Where Can I Ride My Mountain Bike in Cochrane?

This is one of the most common questions we hear from our members and non-members. Since 2022, Bike Cochrane is the legal trail steward for the Town of Cochrane’s trails and it’s in that capacity that we’ve released our RANCH HOUSE AREA MAP. These are trails that Bike Cochrane is actively managing in the Cochrane Ranche and Sunset areas along with a private trail on Mount St Francis land, and a members-only trail at the Cochrane and District Ag Society. Thanks to Bike Cochrane’s Trail Crew, we now have 24km of dirt trails that are great for riding a mountain bike, a cyclocross bike, a gravel bike, and for trail running, walking, and on-leash pet walking too.

Bike Cochrane’s Trail Crew operates entirely on volunteers, and in 2023, we volunteered 1573 hours in Trail Projects to building, maintaining, remediating, and pruning/cleaning trails in Cochrane. We follow Whistler Trail standards in order to have safe, sustainable, erosion-protected trails. Our team is trained according to IMBA Canada training standards. We have 7 certified chainsaw operators and 5 recently-certified First Aiders. We are always in need of trail crew volunteers, so if you want to join the Trail Crew, email to trails@bikecochrane.com and we’ll add you to the party!

If you want to learn more about trail-building and HOW we build trails, click WE LOVE TRAILS.

It is Bike Cochrane’s goal that all residents in Cochrane can ride a mountain biking trail from their home without needing a car. In that spirit, we are working in 2023 to actively manage and open more trails on the south side of Cochrane.

If you see a downed tree, or damage to the trails, please email us at trails@bikecochrane.com so that we can either remediate it, or work with the Town to get it fixed. Also, if you’re interested in being a part of our Trails Crew, please email us at trails@bikecochrane.com to be added to our regular Trails Crew activities emails. We can’t do anything without volunteers, and if you think ‘Somebody should do something about this trail’, then remember YOU’RE SOMEBODY and come work with Bike Cochrane to make our town better for biking!

BUFFALO BEAN TRAIL OPEN IN 2021!

In 2021, we opened our first official trail at the Cochrane and District Agricultural Society - the Buffalo Bean, named after the beautiful golden bean wildflower found in this area! While this trail is presently only open to Bike Cochrane members (and you need to sign a waiver to ride here for insurance purposes), it is our home base in Cochrane. We have a 2.5km loop with 120 m elevation gain (the OG Buffalo Bean), along with a lower flow trail called Buffalo Junior, and a new flow line called Angry Hawks. We’ve also added a west climb route for doing laps down the Angry Hawk trail, or just to mix things up. Check out the BUFFALO BEAN TRAIL MAP. With over 200 hours invested into our ‘home base’, we’re proud of Buffalo Bean and hope you enjoy it too! Place your Bike Cochrane sticker on your helmet or bike, e-sign the waiver that came with your membership email, and get after it!

This is a great trail for ‘lunch laps’, to take your kids for a rip on bikes, or to work on your skills or fitness. It’s also one of the first trails that dries out in southern Alberta and one of the last to stay snow-free courtesy of the south aspect, and the prevailing west winds. So start your riding season early with your Bike Cochrane membership, and come ride Buffalo Bean!

We’ve improved the trailhead in 2022 with funds courtesy of the Cochrane Foundation and added picnic tables, a welcoming space, garbage and recycling cans, permanent metal signage, and eventually a proper gravel parking lot in 2023. If you’re interested in helping us improve this trail or any other, please join the Trail Crew by emailing trails@bikecochrane.com.

Mount St Francis Trails

SWEET PHOTOS OF RIDING and building TRAILS IN COCHRANE