April 15, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
Cranbrook, Biking
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!