A visit to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site just got more interesting, especially for the mountain biking, hiking, and trail running crowd with the opening of the multi-use Ukme'k Trail. In Mi'kmaq Ukme'k means twisted - and that's exactly what the new trail does. It winds through the forest, following the bends of the Mersey River for 6.3 kilometres. What it also does is provide a missing link - connecting to other area…
For those of you who love a dedicated bike trail (albeit a multi-use one), check out the scenic NorthStar Rails to Trails that stretches for 26 kilometres between Cranbrook and Kimberley, British Columbia. Along its length, you are treated to views of the Steeples range, the Purcell range, and pretty St. Mary's River. Visit in late September and October for breathtaking fall colours. The trail, completed in 2010, is on a former CP railway bed…
One of the best things that has happened to the Tofino - Ucluelet corridor in years, at least in my opinion, is the building of a new 25 km multi-use trail called ʔapsčiik t̓ašii (pronounced: ups-cheek ta-shee and meaning going in the right direction on the trail) through Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. The trail in the park is bookended by a multi-use trail in Tofino along with another multi-use trail in Ucluelet, providing an…
A large bike box containing the 72-pound Himiway all terrain electric cruiser bike showed up on my doorstep recently. It had taken three weeks to make it to Calgary from California via UPS ground, but it arrived in one piece with all bits inside carefully wrapped up - and everything in its place. Important parts like derailleurs were taped with protective layers. And there was a box holding all the accessories which made it way…
Southern Vancouver Island’s Cowichan Valley is an undiscovered gem. It offers lots of quiet back road and trail biking combined with taste worthy stops at any one of fourteen wineries. Rolling, pastoral landscapes with mountainous backdrops to the west are what you will encounter every day on your bike. Evenings can be spent in wonderful B&B’s, 5-star hotels, unique accommodations, along with budget options with some camping possibilities too. You’ll encounter small towns and villages…
Snowshoeing in Banff National Park is a fun, invigorating way to spend time outdoors in winter. It's hard to beat rosy cheeks and the glow you get after a few hours outdoors in Mother Nature. In Banff National Park, there are loads of trails to choose from - including some that will get your heart pounding for hours at a time. Don't worry though. There are plenty of easy, family-friendly options for those of you…
If you're on the search for new places to explore why not take a break from the mountains and head out on a road-trip to Lethbridge, a former coal mining city of just over 100,000 people, located on the scenic Oldman River in southern Alberta. Lethbridge Alberta is an undiscovered gem when it comes to its outdoor spaces. Reconnect with nature here via a network of hiking and biking trails - or a paddle/SUP experience…
Alberta's Goat Creek Trail offers a fun mountain bike ride that traverses the beautiful valley between Mount Rundle and Sulphur Mountain. The trail starts above the town of Canmore at the top of the Smith Dorrien Road- Spray Lakes Road and finishes at the Spray River West trailhead, located approximately 150 m beyond the Banff Springs Hotel at the northern end of Spray Avenue in Banff. From there you can cycle through Banff to pick…
Scottsdale is probably not the first city you think of when it comes to mountain biking. But it should actually be on your radar. Scottsdale is home to 200 plus miles of trails in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve ALONE with trails ranging from beginner through to advanced. Mountain biking in Scottsdale on trails like the ones we rode at Brown's Ranch are made with crushed granite and compacted soil while others are rocky with loose…
The Magdalen Islands or their French name - Îles de la Madeleine are an archipelago of more than a dozen, almost treeless islands, linked by kilometres of sand dunes as far as the eye can see. Plunked down in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, they take up a mere 206 square km (80 square mi), so there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of them. Although French is the first language for most of the…