Alberta Proposes Dedicated 'Moto Trials' Zone Near Jura Creek, Just East of Canmore

The Alberta government is proposing to designate a small, purpose-built motorized recreation area near Jura Creek as part of the draft Canmore Area Trails Master Plan, a wide-ranging blueprint that aims to reshape how recreation is managed across one of the Bow Valley’s most heavily used landscapes.

The proposal would formally establish a dedicated zone for “moto trials,” a niche form of off-highway motorcycle riding that emphasizes balance and technical skill rather than speed, on a rocky slope near Jura Creek, east of Canmore between Grotto Canyon and Yamnuska. If approved, it would become one of the few locations in the region where motorized recreation is explicitly accommodated within a broader trail system that otherwise prioritizes hiking, biking, skiing, and wildlife protection.

The motorized trials zone is one of dozens of recommendations contained in the draft Canmore Area Trails Master Plan, released by Alberta Forestry and Parks as part of a multi-year effort to create an integrated, authorized, and environmentally sustainable trail network spanning Crown land, provincial parks, and municipal lands from Banff’s eastern boundary to the Exshaw and Yamnuska area.

Public feedback on the draft plan is open until Jan. 21, after which the province will consider revisions before finalizing the document.

A specialized form of motorized recreation

The plan distinguishes moto trials from conventional motocross or trail riding. Trials riding involves navigating steep rock slabs, boulders, logs, and other obstacles at very low speeds, with an emphasis on precise throttle control, balance, and technical line choice. Riders typically use lightweight motorcycles and follow marked “sections” rather than continuous high-speed tracks.

According to the draft plan, the proposed Jura Creek location features a natural rock slope that is well suited to this type of riding and is situated near existing industrial land uses, making it one of the few areas in the Bow Valley where such activity could potentially occur with limited conflict with other trail users.

The area would be formally designated as a “trail area” for motorized use under Alberta’s Trails Act and would be managed in partnership with the Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Association. A separate, adjacent zone along the Jura Creek flats would be reserved exclusively for non-motorized activities, creating a clear spatial separation between motorized and non-motorized recreation.

Strict conditions proposed

The draft plan outlines a detailed set of conditions that would govern any future trials riding in the area.

Only two-wheeled motorcycles, either gas or electric, would be permitted. Riders would be required to use approved exhaust systems and spark arrestors to reduce noise and wildfire risk. No riding would be allowed outside the designated trials zone, and the surrounding landscape would remain non-motorized.

The use of natural features such as rock outcrops and fallen logs would be allowed, but tree cutting would require approval, and any constructed obstacles, such as ramps or balance beams, would have to be temporary and removed at the end of the season or after organized events. The plan also calls for education and signage to inform users about wildlife values and applicable regulations.

The area is explicitly described as being intended for trials riding only, not for general dirt biking or high-speed off-road travel.

One element in a broader land-use strategy

The proposed trials zone sits within a much larger planning framework that seeks to address long-standing issues in the Bow Valley, including trail proliferation, user conflict, and impacts on wildlife movement corridors.

The Canmore Area Trails Master Plan emphasizes concentrating recreation in defined zones, decommissioning unsanctioned trails, and creating large trail-free areas in key habitats. Much of the document focuses on shifting high-use activities away from valley-bottom wildlife corridors and toward steeper, less ecologically sensitive terrain, while also separating different types of users to reduce conflict.

Within that context, the moto trials proposal is presented as a way to accommodate a highly specific form of motorized recreation without opening the broader trail network to off-highway vehicle use.

The Northeast Bow Valley planning unit, where the Jura Creek area is located, already includes a mix of uses, from hiking and climbing access to technical mountain biking and scrambling. The draft plan notes that damaged informal routes in the Jura Creek flats would be decommissioned and rehabilitated, and that motorized use would be confined strictly to the designated trials slope.

Public input underway

Alberta Forestry and Parks is currently seeking feedback on the entire draft trails master plan, including the motorized trials proposal. The engagement period runs until Jan. 21, with comments to be submitted through the province’s online platform.

The plan is not yet final, and all proposed trail designations, closures, and new recreation zones remain subject to revision based on public input and further technical review.

If approved, the Jura Creek trials area would represent a rare example of purpose-built motorized recreation being formally integrated into a regional trail system in the Bow Valley, alongside extensive measures aimed at wildlife conservation, user safety, and long-term sustainability.