Three Bike Rides We Highly Recommend
Memorable car-free rides that end soon (one ends very soon)
Long-time readers know that every spring, we gush about the same thing: the number of highways in Alberta that are closed to cars and open to bikes, making for memorable rides in the Rocky Mountains.
Since Cailynn missed out on two of those scenic routes — Sheep River (Hwy 546) and Highway 66, which both opened to vehicles May 15 — she simply had to make it out to ride Highway 40 in Kananaskis. You can too… if you go today! The annual Highway 40 road closure is over tomorrow, June 15.
Cailynn’s family rode from the north gate to Highwood Pass on Saturday. It’s about 18 kilometres from that direction and took about 1.5 hours to reach the pass. Cailynn’s father-in-law used an ebike to tow the toddler in a bike trailer, which worked great. (Kudos to the dad we saw at the pass who towed two kids in a bike trailer, riding not an ebike.)
We love how many different people get out to do this ride every year. On Saturday, we saw road bikes, cruiser bikes, two tandem bikes, ebikes, kids bikes and numerous different arrangements to tow kids (and pets) up the steep pass. There was such a fun atmosphere at the top. Joining so many people outside, all on two wheels, is a joy.
Plus, bear enthusiast Cailynn saw her first bear of the season. Check out the grizzly in the photo below, right near the yellow sign. (A great reminder to carry bear spray with you.)
And if you’ve run out of time to bike in Kananaskis, fret not, you still have other options!
As part of a 3-year pilot, there’s a 17 kilometre section of the Bow Valley Parkway that’s closed to cars May 1 to June 25, and again September 1 to October 1. We’ve both ridden the parkway numerous times since it was first closed during the early days of the pandemic, and we’re excited to see this cycling experience continue. Read more about it below.
We have one more memorable ride to tell you about, and that’s an upcoming 160 kilometre group ride in Calgary.
The Summer Solstice Overnight Greenway Loop is a casual overnight (!) lap of Calgary’s Greenway on June 21, starting at 7pm at Edworthy Park. Click the link above for all the details.
The ride is being hosted by Will, who hosted a similar Greenway Loop a number of years ago that Cailynn joined (though that one was during the day). The Rotary/Mattamy Greenway is a pathway system encircling all of Calgary, and riding all of it at once is a remarkable way to see the city. Will is awesome and Cailynn is hoping to join what’s sure to be a memorable solstice ride (Annalise plans on sleeping).
Happy biking!
Annalise was thinking wow, an entire post about bikes and Cailynn didn’t include one photo of her bike! Tricked you.
