The 109km trail opening up the Canadian Rockies

Designed as a year-round, multi-use trail for hikers, cyclists, equestrians, snowshoers, dogsledders, cross-country skiers and off-highway vehicles, the new rail trail leads travellers through boreal forests, above sweeping valleys and into seldom-seen corners of Canada that, until now, have largely been inaccessible to visitors. It’s a rare opportunity to see how nature is reclaiming a landscape once shaped by steam engines and coal; and to experience a quieter, lesser-known side of the Rockies beyond Canada’s two most-famous national parks – Jasper and Banff.

To date, more than 50km of the trail from Nordegg to Jackfish Creek has been completed, with the remaining half underway. 

Calgary resident Maddy Tailor found herself on the trail “almost by accident”, after driving for hours to nearby tourist drawcard Abraham Lake. “I met an older couple really into trains while I was camping at Preacher’s Point who mentioned they’d just biked a section of the trail from Nordegg. They were sort of raving about it,” she said.

After visiting the revitalised trail herself, Tailor wanted to bring her grandfather – a local history buff – to experience it. “It’s a stunning spot,” she added. “I can definitely see us camping along it… who knows, maybe my grandad will even learn a thing or two he didn’t know about [Canadian] history.”

Alamy