The Benchland Trails
Near Canmore in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
The Benchland Trails (Canmore)
Brochure
This brochure describes these trails which were designated
in order to protect wildlife corridors and other habitat—while
providing high-quality trail experience to hikers, bikers
and horseback riders. It includes a detailed map (see
below) of the designated trails as well as
the wildlife corridor. Available at the Visitor Information
Centres, Town of Canmore Office, Bike Shops in Canmore.
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What you should know: Read this, if nothing else!
Many of the trails in the benchlands above Canmore are
located in a critical wildlife corridor. This corridor allows
animals such as bears, cougar, wolves, and elk to move between
habitat patches. These are places where they can find food,
escape predators, breed, give birth, and establish territories.
Within this wildlife corridor people are restricted to
designated trails. This will help prevent human-wildlife
conflicts and minimize disturbance to wildlife. See the
enclosed map for the boundary of the corridor and the designated
trails. It is not legal to use trails other than those shown
on this map or on posted signs while in this corridor.
There is always the potential of encounters with wildlife
in our mountain environment. Make your presence known to
animals so you don’t startle them. Call out regularly.
Keep your dog on a leash. Please let us know if you see
a bear or cougar by calling Kananaskis Dispatch at 591-7755.
These trails are shared by hikers, mountain bikers, and
horseback riders. Please be courteous and respect the rights
of other trail users. Remember that people, like animals,
don’t like to be startled. Warn others of your approach.
Trails may be closed temporarily due to bear activity
or other wildlife concerns. For your safety and that of
wildlife, please respect these closures.
By limiting your activity to the
signed trails shown on the map below, you can help protect
wildlife and ensure the continued enjoyment of these trails
by you and your friends!
Most of the Benchland Trails are in Bow Valley Wildland
Provincial Park.
Designated trails, including the new Montane Traverse
Trail near the Silvertip Resort, have been approved by the
Town of Canmore, the Government of Alberta, the MD of Bighorn,
and various stakeholders. These include the Bow Valley Mountain
Bike Alliance, the B.V. Riding Association, and local hiking
groups.
These trails are intended to protect wildlife corridors
and other habitat—while providing high-quality trail
experiences.
Much of the trail upgrading of the Montane Traverse Trail
has been accomplished by volunteers coordinated through
the Trail Care Program of The Friends of Kananaskis Country.
Want to help out? See “Looking
for more information?” for
their contact numbers.
Wildlife studies that have taken place over the last 15
years tell us that wolves and cougars regularly use the
benchland corridor to travel around the Silvertip Resort
community to access larger regional habitat patches.
