A Place for Every Rider: Building an Inclusive Skills Park at the Canmore Nordic Centre

The Canmore and Area Mountain Bike Association (CAMBA) is a registered charity that builds, maintains and advocates for sustainable trails that provide safe, accessible, and environmentally responsible recreation for all users across the Bow Valley.

The Canmore Nordic Centre (CNC) Provincial Park is a four-season training facility for athletes and para-athletes, with an extensive trail network used by mountain bikers from across the province and around the world. Its cross-country trails mainly serve intermediate and advanced riders. Alberta Parks manages the network, and a cooperating agreement sets CAMBA's annual work plan and trail funding; projects beyond that scope, like this one, must be funded through grants, sponsorships and donations.

CAMBA has operated and maintained the CNC's small skills zone for the past five seasons. It consists mainly of aging dirt jumps that focus on a single advanced skill (jumping) and lack the space and progression beginners need to prepare for the rest of the network. There is also no room for developing riders to stop and receive coaching during community programs.

CAMBA proposes to expand the bike skills park into a dedicated space where riders can build confidence and progress in a safe, structured environment. With a 'green to blue' progression in mind, the expansion includes:

• One beginner line: a low-difficulty trail teaching balance and cornering, and including small rollovers, wooden technical features, along with a fabricated drop. Ideal for youth, families and new riders.

• Two intermediate lines: moderate berms, rollable drops, and small jumps that prepare riders for advanced trails and the adjacent jump park, each with different challenges to encourage progression and repeat use.

• A return trail: a dedicated connector that sends riders back into the park for safe circulation and continuous laps.

The approximately 260 m² area will be built sustainably using local soils where possible. Realigning the existing Canmore Trail to the north end of the park is also part of the project and will create a larger, safer space for developing riders while reducing conflict with other trail users. Minimal tree removal will preserve the natural shade the site enjoys today.

Youth, families and new riders: CNC's trail network is built mainly for intermediate and advanced riders, and the existing skills zone consists of aging dirt jumps. The new beginner line gives kids, parents, and first-time riders a safe, welcoming place to learn balance, cornering, and rollovers, and to attempt low-consequence technical features.

Developing and intermediate riders: Two intermediate lines with berms, rollable drops and small jumps create a clear progression pathway. They bridge the gap between entry-level riding and the advanced trails and jump park already constructed, helping riders build skills in a controlled setting. 

School and community programs; Local volunteers and coaches: CAMBA leads a trail advisory committee consisting of local cycling clubs, non-profit trail organizations, businesses, and an adaptive riding group. Recent feedback from youth program coaches at the Rocky Mountain Cycling Club and Trail Sports shared that there is a growing need for accessible, lap-able features close to the CNC day lodge with room to stop and coach. The new layout gives groups space to receive feedback and instruction safely while also featuring improved sightlines. It also creates an area for school programs, facilitated by Trail Sports, to screen and develop skills within a controlled and low-risk environment. 

Adaptive riders: Rocky Mountain Adaptive, a local charity that provides accessible adventures to program participants, asked that features be wide enough for the width and turning radius of adaptive bikes. Designing for that inclusion makes the park more welcoming for adaptive athletes, and the wider features also benefit every beginner, giving them room to make mistakes without injury risk.

Other trail users: Realigning Canmore Trail to the north end of the park reduces conflict between those using the park and users riding on shared multi-use trails, improving safety for hikers, runners and other cyclists. 

The wider community and local economy: A modern, family-friendly skills area supports an active lifestyle, gives residents a place to ride close to town, and strengthens Canmore's reputation as a premier outdoor destination, drawing visitors who will support local businesses.

Volunteers and stewardship: CAMBA's volunteer build events give community members a hands-on role in creating and caring for their trails. The project will use soils already found in the park and involves minimal disturbances to the existing landscape.