Do you really know Calgary #3

[speedog]

So the last two were relatively easy - this next one you can't drive up to. There is a parking lot within walking distance, but that's about it.

What we're looking for is some elevated mountain bike trails in Calgary similar to this...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PZUERtA-0oc/TcG86BRN6pI/AAAAAAAAAYE/C6ubT41iTZ8/s1600/whistler_bike_trails.jpg

How safe the ones I've seen are is beyond me as I've never ridden on this kind of stuff, but there are a few sets of these carefully hidden away in a public park in Calgary and for starters, you can cross COP off of the list. Whomever built these had to hike all the stuff in over a good distance and would've had to probably have to have done everything in a rather clandestine fashion and I'm not even sure how extensive they are.

No clues to start as some of you are mountain bikers and may very well know where these elevated trails are.

[5.0]

Southfishcreek

[speedog]

Originally posted by 5.0
Southfishcreek Nope.

[BrknFngrs]

Fish Creek Park?

They used to be fairly extensive in there.

[speedog]

Nope, most definitely not anywhere in Fish Creek Park.

[jdmXSI]

I remember 12mile coulee(sp?) had a little bike park at one time, was it there?

[spikerS]

I think COP has a few raised sections like that, but I don't think there are any kind of old growth trees like that in the area...

[Hallowed_point]

That has got to be around Bragg Creek or something..I can't picture that being anywhere in town :dunno:

[speedog]

K, not in 12 Mile Coulee, not at COP, not at Bragg Creek.

It's in Calgary and the pic I provided is just an example of what is in the park/green area I'm talking about - it's not an actual pic of what's at the area in Calgary that I'm speaking of.

Again, this green space/park is most definitely not well known - geocaching took me and the family there last year, was amazed such a wonderful, wild area exists within Calgary's boundaries.

[VWEvo]

Is it near the Glenmore Reservoir?

[speedog]

Nope, not near Glenmore Reservoir.

[rx7_turbo2]

Somewhere on Nose Hill?

[speedog]

From what I can remember there were several elevated sections including one that was a sort of banked corner style - could have been more, but I wasn't about to hike up and down the hills in the area. All I know is that if you messed up, the nearby trees would cause a whole lot of hurt to one's self.

[OU812]

Douglas Fir Trail? Or Tuscany Ravine??

[speedog]

Nope, not Nose Hill.

[speedog]

Originally posted by OU812
Douglas Fir Trail? Or Tuscany Ravine?? Nope to both - let's just say that larger trees are needed to support such structures.

[badatusrnames]

Edworthy Park?

[OU812]

weaselhead?

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

Bowness?

[speedog]

Edworthy - nope.

Weaselhead - nope.

Bowness - getting closer.

[Hallowed_point]

Originally posted by speedog
Edworthy - nope.

Weaselhead - nope.

Bowness - getting closer.

Bowness....park?? :D

[speedog]

Not Bowness Park - suspect the city would quickly remove anything built there. Got to find a bit more of a wild area within the city limits that the parks maintenance people wouldn't regularly visit - that's the only way these structures could have come to be or remained where they are.

[BlackArcher101]

edit: Er... nm. Probably not. Was thinking Valley Ridge, not sure they are still there.

[Kritafo]

is it Bowmont

[speedog]

Suspect you're on the right track, BlackArcher101. Provide some better details to see if we're thinking about the same place - tracks were there last fall, not sure how good of a shape they were in though.

The trails out there are still well worth a look by any mountain bikers.

[speedog]

Not Bowmont Park

[Graham_A_M]

Fuck, Its SO tip of the tongue (or fingers considering this). When I was in my mid teens and an avid mountain biker I remember going over a couple of these, but I cant for the life of me remember where.

Can we narrow it down? Im pretty sure its SE, or possibly SW.

Something tells me its in the woodbine area, at a park close to there.

[DeeK]

It's the section of forest just west of bowness park, west of stoney trail in the tress below Valley Ridge. If its the ones I'm thinking of, I know who built them.

For reference:
http://maps.google.ca/?ll=51.096576,-114.238383&spn=0.005491,0.016512&t=h&z=17


I also know of a few more little ones closer to the bearspaw dam.

[smancer]

Area 69 in the SE?
Side Show Bob?
Junk Yard Piece near Silver Springs?

[speedog]

Originally posted by DeeK
It's the section of forest just west of bowness park, west of stoney trail in the tress below Valley Ridge. If its the ones I'm thinking of, I know who built them.

For reference:
http://maps.google.ca/?ll=51.096576,-114.238383&spn=0.005491,0.016512&t=h&z=17


I also know of a few more little ones closer to the bearspaw dam. Very close to the area I'm aware of - the little ones closer to Bearspaw Dam on the south side of the Bow River are the ones I've seen, quite wild country indeed. They are located in the heavily wooded area on the south bank just to the east of Bearspaw Dam - see this link (http://maps.google.ca/?ll=51.099722,-114.274807&spn=0.009284,0.026157&t=h&z=16) for a reference. Actually, some very good hiking trails in this area as well and some good trout fishing spots as well plus access to the south side of Bearspaw Dam and some very well hidden geocaches even farther west along the lake above the dam.

[speedog]

Originally posted by DeeK
It's the section of forest just west of bowness park, west of stoney trail in the tress below Valley Ridge. If its the ones I'm thinking of, I know who built them.

For reference:
http://maps.google.ca/?ll=51.096576,-114.238383&spn=0.005491,0.016512&t=h&z=17


I also know of a few more little ones closer to the bearspaw dam. The ones in the area you're referring to above - are they still in good condition?

[Kritafo]

hmmm did anyone say Baker Park

[speedog]

So the area I was referring to will be a part of a park the city is currently planning and developing that will be named Bearspaw Legacy Park - whether hidden man-made features such as these elevated mountain bike trails will remain is unknown.

Certainly, the area they're in will not lend itself well to any sort of a paved cycle/pedestrian path - it's just way too steep in there and the terrain is actually quite challenging for any one that is not somewhat fit. Great place to get away from it all - that's for sure, park in the lot at the north end of Valley Woods Place NW and take the trail west, paved at first but quickly turns into a regular hiking trail.

[DeeK]

Originally posted by speedog
The ones in the area you're referring to above - are they still in good condition?

I lived in Valley Ridge for 17 years, then moved out to Vancouver in 2009.

The ones close to Stoney trail were impressive, but techinically still on bowness park land, So I don't know how long they lasted, or if they are still there.

The ones near bearspaw damn (that you are referring to), were very small when I first saw them, only a few pieces of equipment. Maybe they have be added to since I last saw them.

[Kritafo]

I currently live in Valley Ridge will have to see what this is... apparently we didn`t explore our own backyard! The boys ususually go down around the dam

[speedog]

Fairly close to the dam on the south side of the river and if I remember correctly, both above and below the hiking trail.

[Twin_Cam_Turbo]

In that old compound area and on the hill is where I remember.