Our vision is that Okotoks will continue to provide a diverse range of outstanding mountain bike riding experiences showcasing the area’s natural environment to entice local and visiting riders.
The network of trails and facilities will be managed in a responsible, respectful and sustainable basis with the support of the Town of Okotoks, land owners and riders.
The MTB trail custodians will be working closely with a diverse range of trail users to provide an inclusive network and a sustainable infrastructure that can be enjoyed by all.
Our purpose is:
Around October 2015 a small grassroots community group of keen cyclists and trail users decided to approach the Town of Okotoks with a view to getting approval for a modest system of trails in town.
Originally known as The Okotoks Trail Alliance, made up primarily of avid cyclists and runners, the group approached the Town in February of 2016 with a proposal to maintain and develop single-track path systems through the river valley in town.
The single-track trails would be unpaved and narrow paths with enough room for people to walk single-file.
They would be open to cyclists, runners, hikers, dog-walkers and even snowshoers and cross-country skiers in the winter. The proposal was endorsed by the Okotoks Culture Parks and Recreation Committee on Feb. 23 2016 and town council approved the design and development of the first phase of trails on March 14, 2016.
There were about five or six kilometres of existing single-track trails in the wooded area of Sheep River Park, east of the water treatment plant and the initial plan was to improve those pathways and add another one or two kilometres. In such an active community, the pathways were viewed as a good addition to the activities available for residents in town.
The plan was to create a network of trails where people can ride locally instead of having to go to Calgary to Fish Creek, or to Bragg Creek or Canmore. The goal continues to be one that develops narrow trails that follow the contour of the land disturbing the least amount of the natural landscape as possible. Each trail cuts a path through the wooded area that follows the lay of the land, without traveling straight down steep inclines.
The Alliance was and continues to be an entirely volunteer group with a focus of fixing the trails, doing tasks like hauling dead tree fall to cover a section of a trail to direct users in a different direction. Volunteers also help develop new paths through the trees.
The group started small in 2016, and then identified potential areas for more trails behind Seaman Stadium near the off-leash park and around the Burnco plant. During 2017 and 2018 the upkeep of the trails continued with a variety of loops ranging from easy and suitable for children right up to some more technical trails, although nothing too onerous for the trail user of average ability.
As the 2019 winter came to an end the group decided to become more of an advocacy group although still deeply committed to volunteer upkeep on the trails. The group changed its name to Okotoks Mountain Biking to more accurately describe the desire to create more MTB trails within the Town. The group still intends to work closely with other trail user groups in developing sustainable trails that can be used by all groups.
The plan through 2019 is to develop a formal proposal to take to the Town of Okotoks to expand the network and type of trails that can be used by mountain bikers and other trail users and a new vision and purpose was developed.
The journey continues….
Beautiful Trails
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