Easy Biking on Isadore Canyon Trail

April 15, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Cranbrook, Cycling

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Just north of Cranbrook is a peaceful, easy biking trial that I love to ride.  It's called Isadore Canyon Trail - named for an historic leader Chief Isadore (Chief of the Ktunaxa Nation in the late 19th century).  It's an old gravel & dirt railbed that winds through undeveloped countryside.  Side trails provide access to the maze of trails through the Cranbrook Community Forest, which skirts the city of Cranbrook to the south & east.  Here you can build muscle and character testing out what some would probably consider small moutainsides.  For me, they are a nice WALK! 

The trail is part of the Trans Canada Trail system, so you can find it on tctrail.ca (trail locator #10-0040).  I prefer to join the trail at midpoint, outside of the city.  There's a small parking close to the highway overpass at the north end of Cranbrook.  Access is off a small businesess frontage road shortly before the overpass on the city side:  look for Ranchers Supply and Sandor Rentals.  The trail takes you past a swampy area that often has wildlife around and in it.  There are a few picnic tables along the way, some close rocky canyons and some wide open spaces.  It provides a nice mix of sun & shade on summer days.  The trail links into ranchlands at the north end.  It is rarely "busy" but I do sometimes cross paths with families and other "easy bikers" like me.

This trail would be a great break from highway for anyone biking through - say to Fernie - one of the most popular mountain biking destinations in Canada.  And there's a rails to trials project in the works as well, which will open up a railbed between Cranbrook & Kimberley.  I can hardly wait!

Posted by Laurie R, Kimberley at 09:08 AM

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