Overview
An excellent backcountry excursion, with a good abandoned fireroad climb to start (or finish), then into some glorious alpine singletrack. some good routefinding, brutal climbs and steep, rough terrain round out this epic (and plenty of hike-a-bike). Add multiple options for longer rides, or even use a car shuttle to hit the best part of trail.
Trail Description
Parking at Cataract creek rec area, ride the abandoned cat creek road west about 5km, then turn left, across an obvious bridge. at around 11km look for the grassy trail to the right.
follow the trail to the creek, and turn left for about 2km, then right, then crest the ridge and look for the orange blazes to the left.
get ready to push 370m of elevation in only 2km. after checking out the views from the top, enjoy the steep, smooth sub-alpine singletrack.
a bunch more summits, and a bunch more descents are ahead, all on good quality, steep, and narrow trail. the majority of the climbing will be pushing. the majority of the descending is beautiful.
eventually you'll reach the Divide headwall, and the trail will turn to follow. just keep on keepin' on, the track gets a lot rougher from here.
eventually you'll spit out at memory lake, turn left, then left at the 4-way junction. locate the lost creek trail (the fireroad at the base of a high ridge) and ride north for about 26km of gradual climbing, followed by a screaming descent to the car!
Getting There
From Calgary, head 60km south to Longview. Turn West on the 540, head roughly 60km West (turn on hwy 40 junction into kananaskis) to the Cat Creek day use area. The trail is the cat creek road to the west (with the large no motorized vehicles sign)
When to Bike
This is a high alpine epic with travel through unmaintained wildnerness and as such should be ready late july - early october. choose a DRY day and start at sunrise.***This is a serious backcountry ride, through territory that is not well travelled. Be prepared for anything and bring water filtration***
