BEGINNER DRIVE IN THE MOUTNAINS

[FirstTimer]

Does anyone have any suggestion of a beginner trail out by canmore that has some great views?

Have this monday off and would like to take my new 02 TJ out for a joy ride.

Thanks

[BlackAura]

Does anyone have any suggestion of a beginner trail out by canmore that has some great views?

Have this monday off and would like to take my new 02 TJ out for a joy ride.

Thanks

Unfortunately as far as I know, there are no areas where you can wheel in the national parks.  Canmore is pretty close to Banff National Park, so I'm not sure if you'll find anywhere you can legally go in the immediate area.

I think McLean Creek falls in the Kananaskis area (at least, I've seen signs saying welcome to Kananaskis Country) so there may be other 4x4 / OHV trails in Kananaskis that I don't know about, that are further north and closer to Canmore.

If you have the required equipment, and are free Sunday, I'd recommend you come out on the Thanksgiving Day Run that Pook is leading....
http://forum.calgaryjeep.com/index.php?topic=20036.0


There may very well be some good dirt roads you can take that provide some good views.....sorry if that's what you meant.....at first I assumed you meant offroading  


Edit:  Been a while since I've been there, but I've gone climbing at Grassi Lakes (just behind Canmore)....the road turns to gravel / dirt at some point.
Smith Dorien / Spray Trail may be a good drive...to be honest I'm not sure, but it might be worth checking out if you don't find anything else that looks interesting.  I'm not sure if it gets closed at any point, but as long as there's no snow you're probably good.

Google Maps Link Here

More Info on the Smith Dorien and Spray Trails Here

I might have to check this out now....it looks really nice where it follows the edge (coast?  not really...) of the the Spray lakes Reservoir.

[specialk]

Waiparous and Mclean will be the 2 closest areas for you to wheel in.  Please, do not try wheeling alone.  Make sure you have some basic recovery gear.
Watch the Open Trail section on the forum and hook some people for a run.

[SwampSinger]

Take the Peter Loughee Hwy

[Knox]

Take the Peter Loughee Hwy

Is that a recent snow report?

[FirstTimer]

Unfortunately, I don't think I'm well equiped enough to go on the Thanksgiving run, as much as I would love too... I'm currently running all stock parts and have no recovery equipment...

Speaking of which, recovery equipment that is, what do you all suggest I get?  I'm not looking to go hard core, i just want to give it a try and see if its soemthing i'm really into before porring cash into my ride.

And thanks for all the advice! I'm definetly looking for a fun drive with some nice veiws, so the girlfriend can enjoy herself too!

[dac]

What about going for a casual drive up the *trunk*(sp) road?  There's usually some wild life to see.  It's all gravel and there are some hidden corners so you have to be careful but it's nice.  So either go Cochrane - Waiparous and keep going or take the #1 to this side of Seebe and go south.  If you go south you can go as far as the 532 and come out at Chain Lakes.  It'd be a real nice drive.  Lots to look at and some cool places to stop along the way.  Google map it for an idea of how far it is.

[FirstTimer]

THANKS! 

That was a lot easier than I thought it would be!

Can't wait to get out there!

[Pookapotamus]

@ firsttimer

do you have towpoints?

[FirstTimer]

Are tow points the hooks that are on the front and back bumper? cuz if so I do not... but depending on the cost I might be able to get some this weekend

[Pookapotamus]

yes those are the towpoints that we are talking about with out those we cannot pull you out if you get stuck, i am not sure on the cost of them and you would probably be better off finding them second hand, but if you can get them on for sunday come on out to the open run.

[dac]

Just to be clear though, if you go for a tour on the Trunk Road you shouldn't need them.  Shouldn't be driving too far off the gravel.  It'd be more of a casual drive trip, not wheeling.