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 metres beyond the Banff Springs Hotel at the northern end of Spray Avenue in Banff. From there you can cycle through Banff to pick up the Legacy Trail and ultimately finish in downtown Canmore.
The Goat Creek Trail bike ride is not particularly difficult as most (but not all) of its 18.5 km length is downhill on the wide Goat Creek Trail. There are a couple of steep sections that tentative mountain bikers might not like, but they’re short and you can always walk.
Don’t forget that you’ll need a Kananaskis Conservation Pass to park at the Goat Creek Day Use Area.
Before you head out, always check the Alberta Parks report. The Goat Creek parking lot reopened in February 2023. You can also access the Goat Creek Trail bike ride from the Spray River trailhead in Banff.
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Goat Creek Trail location
The trailhead is easy to find. Drive up the Three Sisters Parkway past the Canmore Nordic Centre. Continue on as it becomes the dirt-packed, sometimes bone rattling Smith Dorrien – Spray Lakes Road past Whiteman’s Pond to the large and obvious parking lot on the west side of the road.
It’s popular as it’s also the trailhead for Ha Ling Peak and EEOR as well as being one of the access points to the High Rockies Trail.
You can park on the Spray Lakes Road if the parking lot is full but pull over as far as you can. Don’t wash your car beforehand as it’s going to be get covered in dust.
I wouldn’t recommend starting the bike ride in Banff as it’s almost all uphill – and you’d be biking against the flow of traffic.
Starting the Goat Creek trail bike ride
The Goat Creek Trail bike ride starts just a few feet from the parking lot by the obvious kiosk.
Cycle 0.9 km on one of the rougher sections of Goat Creek bike trail to reach the intersection with the High Rockies Trail – the western most section of the Trans-Canada Trail in Alberta.
Keep right to stay on the Goat Creek Trail. Knock off the first 3 or 4 km in short order, especially if you’re a biker who rarely uses brakes. I’m a more cautious biker – even though I understand speed is your friend on a mountain bike.
Recommending reading: 15 Mountain Biking Tips for Beginners
After you cross the Spray River on the first major bridge of the Goat Creek Trail bike ride, you’ve got another 4.1 km to go to reach the intersection with the Spray River Loop. Some of this section is uphill.
The intersection with the Spray River Loop is a good spot to pullover and take a break by the river before deciding what part of the loop to bike.
You can bike either way on the Spray River Loop though my preference is to stay right (east) as I think the trail is prettier and there are generally fewer hikers.
It ends 5.1 km later beside the golf course at the Banff Springs Hotel. From there turn left and follow the trail over another bridge – with a distant view of the Banff Springs Hotel, to reach the western section of the Spray River Trail. Turn right and in a matter of minutes you’re at the Spray River West trailhead.
In theory you could leave a car here and shuttle to Canmore. That’s a great idea in winter if you’re cross-country skied the trail, but in summer and fall why not bike the Legacy Trail back to Canmore? It’s 95% downhill so you can knock off the 18 km to the outskirts of Canmore near the Travel Alberta Centre in under an hour.
Peddle through Banff towards the highway – picking up the Legacy Trail off of Banff Avenue before you reach the Trans-Canada Highway.
A stop to visit Bow Falls in Banff
If you’ve got the time on the Goat Creek trail bike ride, I highly recommend a quick detour to see Bow Falls, as the turnoff is on the way into Banff a short distance after you pass the Banff Springs Hotel.
After visiting the falls, take the shortcut back into town (the first trail on the right as you climb back up the road) via the pedestrian bridge and follow Muskrat Road until it reaches Fox Avenue. Turn left and then immediately right onto Banff Avenue and follow it for a short distance to reach the Legacy Trail.
Biking from Banff to Canmore on the Legacy Trail
From the Banff Springs Hotel head for the Legacy Trail via Banff Avenue. Read a full report about biking the Legacy Trail here. It’s quite a bit easier cycling downhill to Canmore than it is to Banff.
Once in Canmore there is good signage directing you to the downtown area – and the Nordic Centre should you be one of the bikers who wants to bike the complete loop.
Renting bikes in Canmore
One of the convenient and popular places to rent a mountain bike is at Rebound Cycle. It cost my son $70 plus tax for a day.
There are two other bike rental shops – Outside Bike & Ski and Rundle Mountain Bike Rental – which is the most convenient location if you leave a car at the Travel Alberta Welcome Centre.
How to get from Canmore back to the Goat Creek trailhead
Hardy bike riders pedal back up the up the Spray Lakes – Smith Dorrien Road to retrieve their cars or even to start the bike ride. But I wouldn’t recommend it.
The bike ride up the road has several disadvantages – chief of which is the amount of dust you have to breathe and eat after you leave the paved road by the Grassi Lakes parking lot.
And at the end of the day, many bikers might not want to peddle (or have the energy to cycle) the additional 8 km from downtown Canmore to the Goat Creek parking lot. There is an elevation gain as well of about 357 m and the road is very narrow in places. It is also horribly dusty.
Options to get back to the Goat Creek trailhead
If you have traveled with a group in two vehicles then you can leave one car in Canmore (the Travel Alberta Welcome Centre at the start of the Legacy Trail is a great choice) and another at the trailhead. Needless to say that requires friends or family to sign on for the bike ride as well.
Taxis are another option. Draw straws with the loser heading up in the taxi with the keys to retrieve the car while the rest of you enjoy a cold drink and something to eat in Canmore. There are three taxi companies – Canmore Cabs, Canmore Taxis and A1 Eh Taxi Cab, and they all charge $50 to get you up there (2020 prices).
And as a long time hitchhiker – before it was frowned upon – I would also make a sign, look friendly and try and score a ride to the trailhead from the Three Sister Parkway.
Biking the Goat Creek – Legacy Trail combo is a fun outing that will take the fast people 2 – 2.5 hours to do but mere mortals like myself who like to stop for pictures and smell the roses about 3 – 4 hours. The Goat Creek section took us two hours – and I definitely slowed the guys down.
A few useful items for your bike ride
- After a broken chain that left us in a pinch on the Great Allegheny Passage bike ride, I would highly recommend carrying a multi-tool with a chain breaker.
- Don’t forget a bike pump in case you get a flat. This mini-pump fits in your jersey pocket.
- A bike lock would come in handy if you decide you want to go for a short hike or get lunch in Banff.
- I like to carry a handlebar bag with my raincoat and bike tools rather than having something on my back.
- Bike lights are one of those things you should always have – just in case for your Goat Creek trail bike ride.
Where to stay in Canmore
Canmore has everything from hostels to B&B’s, and chain hotels to luxury ones.
For an upscale B&B experience try the Bear & Bison Country Inn.
Basecamp Lodge is a good choice if you want to do your own cooking – and you want a hot tub with a view.
The Malcolm Hotel is one of Canmore’s boutique hotels.
If you’re after an affordable option check out the Canmore Downtown Hostel. The Alpine Club of Canada also runs a hostel in Canmore.
Location map of the Goat Creek trail bike ride
Further reading on biking in Alberta
- Biking the Dinosaur Trail near Drumheller
- 5 Great Bike Rides in the Banff Area
- Biking the Trans-Canada Trail in Glenbow Ranch
- Sheep River Valley Biking in Kananaskis Country
- Mountain Biking in Cypress Hills Provincial Park
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