Spray Lakes Road
August 2007
August 2007
I wanted to ride the Spray Lakes Road and Powderface Trail southeast of Calgary after hearing of its scenic views. So I left Edmonton on a Friday afternoon, and headed west to take the Forestry Trunk south towards Cochrane. Due to a golf tournament in Cochrane, all the hotel rooms were booked so I had to detour east and found a room at the Red Carpet Inn at the edge of Calgary for the night.
Saturday morning I woke early, packed up and headed west towards Canmore. I planned to get a quick bite at Tim Horton's, but this is Canada (where they love their Tim Horton's) and there had to be 50 people in line at Tim's, so I went next door to McDonalds for breakfast, where there was no waiting at all.
I headed south on Spray Lakes Road, which quickly turns to gravel and rises in elevation with some scenic views. The road traverses Spray Valley Provincial Park, and Peter Loughheed Provincial Park; and at times crosses into Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. All of this area is at the edges of the Rocky Mountains, and is very scenic. It certainly makes for a beautiful ride. Spray Lake itself is really a reservoir that stretches for about 55 miles, providing recreational opportunities (fishing, boating, etc.) as well as hydro-electric power.
I took some various roads and trails before ending up on the Powderface Trail Road, which is also very scenic. I eventually looped around to Bragg's Creek, and then back to Canmore where I was able to get a hotel for the night. Just after I checked in, it started raining and would rain on and off during the night.
The next morning (Sunday) it was grey, but not raining; so I decided to take the Forestry Trunk Road back north. It was muddy in a few spots, but not bad. I had a few sprinkles on the way back; and passed one spot where some snow had obviously fallen during the night, with the temps just low enough to keep it from melting. At Nordegg, I turned east towards Rocky Mountain House for lunch, and then back to Edmonton. I traveled about 900 miles over the 3 days - 900 miles of smiles!
Saturday morning I woke early, packed up and headed west towards Canmore. I planned to get a quick bite at Tim Horton's, but this is Canada (where they love their Tim Horton's) and there had to be 50 people in line at Tim's, so I went next door to McDonalds for breakfast, where there was no waiting at all.
I headed south on Spray Lakes Road, which quickly turns to gravel and rises in elevation with some scenic views. The road traverses Spray Valley Provincial Park, and Peter Loughheed Provincial Park; and at times crosses into Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. All of this area is at the edges of the Rocky Mountains, and is very scenic. It certainly makes for a beautiful ride. Spray Lake itself is really a reservoir that stretches for about 55 miles, providing recreational opportunities (fishing, boating, etc.) as well as hydro-electric power.
I took some various roads and trails before ending up on the Powderface Trail Road, which is also very scenic. I eventually looped around to Bragg's Creek, and then back to Canmore where I was able to get a hotel for the night. Just after I checked in, it started raining and would rain on and off during the night.
The next morning (Sunday) it was grey, but not raining; so I decided to take the Forestry Trunk Road back north. It was muddy in a few spots, but not bad. I had a few sprinkles on the way back; and passed one spot where some snow had obviously fallen during the night, with the temps just low enough to keep it from melting. At Nordegg, I turned east towards Rocky Mountain House for lunch, and then back to Edmonton. I traveled about 900 miles over the 3 days - 900 miles of smiles!
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