Riding the Bow Valley Parkway
A 17 kilometer stretch of open road, two brief time periods per year, and one cycling pilot program. Welcome to the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience.
Most people know the Bow Valley Parkway as an alternate driving route between Banff and Lake Louise, and a more scenic and quieter option to the Trans-Canada Highway. However, for the months of May, June, and September, a section of this road is close to traffic allowing bikes and other assorted non-passenger vehicles to explore. This is all courtesy of the Bow Valley Parkway Cycling Experience 3-Year Pilot.
For more information and to see if this pilot project will continue:
https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/info/gestion-management/cyclisme-cycling
The Bow Valley Parkway runs for 48 kilometers between Banff between Lake Louise. However, the closed part of the road (a.k.a. the cycling experience) only takes up a 17 kilometer sub-section. The remainder continues to be open to traffic.
The website says to start the experience at the train station parking lot in Banff, and then take some paths to get out of the townsite and onto the parkway. We found a more direct way was to start and end at the Johnston Canyon parking lot. This also offers a side option of hiking Johnston Canyon after the ride.
Shortly after we left the Johnston Canyon parking lot and started onto the road, there was a map indicating where we were, outlined how much of the Bow Valley Parkway was available for riding (the dashed line).
So, what is it about this experience that makes it so amazing? How about getting the entire road all to yourself, and not a car in sight amidst this beautiful scenery.
On our first trip here, we went during the last weekend in September, just in time to catch the fall colors, but this ride would be great any time of the year.
We have since gone back multiple times in the spring. The nice thing about going in spring is that there are new flowers and rushing waters. However, the first fall we went, the river beds were pretty dry.
Most of the route from Johnston Canyon to Fireside (the end point) is pretty flat, however, on the way back there are some up hills, and an especially steep final downhill.
Along the way, there are picnic spots and turnouts that can be used for resting. Our personal favorites is Muleshoe which has some great river views. Because there are no cars allowed, these spots are way less crowded as well.
Stopping by one of the points of interest to watch a train run next to the Bow River.
The end of the official road closure is a place called Fireside and is marked by this wooden gateway. Past this point are connections to the Banff Legacy Trail which goes to the Banff Townsite.
The Fireside end of the trail. Time for us to turnaround and head back to Johnston Canyon.