Medicine Bow


Rail Trail MEDICINE BOW


NATIONAL FOREST, WYOMING


For mountain vistas, wildlife sightings and solitude— apart from the moose, mule deer, elk and pronghorn antelope—southeastern Wyoming’s Medicine Bow trail is hard to beat. Wending 34 kilometres through Medicine Bow National Forest, the recently completed (in September 2007) gravel path follows the corridor of an early 20th-century rail line that, at 9,050 feet, was the highest elevation standard gauge railway in the country at the time. For an easy out-and-back ride that’s suitable for the whole family, start near the town of Albany at the Lake Owen trailhead and head south through evergreen and aspen forest mixed with open grassland. Lake Owen’s terrific trout fishing and relaxed 1.6-kilometre loop trail with views of 12,000-foot Medicine Bow Peak are your end-of-the-ride rewards.


WHEN TO GO: Mid-June to October HOW TO GO: Hybrid mountain bikes are recommended INFO:


cyclewyoming.org


Kettle Valley Railway


KELOWNA, B.C.


Constructed in the early 20th-century at an average cost of $84,500 per kilometre, the 600- kilometre Kettle Valley Railway formed a direct connection between Vancouver and the rich agricultural regions and silver mines of the Okanagan and West Kootenays. Along the way, it passed through an incredible diversity of landscapes, from cool mountain forests to Canada’s only pocket desert in Osoyoos. If you just have one day, take a spin through Myra Canyon on Okanagan Mountain, south of Kelowna. Tis spectacular 8.5-kilometre section crosses 18 wooden trestles and steel bridges—including one 220-metre span 55 metres above Pooley Creek— and passes through two tunnels between the Myra and Ruth parking areas. Tis route was reopened in June 2008 after a five-year restoration following a devastating wildfire in 2003 that destroyed 12 of the 18 trestles.


WHEN TO GO: April to October HOW TO GO: Suitable for most bikes INFO:


Bizz Johnson Trail LASSEN NATIONAL FOREST, CALIFORNIA


Tis 40-kilometre trail in northeastern California follows a section of long-abandoned Southern Pacific railroad through the Susan River Canyon between Susanville and Mason Station. Craggy canyons and piney upland forests are typical of these foothills east of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade ranges, and the altitude (between 4,200 and 5,500 feet) creates some of the only autumn foliage in the Golden State. For kid-pleasing tunnels and trestles, start in Susanville at the old railroad depot and pedal 11 kilometres west alongside the Susan River to Devil’s Corral—if cranking out and back sounds too ambitious, bus shuttles to Devil’s Corral are available year- round from Lassen Rural Bus (530-252-7433).


WHEN TO GO: April to November HOW TO GO: The Bike Station in Susanville rents suitable fat-tire bikes, 530-257-2525 INFO:


BLM Eagle Lake Field Office, 530-257-0456, blm.gov; Lassen National Forest Eagle Lake Ranger District, 530-257-215


Old Railway Bike Trail ALGONQUIN PARK, ONTARIO


Algonquin Provincial Park is best known for its canoeing and hiking routes, but the Old Railway Bike Trail offers a pleasant cycle for families tired of swinging paddles and blistering their feet. Stretching 10 kilometres between Lake of Two Rivers and Mew Lake campgrounds in the west and Rock Lake campground in the east, the gravel path follows the bed of the historic Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway. Built in 1895 by J.R. Booth, the extravagantly wealthy and powerful Canadian lumber baron, the OA & PS Railway traversed the park and provided a link for Booth to transport timber and cargo between Ottawa and Parry Sound (and, ultimately, Tunder Bay—he created a steamship company on the Great Lakes three years later—but that’s another story). Only a few traces of this busier time can be seen as you cruise beneath cool forests along the shores of Algonquin’s now peaceful lakes.


WHEN TO GO: May to October HOW TO GO: Suitable for most bikes INFO:


Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway, kettlevalleyrailway.ca Penticton Visitor Centre, 800-663-5052


Virginia Creeper DAMASCUS, VIRGINIA


Te 53-kilometre Creeper offers some of the easiest, most picturesque mountain biking in the Appalachians. While many rail trails suffer from monotonous scenery and tedious pedaling, the Creeper rolls through a constantly changing backdrop—from lush Carolinian forests and crystalline rivers to sleepy towns and rolling farmland—with an exhilarating downhill run and—count ‘em—47 trestles. An ideal family daytrip is to pedal downhill from Whitetop to the trail’s midpoint at Damascus. Arrange for a shuttle with one of Damascus’ numerous bike shops and even young children will find this an easy two- to three-hour ride. With older kids and more time, overnight in Damascus, then shuttle to the trail’s other end point at Abingdon and ride back.


WHEN TO GO: Year-round


HOW TO GO: See the VCTC website (below) for complete listings of bike rental and shuttle providers and accommodations.


INFO: Virginia Creeper Trail Club, vacreepertrail.org


Le P’tit Train du Nord


VAL-DAVID, QUEBEC


Built in the early 1900s between Saint-Jérôme and Mont-Laurier, Quebec’s “Little Train of the North” linked Montreal’s first powder-seekers with some of the province’s best skiing. In 1996, the disused rail line was converted into a 230-kilometre-long linear park, with refurbished train stations serving as cafés, cycle and ski boutiques and info centres. For an easy intro, try the 20-kilometre, out-and-back cycle to Val-David from Sainte-Adèle. It’s all uphill as you follow the sometimes tumultuous course of the Riviere du Nord through hardwood forest. Tucked into the folds of the Laurentians, Val-David is a classic Quebecois mountain village with a distinct European charm. Refuel at the plentiful ice cream shops and wood-fired pizza parlours before spinning back.


WHEN TO GO: April to October


HOW TO GO: Suitable for all bikes, rentals available in Sainte-Adèle and Val-David; for shuttle service try Transport Le P’tit Train du Nord, 888-893-8356, lepetittraindunord.com


INFO: Tourisme Laurentides, 800-561-6673, laurentians.com/parclineaire www.canoerootsmag.com 31


Algonquin Provincial Park, 705-633-5572, ontarioparks.com Friends of Algonquin Park, algonquinpark.on.ca


PHOTO: WYOMING TOURISM


PHOTO: PO MARSHALL


PHOTO: VIRGINIA MARSHALL


PHOTO: ALGONQUIN LOGGING MUSEUM


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