Bike Trail The Toe

Always along the river

Your actual tour starts right next to the Tunnel Mountain Road. You start your cycle just behind an outlet of the Bow River and, for the first part of your route, you go parallel to this river arm. When the river arm makes a slight left curve, you will have to manage the first big ascent of your tour.

A challenging ascent

You now follow the uphill path further, through a forested area. Soon there will be a sharp left bend in your route, which will again lead you alongside the Bow River, but now in the opposite direction. You need to keep on the slightly leftwards leading forest track. After another small ascent, you will soon have reached the final destination of your tour.

Variety at the highest level

At first glimpse, The Toe cycle path may seem rather short, but it offers a special mix of technical challenges and gorgeous panorama views for each and every singletrack enthusiast. The route has some characteristic depths and elevations that constantly interchange. It is therefore best suitable for advanced cyclists, who could already gain some experience on routes alike.

There are no known rest points along the route itself. However, the nearby city Banff offers enough options to energize yourself before, or after the tour.

As you need to manage a couple of ascents along your way, you will be rewarded with gorgeous views. Your path is at all times close to the Bow River, so that the river valley view is a beautiful side benefit of your otherwise quite challenging tour.

This challenge, however, is what makes The Toe singletrack a very special one. It can be done by advanced cyclists as well as by old hands of the cycling sport. You will not get bored.

As you can already see by the routing on the map, you have the possibility to add the Tunnel Mountain Loop to your trail. It leads you over the Tunnel Mountain Road, which will again take you back to Banff and to your parking facility.

By car

To get to the starting point of your tour, you should first drive to the city Banff.

Starting in Calgary

Follow the Bow Trail in western direction to leave the city. Turn right at the intersection with the Sarcee Trail. Once you get the chance, change onto the Trans-Canada Highway in the direction of Banff. Follow the highway for a total of 110 km, until you reach the exit to the city Banff. After the exit, keep to the left on Banff Avenue. It will take you directly to the city center.

As there are no parking facilites on-site, one possibility is to park your car at the car park of the Surprise Corner. Once you have arrived in Banff, simply follow Banff Avenue and then turn left onto Buffalo Street. At the point where Buffalo Street turns into the Tunnel Mountain Drive, the road makes a sharp left turn, where you can also find parking facilities.

From here, The Toe cycle path is signposted with black markings.