Cochrane to Crowsnest Highway
September 2007
September 2007
In my quest to find more dual-sport worthy roads in southern Alberta, I decided to ride a stretch of the Forestry Trunk Road (Hwy 940) between Highwood House (near the southern end of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park) and Coleman (on the Crowsnest Highway). It was also going to be a break-in ride for my new Ohlins shocks.
I travelled from Edmonton to Cochrane with my BMW sporting new Ohlins shocks, with rain starting just after a I arrived. I had a quich fast-ffod dinner, and made it an early night. The next morning, I woke up to see that it was still raining. I went downstairs and ate a quick (and free) continental breakfast in the hotel, and met a group of Harley riders that were heading down to Wyoming. Back in the room, I finished packing and decided I better wear my rain pants. Good thing - it rained for the first 1-1/2 hours of the ride.
I left Cochrane heading south on Hwy 22, and then took Hwy 1 west. At Hwy 40, I turned south and started enjoying the views as the road winds its way through the foothills of the Rockies. As the rain kept coming down, I was beginning to wonder what shape I would find the Forestry Trunk Road in; but the rain stopped shortly before reaching Highwood House.
Highwood House is just a small combination gas stop/convenience store at the junction of Hwys 40, 940, and 541. I stopped to fill the tank on the GS, stock up on some water, and inquire whether to expect any mud on Hwy 940 going south. The lady taking my money told me that they hadn't had a lot of rain towards the south, and that Hwy 940 (the Forestry Trunk Road) should be in good shape - shouldn't see any mud but expect a lot of washboard sections of road. The Forestry Trunk Road is all gravel and hard-packed dirt. Heading south from Highwood House, the road is damp but in good shape. The dampness just keeps the dust down, and provides great traction. It's the kind of road that the GS is built for, and it's easy to find yourself going 75 to 80 mph, yet if only feels like about 40. The road winds up and down through the forested foothills of the Rockies, and it's beautiful riding country.
I stop now and then for pictures, and to try and dial in the Ohlins shocks. The Ohlins seem to be working well. I don't notice a lot of difference over the stock shocks at slower speeds, but at higher speeds the Ohlins really make a difference. Towards the end of Hwy 940, I stopped on a little side road for a rest. Although the skies had been overcast, it hadn't rained since I'd been on the gravel and dirt so I took off my rain pants. I drank some water, and watched a few vehicles drive by - most of them trucks with ATV's on the back heading out for the weekend.
I gassed up the bike in Coleman, and found a small diner (Vito's) to eat lunch (baked lasagna). It was just early afternoon, so I decided to look at my map and try to find some more dirt roads to ride. I spotted a road on the map (Elk River Forest Service Road) that looked interesting, so I headed west over Crowsnest Pass and into British Columbia, then took Hwy 43 north to Elkford. Along the way, I passed the Elk Valley Coal Mining facilities near Sparwood. The Elk River Forest Service Road (FSR) takes off north from Elkford, and is another very fun dirt road. Much of it parallels the Elk River, which must have some good fishing based on the number of anglers I see.
I eventually made my way back to Coleman and found a hotel (the Stop Inn) for the night. I enjoyed a great dinner (Vienna Schnitzel) at Popiel's Restaurant across the street from the hotel. The next morning, I got up around 7:30am, got packed up and ready to head back to Edmonton. I stopped by a store to grab some water and snacks to eat for breakfast, and headed north about 8:30am. Hwy 940 must have gotten some rain yesterday afternoon after I had rode through on it, because it was definitely wetter than yesterday. There were a few puddles in spots, but the road was generally in very good shape and very little dust. I rode various dirt and gravel roads north, eventually reaching Nordegg where I popped onto pavement back to Edmonton. In all, I rode about 1,100 miles in the three days.
I travelled from Edmonton to Cochrane with my BMW sporting new Ohlins shocks, with rain starting just after a I arrived. I had a quich fast-ffod dinner, and made it an early night. The next morning, I woke up to see that it was still raining. I went downstairs and ate a quick (and free) continental breakfast in the hotel, and met a group of Harley riders that were heading down to Wyoming. Back in the room, I finished packing and decided I better wear my rain pants. Good thing - it rained for the first 1-1/2 hours of the ride.
I left Cochrane heading south on Hwy 22, and then took Hwy 1 west. At Hwy 40, I turned south and started enjoying the views as the road winds its way through the foothills of the Rockies. As the rain kept coming down, I was beginning to wonder what shape I would find the Forestry Trunk Road in; but the rain stopped shortly before reaching Highwood House.
Highwood House is just a small combination gas stop/convenience store at the junction of Hwys 40, 940, and 541. I stopped to fill the tank on the GS, stock up on some water, and inquire whether to expect any mud on Hwy 940 going south. The lady taking my money told me that they hadn't had a lot of rain towards the south, and that Hwy 940 (the Forestry Trunk Road) should be in good shape - shouldn't see any mud but expect a lot of washboard sections of road. The Forestry Trunk Road is all gravel and hard-packed dirt. Heading south from Highwood House, the road is damp but in good shape. The dampness just keeps the dust down, and provides great traction. It's the kind of road that the GS is built for, and it's easy to find yourself going 75 to 80 mph, yet if only feels like about 40. The road winds up and down through the forested foothills of the Rockies, and it's beautiful riding country.
I stop now and then for pictures, and to try and dial in the Ohlins shocks. The Ohlins seem to be working well. I don't notice a lot of difference over the stock shocks at slower speeds, but at higher speeds the Ohlins really make a difference. Towards the end of Hwy 940, I stopped on a little side road for a rest. Although the skies had been overcast, it hadn't rained since I'd been on the gravel and dirt so I took off my rain pants. I drank some water, and watched a few vehicles drive by - most of them trucks with ATV's on the back heading out for the weekend.
I gassed up the bike in Coleman, and found a small diner (Vito's) to eat lunch (baked lasagna). It was just early afternoon, so I decided to look at my map and try to find some more dirt roads to ride. I spotted a road on the map (Elk River Forest Service Road) that looked interesting, so I headed west over Crowsnest Pass and into British Columbia, then took Hwy 43 north to Elkford. Along the way, I passed the Elk Valley Coal Mining facilities near Sparwood. The Elk River Forest Service Road (FSR) takes off north from Elkford, and is another very fun dirt road. Much of it parallels the Elk River, which must have some good fishing based on the number of anglers I see.
I eventually made my way back to Coleman and found a hotel (the Stop Inn) for the night. I enjoyed a great dinner (Vienna Schnitzel) at Popiel's Restaurant across the street from the hotel. The next morning, I got up around 7:30am, got packed up and ready to head back to Edmonton. I stopped by a store to grab some water and snacks to eat for breakfast, and headed north about 8:30am. Hwy 940 must have gotten some rain yesterday afternoon after I had rode through on it, because it was definitely wetter than yesterday. There were a few puddles in spots, but the road was generally in very good shape and very little dust. I rode various dirt and gravel roads north, eventually reaching Nordegg where I popped onto pavement back to Edmonton. In all, I rode about 1,100 miles in the three days.