Southern Alberta town promoting itself as a motorcycle touring hub

The Cochrane Tourism Association is pumping the tires of motorcycle enthusiasts in an attempt to establish the town as a start and end point for motorcycle road trips, hoping bikers will inject some cash into local businesses before and after their rides.

Promoting the allure of winding country roads surrounded by stunning scenery should be an easy sale to riders from outside Cochrane.

Local enthusiasts are sold already.

Craig Oldfield, the Cochranite who founded Ridin’ Alberta – a website dedicated to helping bikers discover the Wild Rose province – is familiar with all three of the recommended round trips on the Cochrane Tourism Association's website.

Oldfield's favourite is the Cochrane to Highwood Pass run, which features spectacular views from the pass on the 114-kilometre ride, showcasing the highest paved pass in Canada.

“Nice scenery definitely through there, and some nice twisty stuff. None of those roads are straight, so anytime you’re in those foothills areas and get those random roads, it’s not like those Township roads in the east, where you’re travelling 50 miles in a straight line,” he said.

“Guys are always complaining all the roads in Alberta are straight, but not down in that section, it’s more fun to ride.”

Oldfield recommends the Highwood Pass trip, describing it as a bucket list activity. On the day The Eagle spoke with Oldfield, he was packing his bags for a trip to Highwood pass in His Victory Vegas touring bike. His Vegas packs 1700 cc into its frame, which he thinks will provide sufficient power to handle the mountain climbs.

“It’s more horsepower than my mom’s SUV,” he said.

He suggests a trip to Highwood Pass between Monday and Friday if possible, to avoid some of the higher traffic volume that can be found there on the weekends.

At this time of year, he said, it also makes for a nice evening trip.

“You can leave Cochrane at 5 p.m. and be back home [before dark],” he said.

On the Highland Pass trip, once done touring, riders with parks passes can take the detour to Upper Kananaskis Road to the Peter Lougheed Park Discovery and Information Centre. This area has abundant wildlife, and from the centre, riders can enjoy a picnic at Boulton Bridge.

There are trails that connect to day use areas, allowing for a break to wander in nature. 

The second trip recommended by Cochrane Tourism is the Cochrane-Water Valley-Bergen-Lochend Loop, which takes approximately two hours to travel without breaks. But that’s only if riders can resist the urge to “experience rural tranquility and small town charm along the way.”

The historic Dartique Lodge, built in 1934, is one of the points of interest in the Water Valley segment of the trip.

In the Bergen area, riders can visit artist Morton Burke’s Bergen Rocks International Sculpture Park, hosted from his acreage. Burke’s outdoor collection of monumental stone sculptures from all over the world is one of the few examples of art tourism in Alberta.

The third trip is called ‘Cochrane to Bragg Creek – Highway 762 – Plummer’s Road – Priddis,’ which  takes about one hour and 10 minutes to complete, making it the perfect non-stop motorcycle road trip for those who have less time to spare.

Riders with a little more time can take a detour on Highway 66 to the Elbow Falls Recreation Area for a snack and a rest, on a road offering twists and turns all the way until the end of the pavement. Wild horses roam in the area from Maclean Creek to the start of Powderface Trail.

If the timing is right, astronomy buffs can cap off a midsummer evening ride and ponder the wonders of the universe at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory in Priddis, during one of the facility's open house events.