Today’s colder temperatures and few flurries won’t be enough to keep cyclists off their bikes this long weekend in Banff.
The Banff Legacy Trail may open as early as Thursday, April 17, weeks earlier than normal, thanks to the efforts of the Towns of Banff and Canmore. Town of Banff staff volunteered their time to plow snow and sweep gravel clear of a majority of the trail, and the Town of Canmore swept the balance of the trail from Canmore to the Valleyview picnic area. Parks Canada placed barriers along portions of the trail and swept Vermilion Lakes Road earlier this week, but the western leg of the trail to the Bow Valley Parkway remains icy and will not open.
In the past, Parks Canada has been unable to clear the trail until May, but the Towns of Banff and Canmore committed to helping get the popular cycling route open for the Easter long weekend.
Built in 2010 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Banff National Park, the Legacy Trail is one of the most popular cycling routes in Banff, connecting Canmore, Banff and the Bow Valley Parkway.