Ride the Rockies - and experience the Adventure. Trails can be found for family riding or for the more daring sledder. Whatever your interest or experience is, you'll be guaranteed a trail that will let you experience the magic of the Crowsnest Pass.
| Elevation range: | 5,000 - 7,500 ft. |
| Average Annual Snowfall: | 25 ft |
| Average Winter Temp: | -12 degrees C |
| Sledding season: | December - end of April |
| Rating: | Novice - Expert |
| Special Features: | 1,200 km marked trails, 200 km. groomed trails |
1. Current Snow Conditions as of January 17, 2010
Pictures below are from today's ride with friends from Saskatchewan. Staged from the Yellow Gates rode to the Wrangler's cabin and then went into the Rolling Hills and Leach Creek. Beautiful day - foggy at the top of Leach Creek.
Jan. 10 - Guys took a ride to the Pipeline staged from the Yellow Gates. Trail in was a bit rough - lot of riders on the Pipeline today. Great weather and about 6 inches of fresh snow once you got in. Good view today up at the Notch. Here are pictures from Leach Creek and the Rolling Hills.
2. Directions to favorite Staging Areas areas:
Sartoris Road - Staging Area #51 (this access is
out of Blairmore to the South Trail System - Lost Lake, Airplane Crash, over to
Westcastle, south snowmobile shelter, etc.)
Follow highway #3 west to the first (east) Blairmore access (you will see the
River Ridge restaurant at this turnoff). Take this access, cross the bridge and
continue following that road (20th avenue – main street Blairmore)
for three blocks until you come to 133rd St. which is directly across
from the Pass Promoter building. Turn left at 133rd St., cross
railway tracks, and go straight on 133rd until you reach 16 Ave. At
16 Ave. turn right and go straight, cross 132nd Avenue and keep going
straight. This will take you up a hill. the road going up the hill is called
Sartoris Road. There will be a Y intersection – take the left fork which will
take you to the staging area. Once unloaded sled back to the Y intersection and
take the right fork back onto Sartoris Road - to the south half trail system.
York Creek
staging area #48 (this
access is out of Coleman to the South Trail System – trails to Airplane Crash,
Lost Lake, South Snowmobile shelter, etc.)
Follow Highway #3 west, you will pass through the Frank Slide, the town of
Frank, and will bypass Blairmore. Highway #3 between Blairmore and Coleman is
also called 20th Avenue so just BEFORE entering Coleman take the
first left turn (the street sign marked 89th St. 20 Ave.) – located
across from the C.C.H.S. High School. About 300 feet from that turn make another
left turn which takes you across the railway tracks. After crossing the tracks
turn right and follow 15 Ave., which runs parallel to the tracks, until you
reach 83rd Street . At 83rd Street turn left, cross the
bridge, go up one block and then turn right on 13 Avenue. From there just follow
13 Avenue in behind Bushtown (locals name for this part of Coleman) and up the
hill (called the York Creek Road) which will take you to the staging area.
Atlas Staging Area #75 (aka The
Sheep Corrals) - From this staging area you can access the North Trail System
(such as Deadman’s Pass, Window Mountain, North Snowmobile Shelter,
etc.)
As you enter the Crowsnest Pass from the east, you will be
driving on Highway #3 which takes you through the entire Municipality. You will
pass by Bellevue, Frank, Blairmore, and finally Coleman at the west end. From
Coleman, continue driving west until you see the Gas Plant on the south side of
the highway. Across from the Devon Gas Plant there is a big blue Recreation
Sign. Take that right hand turn onto the "Allison Creek Road". Follow
the road for 5.5 km. straight to the staging area (2.5 km. down this road you
will cross a cattle guard and there will be a fork in the road – take the
right fork up the hill to the staging area).
Directions from Mountain Memories Shop to Corbin, BC:
Pipeline Staging Area:
From the East Hillcrest Access (our turnoff) get back on Highway #3 and then
head west for 42 km. (26 miles) – you will cross the BC/Alberta border at
approximately 32 km. (20 miles). Next you will pass the weigh scale to your
right, continue driving west until you go over the railway tracks. You will see
a bridge up ahead. Between the railway crossing and the bridge there will be a
large sign on your left hand side for Elk Valley Coal Corporation – Coal
Mountain Operation – take this left hand turn towards the mine. Follow this
road to the Pipeline staging area approximately 11 km. from the turnoff. On your
right hand side you will see the TIN SHACK (as everyone calls it – actually a
natural gas valve station) that has a chain link fence around it. There is a
parking area cutout on the left hand side of the road just before the tin shack
to unload. (An alternate unloading area would be the Leach Creek/Coal Creek Road
– you passed this a few miles back –at the yellow gates on your right hand side). Either
of these staging areas will take you to the Pipeline, Rolling
Hills, Wrangler’s Cabin, etc.
Corbin Townsite Staging Area:
Continue driving past the Tin Shack (from the turnoff at the main highway it is
about 25 km.) towards the mine. This is a dead end road that ends at the old
Corbin townsite – here you will see a few houses and the entrance gate to the
Coal Mountain mine. There is a parking area right beside the bridge to unload.
From that staging area you will cross the bridge and follow the road. Trails off
this main road will take you to the Rain Gauge, Barnes Lake, Elliott Lake, or
you can keep going straight to the Flathead and the US border.
We told you we had Adventure!!
