Hikers, joggers and walkers can now access the West Bragg Creek area and beyond from the Bragg Creek Hamlet.
The Greater Bragg Creek Trail Association (GBCTA), in partnership with the Alberta government, completed a 7.5-kilometre trail that connects the hamlet to the West Bragg Creek Provincial Recreation Area.
The $2.5-million upgrade to the path extends it to The Great Trail, formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail, east to Calgary making it the world’s longest network of recreational trails.
“Albertans love the outdoors and this investment is a landmark achievement for recreation in our province," said Cameron Westhead, MLA for Banff-Cochrane. "Bragg Creek is a trailhead community and this partnership project will benefit the local tourism economy through the many visitors to the region. The culmination of funding, partnerships and volunteer efforts has resulted in better access to a world-class trail destination.” The parking issues have also been alleviated for the popular trail, with a new paved and expanded lot that went from 190 parking stalls to 485. Other upgrades to the recreational area include signage and kiosks, benches, designated meeting locations, new washrooms and garbage and recycling receptacles, a perimeter trail for easy access to the surrounding trailheads, a permanent location for the Trail Centre, and a designated instruction area for cross-country skiing skills training and small-scale event staging. "The trails attract a healthy array of outdoor enthusiasts year-round. The Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association is a proud group of vested volunteers who, in cooperation with Alberta Parks, are builders and the main stewards of this world-class trail network destination," said Conrad Schiebel, president, Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association “We were delighted to officially connect the West Bragg Creek Trail to our network in 2017, and we’re very proud to support the grassroots volunteers who have made this section of The Great Trail even better," added Robyn Seetal, Trans Canada Trail board of director. "The pedestrian bridge, once complete, and new guardrail will help create a safer and more scenic trail experience for local walkers and hikers in this popular woodland area.”
