About our trails
West Bragg Creek Trails is a trail network in Kananaskis Country, a 45 min drive southwest of Calgary, Alberta and ~10 km west of the charming hamlet of Bragg Creek. Here BCT builds and maintains some 166 km of multi-use trails in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The terrain is mostly gentle and rolling and the forest is a mix of aspen and evergreens which has been logged in places, opening up many lovely vistas. Creeks, springs and wetlands add variety to the landscape.
West Bragg Creek Trails is very popular with Calgarians. The network caters to skiers, mountain/fat bikers, snowshoers, walkers, trail runners and equestrians.
A Brief History of Bragg Creek Trails
The Government of Alberta created Kananaskis Country on October 7, 1977. Don Gardner proposed the development of trails in the West Bragg Creek (WBC) area citing the short driving distance from Calgary and the potential to develop loops of groomed XC ski trails. In those days, the concept of groomed ski trails was virtually unknown in Alberta. XC skiing was really just touring on hiking trails and fire roads.
The entire Bragg Creek Trails XC ski trail system was designed and built as a winter use only ski trail network. There was no tread or drainage work done to make the trails sustainable for summer use. Most water crossings were meant to be used only when the streams and marshes froze over.
BCT History
Pre 1890
The area was used extensively by indigenous people and trails developed from travel routes. A cart track was made to the Thorne Mine on the east flank of Moose Mountain. This was the first iteration of Mountain Road and Moose Loop.
1910
1910 largest wildfire season in the history of SW Alberta. During that season, most of the forest vegetation in the WBC area burned. In the subsequent decades, the area transitioned from grassland and wetlands and back to the mix of forest, wet meadows and patches of grassland today.
1913
Pack line and telephone line build between Elbow Ranger Station and Jumpinpound Ranger Station.
1915-1970
Pack horse trail created to Moose Mountain fire lookout (Moose Packers).
1970
Snowmobile trails designated including segments of Elbow Trail, Sugar Daddy, Snowy Owl and Tom Snow. Energy exploration and development and logging activities over past decades left seismic lines, access roads, pipeline right of ways and logging roads. Many of these were converted into ski trails or single track trails. These include: Elbow, Iron Springs, Iron Creek, Sundog, the Crystal Lines, Loggers, Moose Connector, Hostel Loop, Hostel Meadow, Old Shell Road, Mountain View, Mountain View West, Telephone Loop, parts of Snowshoe Hare, Snowy Owl, DemiTel, Reconnect, Merlin View, and Tom Snow.
1977
Kananaskis Country established. The West Bragg Creek Youth Hostel was constructed on a log sorting area (now Hostel Meadow). The youth hostel burned down in the spring of 1984.
1978-1979
Don Gardner, a trail builder and adventurer based in Canmore, was motivated to build ski trails in West Bragg Creek when Bragg Creek was identified as a potential venue for cross-country skiing for the 1980 Calgary Olympics. Gardner designed and constructed the initial ski trails, skillfully incorporating industrial roads and cut lines into the layout.
1980
Initial trails include Crystal Line, Sundog, Elbow Trail, Hostel Loop, Telephone Loop, and Moose Loop.
Mid 1980’s
Flood damage leads to extensive rerouting.
1985
Tom Snow built connecting Station Flats to Dawson Trailhead (alignment has changed over time).
1986
Fullerton Loop created as hiking only.
2001
Shell Canada operations resulted in a reroute of Moose Loop and creation of Old Shell Road.
2005
The construction of Shell Canada’s gas pipeline between Moose Mountain and Jumpingpound led to the development of Mountain Road.
2006
Volunteer efforts were incorporated into the Greater Bragg Creek Trails Association (now Bragg Creek Trails), leading to the launch of a volunteer track-setting program.
2007
Construction of the Centennial trail (for Alberta’s 100 birthday).
2010
The West Bragg Creek Trails Master Plan for All Seasons was approved, marking the start of trail construction with Snowshoe Hare. The Banded Peak Trail was also built, while the Snowshoe Hare Loop and Strange Brew trails were planned and designated in 2011, with Sugar Mama designated in 2018.
2011
Braggin Rights, Reconnect, Long Distance, Disconnect, Boundary Ridge, Ranger Summit, Snagmore, Strange Brew upgrades, Loggers, Merlin View alignment cleared.
2012
Long Distance, Disconnect, Fullerton-Ranger connector completed.
2013
Constructed the Banded Peak Connector trail. Bobcat & Merlin View started, Elbow post flood reroute.
2014
BCT started grooming a number of single track trails to facilitate the new sport of fat biking. Merlin View completed, East Telephone, East Crystal & West Crystal upgrades, Crystal Link 2 & 4, Moose Connector reroute, Mountain View, Chickadee & Bunny, Snowy Owl, Snowy Shortcut.
2014-2021
Installation of culverts, bridges, native seeding, and bioengineering for year-round use. Upgrading of all WBC ski trails for year round use.
2015
Constructed the WBC TransCanada Trail (TCT) Phase 1. Hostel Loop upgrades, Hostel Loop West, Snowshoe Hare West, DemiTel & Moose Connector upgrades, Hostel Meadow, Snakes & Ladders started, Whitetail, Sugar Daddy (designated 2018).
2016
Elbow 2nd reroute & new bridge, Mountain View West, Moose Loop NW reroute, Chickadee Loop #2, Elbow, Iron Springs, Sundog & Loggers upgrades, Hostel Loop East upgrades, Iron Creek/TCT, Fisher Link, West Crystal WMU started, Snakes & Ladders completed, Snowshoe Hare W upgrade to all-season.
2018
Interpretive Trail, Sugar Daddy upgrades, Fullerton parking lot construction.
2019
Moose singletrack, Iron Horse constructed.
2020
Paved the WBC TCT Phase 1. Boundary Horse, Sugar Pony, Iron Vista, Snagmore-Elbow Link, West Meadow, Tom Snow upgrade, reroute of Mountain View West.
2021
RVC paved the Banded Peak trail. Kestrel completed, Tom Snow upgrades completed.
2021-2024
Renewed West Bragg Creek Trails Master Plan submitted. Enhanced plan approved January 2024.
2022-2023
Paved the WBC TCT Phases 2 & 3.
2024
Winter trails upgraded to year-round standard, including: West Crystal singletrack, Snowy Shortcut, Fisher Link and parts of Snowy Owl, Boundary Horse, Sugar Pony, and Snowshoe Hare.
Board of Directors
Conrad Schiebel – President
Conrad began volunteering with the GBCTA in 2013 quickly becoming the representative in the West Bragg Creek Land User Agreement group when logging threatened to impact the trail system in West Bragg Creek. Since then, he has advocated for trail protection and building sustainable trail systems in Kananaskis Country and Rocky View County.
Conrad brings his past experiences working as a Park Ranger and Paramedic to the table adding those perspectives to building a safe work environment and managing the challenges of trail care on public lands.
Alf Skrastins – Vice-President
Outdoor recreation has been Alf’s passion and his life’s work.
While working towards his Environmental Biology degree at the University of Calgary, Alf started a cross country ski club on campus. He founded the University of Calgary Outdoor Centre. He instructed and guided cross country skiing, backcountry skiing, avalanche safety, hiking, backpacking, whitewater rafting and sea kayaking. Alf is a founding member of the Canadian Association of Nordic Ski Instructors, the B.C. Sea Kayak Guides Alliance and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education.
He co-founded and edited Explore-Canada’s Outdoor Magazine and has contributed photographs in numerous trails guides and magazines.
Alf has served as a director of the Calgary Area Outdoor Council, on public advisory committees for the Evan-Thomas Provincial Recreation Area Management Plan, The Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park Redevelopment Plan, The Bow Corridor Trails Advisory Committee , The Kananaskis Trails Advisory Committee, The Porcupine Hills-Livingstone Recreation Advisory Group and as Vice President of the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of Alberta. He was a member of the Public Advisory Committee that developed the West Bragg Creek All-Season Trails Plan.
Alf has been involved in trail building and maintenance with the Great Divide Trails Association and Friends of Kananaskis Country, where he is currently on the Advisory Committee. His role with BCT is lead for the construction and maintenance of the all-season trails.
Ken Young – Treasurer
Ken is a “semi” retired oil and gas executive with his professional experience in land and business development. He fell in love with the mountains when he first came west in 1977 to work for the summer at Chateau Lake Louise. With the mountain bug and a job in the booming oil business, he moved out west from the Maritimes immediately upon graduating from Mount Allison University and has more or less lived here since. Ken now lives southwest of Calgary in the foothills and has a passion for road and trail running, cycling and cross country skiing, frequenting the trails at WBC to pursue these interests. On March 8, 2019 Ken and a couple of friends pieced together and skied every single groomed segment of trail at WBC, for a total distance of 71.85km – that was a crazy day! Ken joined the BCT board in early 2020 and quickly took over the responsibilities of Treasurer combining his past business experience and recreational activities into a new chapter.
Michele White – Secretary
A native Calgarian, Michele lives less than 9 km from where she grew up. Cycling and camping were part of the family adventures. Riding her hand-me-down bikes and whipping around the cul-de-sac, Michele developed a love of cycling – and a high pain tolerance thanks to all the road rash, bruises and scrapes experienced and calm reassurances to “walk it off”. The eastern slopes and Rocky Mountains provided all season activities and gave Michele a sense of wanderlust and love of the outdoors.
Michele has spent the last 20+ years as a Project Manager leading a variety of software, infrastructure and data projects. A generalist in most fields, Michele feels her prime role as a leader is to listen to the experts and, when necessary, find ways to remove issues that block her teammates from successfully completing their work.
Michele started volunteering with BCT as trail crew, learning ways to maintain trails, and how not to damage them. Seeing the growth in use and inevitable damage on the trails, she volunteered as a Crew Lead and is on a learning curve on how to build sustainable all season trails. She is excited to continue learning and digging in and getting her hands dirty – both on trails and with the Board.
Eric Lloyd – Director Special Projects
Eric is BCTs longest standing active volunteer and is recognized as the organization’s guiding light. When it comes to raising money ( in the millions!), bringing to completion our biggest projects and skillfully herding cats, Eric has no equal.
His dedication to nature and the balance of its interests with those of us that share the natural landscape has anchored each and every BCT policy and project.
Eric and his wife Cathy are long term west Bragg Creek residents.
Karena Brawley – Director
Karena Brawley, B.SC, TMF, CHPC
Karena is an oil and gas Geophysicist and also a Transformational Mindset Facilitator and a Certified High Performance Coach.
Karena has spent the last 35 years working in oil and gas for both junior and major oil and gas companies, as well as being a principal and executive of start up companies. For the past 15 years she has been serving clients as an independent consultant with Amulet Exploration Ltd..
As a Personal Coach Karena has hundreds of hours of certified training and the passion and experience to guide professionals, business-owners, and individuals to live their best personal and professional lives.
Karena joined the BCT Board in May of 2018.
Jill Hartzell – Director
Jill retired in 2019 after 15 years in the oil and gas industry together with 12 years in the legal industry. Jill is a long-time user of the Bragg Creek trail system with over 30 years of cross-country skiing. It wasn’t until after her retirement that she was able to give back to the community and help build and maintain the Bragg Creek trails.
Jill is an active cyclist, mountain bike rider, downhill and cross-country skier, and hiker. Pretty much anything that’s outside!
Jill mainly volunteers on the single-track trails assisting with maintenance and building new trails. Her recent endeavors in the winter of 2023 included cross country ski grooming and learning to operate the snowmobiles, the Bobcat and the Snow Rabbit.
Look for Jill out on the trails, you will see her operating the quad, swinging a mattock or carrying around a pole saw.
Jamie Mackie - Director
Jamie brings over 40 years of experience in Investment Banking and the Oil and Gas industry. Despite an unassuming presence he is a keen competitor while still maintaining unparalleled transparency with clients and gives them a high‐ level of trust and peace of mind.
The first half of Jamie’s career was in the oil and gas industry -Suncor, Hudson Bay Oil, Gas/Dome Petroleum and Canadian Hunter – on both the commercial and technical sides of the business.
He transitioned to the Investment Industry partnering with Brett Wilson to form Wilson Mackie and Company. This merger and acquisition advisory boutique became the Corporate Finance department of First Energy Capital Corp at its founding. There he served as a Partner and Managing Director of Corporate Finance.
After leaving First Energy, Jamie began a new career as a Retail Investment Advisor at First Marathon Securities. He later left to form the new full‐service Investment boutique J.F Mackie and Company which in 2009 merged with Research Capital to form Mackie Research Capital. In 2011 he and his team, the Mackie Wealth Group moved to Macquarie Private Wealth.
During his career Jamie has honed an ability to see the big picture, be in constant learning mode and adapt quickly to the changing world of investing.
Neil MacLaine – Director
Neil was first drawn to Bragg Creek when stationed in Calgary with the Army in the early 80’s. After a few tours elsewhere, he was posted back to Calgary in 1988 and bought some land south of Bragg Creek on which to keep a few horses and build a home for his growing family. Every spare moment since has been spent exploring Kananaskis. By 1991 it became apparent that Neil’s job was interfering with his recreation, so he left the army to start an adventure outfitting business – Moose Mountain Adventures.
Neil feels incredibly lucky to have made a “job” out of exploring the eastern slopes on horseback for the past 30 years. The whole MacLaine family also enjoys cross-country skiing there in the winter.
As a member of the Bragg Creek Chamber of Commerce, Neil is aware that the trails bring a lot of people to our community and influence the local economy. Increasing collaboration between the trails and the business community is one of his goals.
His other priority is ensuring that equestrian users continue to have their needs and interests considered. Reconciling the growing popularity of the area and new modes of “getting around” with the desire to preserve natural beauty and a sense of wilderness will be a challenge. Neil is excited to join BCT!
David Owen – Director
David Owen – Director
David moved to Canada from the UK with his young family in 1997. Keen on the outdoor life, they soon discovered Bragg Creek and the trails that existed back then. There, they all tried to learn to cross country ski but somehow that never quite became a family tradition. Being a very keen mountain biker, David volunteered for his first trail day in 2012, did a couple more in 2013 (when he wasn’t dealing with a flooded basement) and became the nascent Volunteer Coordinator for BCT in 2014.
In 2017 he became a Crew Leader and worked closely with Alf redesigning and then rebuilding the trail entry points to accommodate the new parking lot. Also that year – Ed had a good idea, David persuaded MEC to provide some shirts and Parks to provide some money and the now legendary “Trail Fairy” t-shirts were born – a shirt that had to be earned not bought!
Recently he has stepped up and assumed the role of Safety Officer and is currently utilising his old old career skills in helping manage the small but essential IT infrastructure.
His passion for the trails really is summed up in the BCT motto – For All, Outside, Every Season!
Brad Small – Director
The West Bragg Creek trail system is a primary reason why Brad and his wife recently retired to Bragg Creek. While growing up and raising his family in Calgary, the Elbow Valley and WBC trail systems became a recreational outlet and a place to just breathe. Brad has been biking and hiking for most his adult life. But his passion and adrenalin rush happens when mountain biking and fat-biking in winter so BCT and Brad were an obvious fit! Since joining, Brad has been in awe of the people and their passion, knowledge and dedication to managing a world class multi-user trail network.
Prior to retiring, Brad had a 30+ year career in the oil and gas industry both as a Professional Engineer and in various leadership roles. Leading people, facility/production projects, development, maintenance & operations, and building external partnerships/relationships are some of the key strengths that he brings to BCT. His is a culture of safety first, respect and professionalism, teamwork and fun. He is excited to bring these core beliefs to an already successful organization.
Ursula Wohlfarth – Director
Ursula has been a consultant, managing her own practice, since 1989. Prior to that, she worked as Public Affairs Director for The University of Calgary from 1981 to 1989, where her mandate included all aspects of internal and external communications.
Ursula has acquired lots of practical experience in advising leaders on identifying and addressing people related issues arising in today’s workplaces. As an assessor, Ursula designs and executes programs to measure organizational results in everything from client services to internal communications. She also has worked as a trainer to deliver workshops on internal consulting skills and on leadership and employee communication.
Ursula’s not-for-profit experience has focused on:
- best practices for Board governance
- strategic business planning, including setting specific goals
- accountability and alignment for Boards of Directors and the staff members who report to Boards.
Previously she has served on the Board of Alberta Theatre projects, and Ursula also has volunteered in the past with both the United Way and with the Calgary Foundation.
Join a BCT Committee
Thinking about joining the BCT Board of Directors? We recommend starting by volunteering on one of our Committees to get a feel for what we do!
We’re currently seeking talented individuals with skills in:
• Environmental Stewardship
• Volunteer Management & Engagement
• Communications
• Fundraising
• Health & Safety
• Trail Operations
• Trail Hosting
• Events
If you’re passionate about any of these areas and want to contribute to BCT, we’d love to hear from you!
For more information, please reach out to our Secretary
Careers
At the present time, there are no open positions within our organization. We kindly request you to revisit our website periodically for any updates regarding job opportunities.
