One of the quiet joys of winter in West Bragg Creek is how the forest suddenly becomes a storybook. Fresh snow along the trails turns into a blank page, and local wildlife can’t help but write all over it. With every dusting, the foothills offer new mysteries: Who trotted down the powdery edge of the trail before sunrise? What made those tidy clusters of tracks beneath the spruce? Winter tracking here isn’t just a naturalist’s hobby, it’s one of the best ways to connect with the wild rhythms that make this corner of Alberta so special.
Many of the usual suspects leave their signatures around West Bragg Creek. Coyotes weave purposeful lines along the multi-use trails, their oval prints appearing in neat, straight patterns. Snowshoe hares bound through willow tangles, their oversized hind feet forming that unmistakable “Y” pattern aimed in the direction of travel. Deer tracks are everywhere, often revealing much more than a simple passing. Look closely and you might spot where a White-Tail Deer pawed through the snow to reach buried vegetation or stood alert, leaving a cluster of deeper impressions. And if you’re lucky, you may come upon the broad, five-toed prints of a pine marten or the telltale wing pattern of an owl snatching its prey from beneath the snow.
In Bragg Creek, context is everything. Tracks on a sunny south-facing slope tell a different story than those tucked into a shaded, snow-preserving forest. A sudden scatter of tiny vole marks might reveal a fox’s silent nighttime patrol. The packed-down zigzags around a log could point to a curious weasel hunting beneath the snowpack. Even the trees speak to those who are willing to listen, especially in the form of squirrel chew piles, strip marks from porcupines, or the drumming traces left by woodpeckers. Winter may be quieter here, but it’s never still.
The best part? Anyone can join in. Whether you’re skiing the West Bragg network, fat biking the singletrack, or taking a gentle winter hike, tracking adds a layer of adventure to every outing. Bring your curiosity, pause often, and let the snow be your field guide. The forest has plenty of stories to tell, you just have to read the tracks.
For those looking for a little assistance with their tracking adventures, Alberta Parks has a free Winter Ecology Tracking Booklet that you can download right here.
