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IRON HORSE TRAIL, AB
Ride on the Iron Horse
This trail takes riders through warm communities and cool sights
by TANYA LAING MOORE
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ENDLESS BEAUTY: A rider along the trail enjoys the ever-changing topography.
—photo courtesy Iron Horse Trail Tourism |
The Iron Horse Trail—a 300-kilometre-plus, multi-use, town-to-town trail in east-central Alberta—is the ideal route to travel regardless of the season. In winter, snowmobilers love to cruise the groomed trail; in summer, it is a favourite place for ATV enthusiasts and other recreationists.
The Iron Horse Trail was once a section of the Canadian National Railway used to haul grain and even jet fuel to the Cold Lake air base. Following the trail, riders journey through mixed forest and farmland and along streams, rivers and lakes.
The Iron Horse is Y-shaped. The first route travels from Waskatenau and runs through Smoky Lake, Vilna, Spedden Ashmont, St. Paul, Elk Point and Lindbergh, ending in Heinsburg. Alternately, the Abilene Junction near Ashmont takes riders through Maillaig, Therien, Glendon, Franchere, Bonnyville, Fort Kent and Ardmore to Cold Lake.
Community pride
Marianne Price, the industry co-ordinator of the Iron Horse Trail Tourism Product Club, said that the trail is very popular among local ATV users as well as those visiting the region.
“We find that we’re drawing people in from all across the province and Saskatchewan,” said Price. “They come here to make a weekend of it or a three-, four- or five-day trip and set up a base camp at one of the communities.”
The communities that the Iron Horse goes through take pride in their ownership of the trail.
“Because the 10 municipalities that the trail passes through actually own the trail, it is very much supported by the communities,” said Price. “Each of the major areas has either a snowmobile or a quad/ATV group that participates in a trail stewardship program.”
The Iron Horse leads riders through varied and beautiful topography. ATVers will travel through boreal forests and wetlands that offer the chance to see wildlife. The trail also winds past agricultural land; riders can sometimes see bison and elk that are raised on farms along the route. The terrain is varied with rolling hills, aspen forests and steep ravines as the trail travels toward the North Saskatchewan River between St. Paul and Heinsburg. And there are some unique features along the Iron Horse that might be unexpected in this part of the world.
“Coming east of Smoky Lake there are ancient sand dunes that are covered by a pine forest now,” said Price.
Reminders of the past
Some of the highlights of the Iron Horse Trail are the tangible reminders that the route was once part of the railway.
“Because it’s a converted rail bed, we’ve kept all of the trestles,” said Price. “We have a few pretty big ones. The largest one is in the Cold Lake area—the Beaver River trestle.”
The Beaver River trestle is 450 metres long and 60 metres above the valley floor. The trestles are all ATV-accessible—chain-link fencing keeps riders safe. Price said the views overlooking the river valley are astounding; during one of her journeys across the trestles, she was treated to the sight of hundreds of jackfish migrating upstream.
According to Price, the trail is increasing in popularity among ATVers and she anticipates a busy summer. With all there is to see along the trail, and with the communities that line it providing warm hospitality, it’s easy to see why.
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