Many cross-country skiers and snowshoers, however, enjoy trekking along the closed highway. The only thing that marked this as a pedal-assist e-bike was a wide downtube that housed the battery. But the pass is a mercurial beast. Look and listen for bears and their signs. If you plan on fishing, make sure you check the online regulations before you go. I fill-up in Longview or prior to exiting the Trans-Canada Highway. When we arrived at the gate, there were already plenty of cars parking along the road and cyclists preparing for the ride. 9 comments. This was the conundrum I faced. On the lower parts of the river, many farmers have allowed access through fences and fields, and Alberta Fish and Wildlife signs indicate the species that can be caught in that specific area. There was about 30 cm of snow/slush on the road, roughly 300 m from the summit. I often walk the old dry riverbeds and search through log jams for pieces of wood to use as bases for my bird carvings. From that junction, the highway begins to follow the wide valley created by the Highwood River (shown here). I have stopped there several times for information on trail closures and bear warnings. Viewing 4 posts – 1 through 4 (of 4 total) Author Posts June 1, 2020 at 7:39 pm #86085 2wheelerPartic… The refuge of the sufferers. The Highwood Pass: One of Canada’s Best Drives. Passionate about wildlife photography? Registration Now Open. We recommend our users to update the browser. Question. If only someone would invent a way to get aging, out-of-shape paunchies up a mountain a little bit easier. The Highwood Pass rewards the adventurous with one of the most varied and picturesque drives in Canada. There was no more snow on the road all the way to the top and as far as I could see down the south side. save hide report. To access the pass from the west, if travelling from Banff of Canmore, the junction for Highway 40 begins at the Kananaskis exit from Trans Canada Highway. I’ve fished it from the deep canyon, five kilometres west of Longview, to about 30 kilometres upstream. From the centre, you can follow Highway 40 as it winds through Kananaskis Country and Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Prefer riding the rails over a road trip? Nearly two thirds of Kananaskis Country is protected as a park, ecological reserve or recreation area. 2020 Highwood Pass Cycling Conditions. I have, however, seen several bears along the different roadways and have seen foolish people get out of their cars for a close-up photo op. This article originally appeared in Canadian Cycling Magazine issue 10.4 Aug./Sept. It’s probably doable right to the summit by now. The Highwood River is an excellent fly-fishing river. Highwood Pass is the highest paved pass in Canada. Carry bear spray, make sure it’s easily accessible, and know how to use it. And when bike-sharing company Lime dropped a few hundred pedal assists into Calgary last year, e-bikes were inescapable. The day came and I arrived at the entrance to the Highwood. It was described by the provincial government as among the worst natural disasters in Alberta’s history and severely damaged the town of High River. This, I thought, was the answer to my conundrum. I have travelled this road several times and am always in awe of … That was my pre-ride with the Cube the day before the pass, only without the punishment before-hand. It wasn’t a surprise because e-bikes sales had been climbing for years, but it was a symbolic change. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. That short car-free window of time makes it a now-or-never decision that, if you decline, you’ll regret all season. I live in High River and appreciate the work done to restore the town and much of the valley damage since the flood. When you visit the area, you may see a variety of commercial activities such as cattle grazing, timber harvesting and gas wells. Here’s why you should include Waterton Lakes National Park on your itinerary. Prior to mid-June 2013, the drainage area of the Highwood experienced catastrophic flooding. Bridge washed out from 2013 floods along Highway 40 My favourite section of the Highwood Pass Loop. “It is safe to say that e-bikes could represent a greater growth opportunity than mountain bikes did in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s or carbon road bikes in the early 2000s,” he wrote on Bicycle Retailer. Submission to the City of Calgary’s Standing Policy Committee of Planning and Urban Development, October 7th 2020. Just a very small amount of (1 cm deep) slush in a few places, easily avoidable. Don’t miss these spectacular shots of the wild horses of Alberta. Elk with calves can also be dangerous when getting too close for a picture. But after a visit to my local bike shop early this past spring, I saw a crack in that thinking in the form of Cube Agree Hybrid, a gorgeous carbon-everything road bike with electronic shifters, a Knight Rider paint job and sexiness to burn. It passes through the entire stretch of Kananaskis Country, crosses Highwood Pass, and heads to Highwood Junction, where the road turns into Highway 541. 1. Any conditions updates for this year? I don’t find the west drive towards the pass is as impressive as coming from the east, but still well worth viewing. Posted by 1 month ago. Highwood Pass South Climb – 37,5 km distance – 2% average grade – 1,543 m lowest elevation – 2,206 m highest elevation. It must be getting close…. Please respect current social distancing guidelines and refrain from riding with anyone you are not isolating with. In late 2018, a type of bicycle was purchased in the Netherlands that marked a milestone: for the first time, the Dutch had brought more e-bikes in a year than traditional city bikes. That may sound annoying in its unpredictability, but that’s what gives the ride a special mythology. A caution would be to watch for bighorn sheep as they are frequently on the roadway. But there I was on Monday morning at work, showing off photos on my phone and issuing my report to co-workers: there was snow at the summit. You know when you complete a punishing fitness ride early in the season and your legs feel like cookie dough and why do you keep doing this to yourself because cycling is hard but then a few days go by and you forget the pain and go for another ride and you crush the first hill because you’re stronger and you feel the confidence returning and oh yeah this whole cycling thing is pretty great? Along with ubiquity came acceptance. That creates a tempestuous window of time for an achingly beautiful 130-km car-free dream ride for roadies, between the moment the snow melts and the gates open to motor-vehicle traffic. It lies within the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. There are no gas stations along the highway. The centre is closed for about a month from mid-October to mid-November. Several species of wildlife can be viewed along the highway. The road to Highwood Pass was closed in 2013 though fortunately the road was fixed by 2014. Log in … Don’t miss this breathtaking gallery of Canadian Rockies photography. Some years, plows need to open the summit in mid-June. Mule deer are often spotted, and, if you’re lucky, moose, grizzlies and black bears as well. When an invitation for the first big ride of the season lands in your inbox, those heretofore unnoticed 15 lb are suddenly drawing attention to themselves like a Kardashian. There had been whispers of electric road bikes for years, but they remained a rarity which, in the minds of many road cyclists, was a good thing. A caution to be aware of is the open range area for livestock, primarily cattle, beginning at the east entrance sign for Kananaskis Country. Outhouse was open at the summit parking lot too. One of my favourite drives in Alberta is through scenic Highwood Pass. There are also several trail heads along the highway and Kananaskis guide books give detailed descriptions of these trails. I like fishing the more isolated sections that are inside the park, where you can fish anywhere that you can find access. Make plenty of noise and travel in group. At the summit, Highwood Meadows is a popular trailhead for several scenic day hikes. Click through to Zone 4 to register for your 2020 HCC membership. Went up on Saturday morning from the north side. The next time you visit southern Alberta, make sure the Highwood Pass is on your agenda. There are few facilities along this route, however, the Kananaskis Lodge in Kananaskis Village is a good stop. Texas gates keep the animals off some sections, however, careful driving is required, especially when dark. Welcome to Highwood Cycling Club, based out of Okotoks, Alberta, Canada! Planning a trip to southern Alberta? This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated 3 months, 2 weeks ago by kerryv. 57% Upvoted. We were not interested in each other and both made a hasty exist from the stream. But the romance of the pass also means you’re branded a special kind of wuss if you beg off the ride. For a sport that’s built on romance of self-flagellation, sniffing at power assists has, in most corners, remained the default attitude. The centre offers the following advice for hikers, as there are indeed bears in Kananaskis Country: I also remind travellers to stay in their car if they see bears along the route. I have seen several species and especially enjoy observing the ravens that patrol the highway. #SharedStreets – Open Letter to the Mayor and Councillors, #sharedstreets alignment with City’s 5A Network plan, Speech to City of Calgary Standing Policy Committee for Planning and Urban Development, given by Gary Millard, in person, on October 7, 2020, This topic has 3 replies, 2 voices, and was last updated. I usually travel to Highwood Pass from the east through large cattle ranches and open range lands beginning at the Highway 22/40 junction in Longview. Early season road riding: Taking on Highwood Pass, assisted. There are 12 kms of paved trails for bicyclists to enjoy as well as several more challenging trails for mountain bikers. I felt like I was pedalling with someone else’s legs. I know of one woman who had her hip broken when a cow elk attacked her with its hooves when she got too close to the elk’s calf. Closed to vehicles from the first of December to mid-June to allow for the migration of wildlife, the pass is not easily accessible for winter sports. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. There are many alpine and valley hiking areas during summer and fall months. Others, it’s free of snow right to the 2,200-m top. Here in North America, sales of e-bikes trailed far behind, but 2018 showed that unmistakable trend as well: e-bikes sales in the U.S. grew by 79 per cent. Please visit Our Weekly Rides page for up-to-date information regarding club rides.. I do this primarily due to the dramatic effect of the sunrise on the mountains, but also because I live on the east side of the pass. © 2020 Reader’s Digest Magazines Ltd. - All rights reserved, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), This site uses “cookies” for the purposes set out in our Privacy Policy. (Check out this gallery of spectacular Canadian bird photography.). It was a symbolic change: the most bicycle-friendly country on Earth had gone electric. The pass is closed each year from December to June 15 to protect wildlife. Just inside the park entrance is the Peter Lougheed Park Discovery and Information Centre. I knew I’d beat myself up all season if I missed that ride, but as an out-of-shape road-cycling dilettante, acceptance would be folly. It climbs to 2,206 metres and is the highest paved road in Canada. Check out more hidden gems across Canada. An estimated 130 species of birds nest in Kananaskis Country and many can be found in Peter Lougheed Park, which makes it a great place for birders. The bike crackled beneath me. Mail: #206, 223 12 Avenue SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0G9, Canada, NOTE: Bike Calgary no longer has a phone number; please email us and we will get back to you as soon as possible, Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total), An Introduction to Bike Calgary’s Infrastructure Taskforce, Infrastructure Rides – Inglewood 9 Ave SE, Bike Calgary Campaign Launch – #Sharedstreets. Come winter, gates on both ends close the pass to vehicle traffic , and don’t lift until mid-June.