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The Potential for Abandoned Rail Lines to Become Trails
There are two potential abandoned railway rights of way in Central
Alberta that could one day become trails.
The first is the former Alberta Central Railway (CPR) alignment between
Red Deer and Sylvan Lake. There are some serious challenges to be
addressed, including the rehabilitation of the historic Mintlaw trestle
and the crossing of the Highway 11 expressway.
Another is a proposed multi-use trail between Rocky Mountain House and
Nordegg along the former Canadian National Railways right of way.
In Red Deer, the former Canadian Pacific Railway bridge has already been
converted into part of the Waskasoo Park trail system.
Rails to trails projects have been very successful across North America
including the Kettle Valley Railway trail in British Columbia and the
Iron Horse Trail northeast of Edmonton.
Rail Trails and Safe Communities (pdf)
Rails to Trails Conservancy (U.S.)
Secrets of Successful Rail Trails (pdf)
Rails to Trails Conservancy (U.S.)
Proposal for Red Deer-Mintlaw-
Sylvan Lake ACR Linear Park
Forth Junction Heritage Society |
 Mission Statement:
"To foster & provide opportunities for
promotion,
designation and
development of a trail network."
Rails to Trails
Iron
Horse Trail
Kettle Valley Rail Trail
Cycling the Kettle Valley Railway
Myra Canyon Trestle Restoration Society
Regional Trails Network
The concept of
a regional trails network in Central Alberta can be traced back to
at least 1987 with the completion of Waskasoo Park in Red
Deer. Other communities also developed municipal recreational trail
systems soon afterwards, including Innisfail, Lacombe and Sylvan Lake
with several other communities at that time planning trails for the
future. There was also a rural trail built linking Bentley with Gull
Lake along Highway 12.
Although a series
of trails in Red Deer were registered as Trans Canada Trail a few
years earlier, the pavilion at Bower Ponds was officially dedicated
in 2005. Other communities having TCT designation include
Innisfail, Lacombe and Ponoka.
In January 1999, the Central Alberta Regional Trails Society (CARTS)
was born to encourage the development of trails within urban
communities and create rural linkages between communities.
(see History)
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