Alberta cycling
Canada travel, tourism

Road Cycling in Alberta

Alberta, Canada road cycling is a popular summer activity enjoyed in the province. Planning a cycling adventure is a good way for sightseeing the country when visiting with smaller communities and bigger cities.

Alberta cycling Canada travel The road cycle routes in Alberta explore landscapes covered in mountains, forests, foothills, grassland prairies, hoodoos and coulees. It is the scenery - when traveling from one community to the other - that can make a cycle trip so memorable.

There are many cycling routes throughout Alberta following paved highways, secondary roads, community bike paths and parkways. Some major roads in the biking communities of Alberta include bike lanes and/or highways with wide paved shoulders.

Some routes are in excellent condition and some require attention fixing pot holes, widening shoulders, repaving and removing debris. When cycling, always be aware of the road traveled on, pack a spare tire and always keep your head up for wildlife and moving vehicles.

Cycle routes vary in difficulty depending on location, road conditions and distance. Some cyclists prefer day rides while others load up bikes with tents and sleeping bags for long haul cycling adventures.

The location of the biking adventure determines the distance and terrain to be cycled. In the west there are more mountains which translates into more hill climbing and downhill stretches. In the central and south of Alberta the landscape is more flat with fields of prairie grasslands and coulees.

In the Rocky Mountain region of Alberta the 300+ kilometre Icefields Parkway explores the Banff and Jasper National Parks. It is one of the most popular cycling routes in Alberta. The Icefields Parkway connects to Highway #40 in Kananaskis Country which is another wilderness cycling route measuring about 70 kilometres.

The City of Edmonton in Central Alberta includes over 100+ kilometres of paved bike routes for cycling. Highway #21, south of Edmonton, is a highway cycle route which visits with Camrose and Red Deer.

The City of Calgary in South Alberta enjoys over 200+ kilometres of paved pathways used for biking. It is one of the largest bike path networks in Canada. Highway #22, south of Calgary, is another long distance highway cycle route. The highway eventually connects with Highway #3 in Crowsnest Pass which is another long haul highway cycle route.