on paddleboards or in inflatable kayaks, or just looking out at the lake. 

Lake Minnewanka's view:

View from the Lake Minnewanka parking lot, if facing the mountains:

Me at the lake, ready to start the loop course and tackle those hills!

If you do this ride, bring snacks and water. There are public toilets at several points along the route. Due to COVID-19, you should carry a mask and hand sanitizer when in public, indoor areas. 

The final ride I completed was one recommended by a bike shop owner in Canmore -- the Highway 1A -- also known as the Bow Valley Parkway. If you are brave and quite fit, you can actually cycle from Banff to Lake Louise using this route. If you do that, it's about 70 kilometers ONE WAY, so come prepared. Because I had to pack up and head out the next day, I only did half the route and stopped at Johnson Canyon. 

Here's a view of my route map, including the time and distance cycled: 

 (click the image above to enlarge if needed)

This route was something special. The Bow Valley Parkway (at the time of my use) was freshy paved, and closed to all vehicle traffic. Only cyclists and hikers were permitted on the highway. For those who think, "Oh well, I'll just go around the barriers and drive it!" Sorry,  the entrance was heavily patrolled and monitored by Parks Canada staff who had vehicles blocking the entrance. 

This is a tough ride as it has some steep hills, is long and there are very very few places to stop for a toilet break. To prepare, come with an empty bladder, warm clothes and snacks. Bears are a common sight along this highway; some locals recommend carrying a bear bell, or bear spray.

A viewpoint stop along the Bow Valley Parkway: 

I was so wrapped up in the ride that I didn't take many photos....apologies.

My Trek Emonda SL5 at the end of the Bow Valley Parkway:

I feel lucky to live close to this part of Canada; if COVID is still restricting travel overseas next summer, I'll likely go back here again. I really want to complete the full 70+ kilometers from Canmore to Banff to Lake Louise...and take more pictures! 

I hope you enjoyed the photos and will come cycling in Western Canada sometime. 

**This post is dedicated to my friend I met in Bangkok, but is now in Germany, D, who was supposed to stay at my place this past summer and had been planning to travel most of Western Canada with her boyfriend. I hope these photos will do until post-COVID. Miss you!

Resource cited in this post:

Banfflakelouise.com. (n.d.). Lake Minnewanka, AB, Canada [blog post]. Banff and Lake Louise Tourism. URL. 

COVID-19 Project

Landscaping Around My Home

COVID has presented many challenges. For me, the largest and most difficult has been the inability to travel outside of Canada. Usually during the summer months, I jet off to Europe or Asia; this summer, travel plans were placed on hold as the world grappled with the pandemic. Rather than risk my health and the health of friends around me, I stayed home and focused on a what many have now deemed, their 'COVID project'. 

I decided my focus would be on fixing the outside of my home. I wanted several things done:

• install a new fence
• tear down an existing fence that was leaning onto my property & replace it
• landscape half my backyard
• tear out old deck and build a new deck

My boyfriend and I would complete the rest: landscaping the front and rear of my house to make it more presentable and install a shed to store things like my lawnmower, garden tools and patio chairs.

Everything was completed by September 2020. Here are the pics....

Backyard: BEFORE 

Backyard: AFTER

 

About the backyard: 

I designed the shape and elements. The landscaper did the rest. The yard is now cut in half, with landscape ties creating a small wall, dividing the lawn to the rock garden. There are two colors of stones - river rocks on the outside edges, and crushed stone in the middle. It's meant to resemble a Japanese Zen garden; something to view and feel calm. I added some large rocks and small shrubs for focal points. There is a small crabapple tree too, which I hope will sprout blossoms in Spring. The wood pathway in the middle leads down to a park and golf course behind my yard boundary. 

Project timeline: one week, working 8 - 6 most days. 

Deck: BEFORE 

Deck: AFTER 

About the deck: 

I hired a contractor for this project. I wanted something similar to the previous deck and the contractor gave some suggestions based on my sloping backyard. Rather than a floating deck, he bolted it to the foundation, added adjustable legs, and we shifted the stairs to the side. The original deck had an additional large deck on the south-facing side of my house, but I wanted it removed and replaced with a narrower, walk-way type of deck. He added black railings to make it match my roof (which is black metal). I like the end result. 

Project timeline: one week with my contractor and his co-worker, working 8 - 5 each day.

Mini-landscaping: BEFORE 

Mini-landscaping: AFTER

About the mini-landscaping:

This part was done by myself with help from my boyfriend. I dug out all the weeds and sparse grass, and created hard edges using a flat shovel. I then installed black plastic edging and landscaping fabric over the exposed dirt. Lastly, I asked my landscaper to drop off about 2 cubic meters of crushed stone, which my boyfriend helped to spread along the back of the house and around the upper and lower decks. I used leftover old deck wood, stained it, and placed it into the stones to create a little stepping path from the lower deck to the lawn. Special thanks go to my work colleague J, who loaned me her wheelbarrow while we moved mounds of crushed rock. 

Project timeline: two weeks, going hard for two days with the rocks. 

Shed: BEFORE

(was non-existent)

Shed: AFTER

(foundation for the shed)

About the shed: 

This was a gift from my boyfriend of which, I was am extremely grateful. He took all the old deck wood and built an amazing platform for which the shed would be built upon (top left pic). From that base, he assembled the pre-fab shed and bolted down both the foundation, and the shed itself. I love the modern look and it's large enough to hold my bikes, a patio table, my lawnmower and some garden tools. I made a joke that if we break up, it's going to be really hard to take back his shed. 

Project timeline: A day and a half. Going hard from 9 - 7 pm. 

Fence: BEFORE

(non-existent)

Fence: AFTER

 (comes out a bit to accommodate a large Poplar tree on my neighbor's side. The tree gives both our yards shade and habitat for birds, so I wanted to respect it by giving it some space). 

About the fence: 

I got the design off an image search. I wanted something strong against the winds (we get gusts up to 70km/hr), something low maintenance, and eye-appealing. The fence is made of corrugated colored metal, in a deep grey, with terraced wood edges. I love that it has created more privacy in my backyard. The contractor who built my deck also did this fence. 

Project timeline: one week for the 75-foot fence; two days for the shorter fence. 

Front yard landscaping: BEFORE

(non-existent)

Front yard landscaping: AFTER

About the front yard landscaping:

I needed to add something to the front of my house to give it some curb-appeal. With help from my boyfriend, we dug out an area in the front, got rid of a LOT of rocks, added cow manure to fertilize the soil, added black plastic edging, black mulch, and some ornamental grasses and perennials. It's basic now; I'm hoping in a few years, when the plants have filled out and grown taller, it will look better. 

Project timeline: two and a half days, going hard from 9 - 5. 

Grasslands National Park, SK, Canada

Dark Skies & Prairie Flats

Nestled in the southwest of Saskatchewan and near the Montana (USA) border is a national park which is famous for two things: 

1. it's a 'dark sky' preserve, meaning, it has one of the best locations to star gaze in the whole country and 
2. it's roaming bison.

I visited Grasslands National Park (LINK) about a year ago and camped overnight there. I was able to enjoy hiking, buffalo watching and of course, star gazing. While not as famous as Banff or Jasper in Alberta, Grasslands is a unique experience and worth a visit. 

Enjoy some photos from my overnight stay...

The road in is all gravel and you'll pass by numerous prairie dogs and cattle guards (I think it's to keep the buffalo in, to be honest...)

Slight hills to the right...

I hiked 70 mile butte -- a butte is an isolated hill with steep sides and a flat top (Wikipedia).

View from the butte

Another view from the top of the butte.

Prairie flower seen on the hike...I'm sorry I don't know the official name.

While out hiking, you have to be aware of the bison. They are in the park and can be found close to your camp site or on the hiking trails. The park staff provide information and guidance during your visit and while interacting the these animals. The basic rule is: stay far away and bring a zoom lens. 

A lone bison resting. 

To be honest, I was a bit scared of these guys because they are so massive. Bison used to be hunted on the Prairies and their fur and meat were valuable to Indigenous people. Today, there are a few bison farms in Western Canada and there has been a push to increase bison herds here. 

You can read more about bison farming in Canada HERE (Kremeniuk, 2015). 

Grasslands is the kind of place you go to get away from everything and unplug for a while. If you decide to camp overnight, a word of caution: it's extremely windy so come prepared with warmer and/or windbreaker clothes -- even in summer. 

Location & how to get there: (via Google Maps)

References: 

Kremeniuk, T. (2015, March 4). Bison farming. The Canadian Encyclopedia. URL. 

Parks Canada. (n.d.). Grasslands national park. The Government of Canada. URL. 

Salmon Arm, BC - Part 4

 Part 4 - Columbia-Shuswap Cycling

The main purpose of most of my travels these days has been to get outdoors and ride my bike. I love 'slow pace' sightseeing, and cycling has given me the opportunity to do just that. 

On two separate days during my trip to Salmon Arm, my boyfriend and I rode some hills and took in the sights. Both rides were recommended by riders on cycling blogs and Map My Ride. Here are highlights...

Route 1 - Carlin - White Lake - Balmoral - Carlin

We started by parking at the middle school in Carlin, just off the highway. Then, we cycled down the first big hill to the fork near the highway underpass, turning right, then immediately left, following the first of many hills up towards the farms. We saw a few cyclists out and so, you'll know you're heading in the right direction by just following your fellow riders. 

 Road conditions in some areas are a little rough, but generally look like the photo above.

 

We came across some wild berries along part of the route. 

We sampled; they were quite bitter!

Biking out to White Lake, there is a public park there with a loo and some picnic tables. We stopped for a short water break and to check out the view of the lake. As this route is predominately uphill, you'll get some nice views from the crest of the farm fields and valley, below:

 For the return, after reaching the valley, head east towards White Creek along the service road that parallels the major highway. You'll enjoy passing by some corn fields, over some ups and downs before making your way back to Carlin.

Sign post denoting direction back to Carlin (via White Creek).

Route 2 - Carlin - White Lake - Balmoral - Notch Hill - Sorrento - Carlin

On another day, we decided to give the first route another try, but continue from the valley towards Notch Hill and Sorrento, another popular resort town in the area. 

I forgot my phone on this ride, so I don't have personal photos to share, but Notch Hill is a pretty nice ride and it's a good place to stop and view the heritage buildings there. The community park has a public train viewing platform (see info HERE) where you can take a break and watch the CN rail cars pass by on the street opposite. 

My boyfriend did manage to get a photo of me looking pretty happy on my new Trek road bike (an Émonda SL 5 - view them HERE at Trek.ca) as we stopped at the end of the road next to White Lake:

In Sorrento, we stopped at a Subway to eat lunch before heading back to Carlin. The sandwich gave me the power I needed to get back to those hills and finish up this cycling trip. I highly recommend Salmon Arm for a short trip away!

Bonus: Views from Canoe Beach.

I did a few open water swims at the public beach here. The entrance is very Instagram-y:

The view from the beach is great too -- you can see the lake stretching out and cliffs on the opposite shore:

 

Despite sharing the water with boaters and jet skiers, the facilities here are really good. There is a sandy/muddy bottom, a floating dock off the shore by about 50 meters(?), a pathway from the grassy area to the shoreline, a playground for kids, some picnic tables and benches, outdoor showers (very cold!) and large change rooms; all facilities here are free! Best times to go are in the morning or the early evening, when there are less boaters and the lake is calmer.

Hope you can get a chance to visit Salmon Arm; it's beautiful! 

Next post: Cycling in Canmore & Banff, AB.

References:

Columbia Shuswap Regional District. (n.d.). Notch Hill community park. CSRD. URL. 

Trek.ca. (2020). Émonda SL 5. Trek Bicycle Corporation. URL.