Calgary Mountain Bike Alliance - Nose Hill Pilot Trail

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Nose Hill Pilot Trail

See also:

Nose Hill Pilot Trail Map
Trail Care for our trail
work schedule.

May 15, 2001

The Nose Hill Pilot Trail Sub-Committee had several meetings over the fall and winter to discuss the monitoring, final routing and construction of the proposed trail. The proposed trail was approved by the Nose Hill Management Advisory Committee (NHMAC) in the fall of 2000.

The trail is a loop from the 64th Avenue parking lot that gradually climbs Nose Hill as it runs North along 14th street (see map). The goal is a multi-user trail that casual bikers and hikers will enjoy and preferentially use to get to the top of Nose Hill. Much of the trail is existing single-track or multi-use pathways (former roads). Each segment needs upgrading requiring varying degrees of work to make it a sustainable, low maintenance 1 metre wide, multi-user trail. This is a multi-year project, with completion strongly dependent on the volunteers available. Our plan is to complete the new trail construction this year. The final route will be marked in May and then mowed. Once marked and mowed, the trail will be rideable. Work crews will then focus on the new trail construction.

We need volunteers. We are looking for labourers, planners, signage crews, and survey monitors. The current plan is to organize as many 4-hour sessions on weekends as possible.

Planners are needed to organize the work parties based on the web-page surveys and contacting the volunteers. Signage crews would design and install trailhead signs and trail markers. The survey monitors would observe, count, and interview users along the route to gain feedback.

The objective of the monitoring program is to find out what it takes to make the trail successful. The biophysical impact will be assessed by the city using transects along the trail. Volunteers will survey user satisfaction. If issues are observed, changes will be made to correct the situation. For example, if users were shortcutting up/down the fall line, signs or barriers would be installed.

The competitive and hard-core mountain bikers may wonder why build it for the casual rider. This is our first trail and based on our findings, more trails will be allowed. Our goal is to demonstrate to the City and the NHMAC, that bikers and hikers can safely enjoy natural trails on Nose Hill that are sustainable.