🏍️ Motorbikes on Canmore Trails?

Good morning, Bow Valley!

We don’t usually lead with a poll, but we want your honest take. We’ve been hearing a lot, both good and bad, about last weekend’s skijor event, and as we put together a post-mortem, we want to know…

— Fortune Whelan, Ben S., Sneha Kainth, Madalyn Beach

ALBERTA PROPOSES DEDICATED ‘MOTO TRIALS’ ZONE JUST EAST OF CANMORE

What’s Happening? The Alberta government is proposing a small, purpose-built motorized recreation zone for ‘moto trials’ riding near Jura Creek, just east of Canmore, as part of a broader regional trails strategy. Don’t know what ‘moto trials’ is? You’re not alone. We had to look it up, too.

The Big Picture. If the Canmore Area Trails Master Plan sounds familiar, that’s because it should. We’ve covered the draft plan multiple times since November as it outlines how recreation will be reshaped across Crown land, provincial parks, and nearby municipal areas. Today’s story zooms in on one specific proposal within that larger document.

What Exactly Is Moto Trials? Moto trials is a niche form of off-highway motorcycling that looks nothing like motocross. Riders move slowly over rocks, logs, and steep slabs, emphasizing balance and precise control rather than speed or jumps. According to the draft plan, a rocky slope near Jura Creek between Grotto Canyon and Yamnuska is well suited to this type of riding and is located near existing industrial land uses.

How The Area Would Work. The trials zone would be tightly defined and formally designated under Alberta’s Trails Act. Only two-wheeled motorcycles, gas or electric, would be allowed. Approved exhaust systems and spark arrestors would be required, riding would be confined strictly to the trials slope, and the surrounding landscape would remain non-motorized. An adjacent section of the Jura Creek flats would be reserved exclusively for hiking and other non-motorized activities.

Why It’s Included? The plan frames the proposal as a way to accommodate a highly specific form of motorized recreation without opening the broader Bow Valley trail network to general off-highway vehicle use. It also pairs the trials zone with the removal and rehabilitation of damaged informal routes nearby.

What’s Next? Whether you support the proposal or not, today is the last day to submit public feedback through the province’s online engagement form.

A LAWYER WHO ACTUALLY LIVES HERE

Ever dream of snapping up that perfect mountain-view condo, but the paperwork feels like climbing Ha Ling? 

Or maybe you’re juggling a budding Bow Valley startup and have more contracts than caffeine? 

That’s where Stringam comes in. 

They’re not some big-city lawyers breezing through; they actually live here, volunteer here, and know exactly how to tackle those rocky legal details so you can keep adventuring worry-free. 

Whether you’re investing in real estate, launching a business, or sorting out the family plan, Stringam’s deep local experience has your back. 

Trust us…knowing your legal team is as rooted in the community as you are makes every decision feel a little lighter. 

Ready to keep forging ahead (without tripping over the fine print)? 

Reach out to Stringam and see how local know-how can make all the difference.

_{*Presented by Stringam Law.}

THE DIGEST

• ⛰️ Canmore’s Mountains Started as Coral Reefs. The peaks around Canmore began near the equator under a warm tropical sea, according to Dr. Eva Enkelmann of the University of Calgary. Beach sand became quartzite, coral reefs hardened into limestone, and later tectonic collisions shoved massive slabs of rock eastward, stacking them into mountains. Glaciers then carved the Bow Valley we know today. If you love rocks and ice (and who doesn’t), you can learn more in our full story.  

• 🛰 Most Readers Say a $2,000 Drone Fine Misses the Mark. After a drone flew near an avalanche-control helicopter at Lake Louise, 61% of Bow Valley Insider readers (178 of 292 respondents) said the $2,000 fine does not match the risk. Many called it a slap on the wrist given the danger to pilots and rescue crews, with suggested penalties ranging from five-figure fines to drone seizure and park bans. A smaller group said the fine is a start, but even they agreed enforcement needs to sting to work. Read your neighbours’ comments here.

• 🔌 Power Went Out in Downtown Canmore Yesterday, Then Came Back. Fortis Alberta says an unplanned outage hit parts of Canmore around 10:26 a.m. Tuesday, affecting 68 customers near downtown, including areas around Main Street and the hospital. Crews were on site and power was restored about an hour later. Fortis has not said what caused the disruption, and did not respond with further details before our publishing deadline.

• 🤍 Fatal Chairlift Fall in B.C. Resonates Locally. An 18-year-old from Maple Ridge has died after falling roughly 50 feet from a chairlift at Cypress Mountain near Vancouver. Police say the incident appears non-suspicious and is now with the coroner. While this did not happen in the Bow Valley, it lands close to home. It comes just weeks after a separate chairlift fall involving an 18-year-old skier at Sunshine Village, who was treated on site and transported to hospital in stable condition.

• 🎬 Spot the Bow Valley in Netflix’s New Romance. The Netflix romance Can This Love Be Translated? premiered last weekend, and Bow Valley viewers might spot some familiar scenery, including The Three Sisters, Banff Pedestrian Bridge, and Lake Louise. The series was filmed last winter, with local landscapes standing in for international backdrops alongside shoots in Japan and Italy. The Bow Valley Insider office is split on watching it, but watch the trailer on Netflix and decide for yourself.

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FOOTAGE: SKIER TRIGGERS LARGE SLIDE ON BACKCOUNTRY RUN NEAR LAKE LOUISE

What’s Happening? A skier triggered a sizable avalanche Tuesday on a backcountry run near Lake Louise and narrowly escaped injury, despite regional avalanche danger ratings sitting on the lower end of the scale this week.

The Report. According to Parks Canada, the avalanche occurred on a run known as Vortex, outside the boundary of Lake Louise Ski Area in Banff National Park. A single skier triggered a Size 2 slide on a west-facing slope at roughly 2,450 metres in elevation. Size 2 avalanches are large enough to bury, injure, or kill a person. The skier was carried to the bottom of the slope, partially buried to the waist, and lost both skis, but was not injured.

Why This Avalanche Matters. Parks Canada described the slide as a “deep persistent slab,” one of the most dangerous avalanche types. In this case, the snow failed near the ground on a weak layer of sugary, fragile crystals known as facets that formed around a crust in November. These layers can remain unstable for weeks or months and can release large volumes of snow. “Avalanches can happen anytime on any slope above 30 degrees, regardless of current danger ratings,” Parks Canada said in a public safety message.

What Forecasters Noted. Avalanche Canada said the skier appeared to be the seventh person to descend the slope and likely triggered the slide after hitting a thin spot in the snowpack. The avalanche was estimated to be 40 to 70 centimetres deep and had been cross-loaded by wind, meaning drifting snow added extra stress to the weak layer. At the time, avalanche danger was rated Moderate in the alpine and Low at lower elevations.

Watch: We have a link to the full video on our website (viewer discretion)

THINGS TO DO

Wednesday

• Fat Bike Ride. Cruise an awesome Canmore trail with a group ride geared toward intermediate to advanced riders, then roll back to the brewery for a pint. Starting and ending at Canmore Brewing. A solid excuse to ride, socialize, and discover a new trail midweek. 6:00 PM. Free.*

• Movie Night. A tender documentary about poets Andrea Gibson and Megan Falley as they navigate an incurable cancer diagnosis with humour, honesty, and a fiercely loving partnership. Come See Me in the Good Light is as funny as it is moving. A reminder that even in the hardest moments, joy, creativity, and connection still show up. 7:00 PM. artsPlace, Canmore. Free.*

Thursday

• Comedy Night. The Rose & Crown rolls out its second-ever comedy night, cementing its status as Banff’s newest comedy club. Hosting is Scott Dumas of Cackling Crow Comedy, with Calgary’s rising star Austin Ahenekew and headliner Bryan Moxon closing things out. Doors at 7:00 PM, show at 8:00 PM. Find tickets here.*

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• 💼 Where Bow Valley Businesses Swap Notes. Join the local business community for Bevvies & Business on January 29 at Wild Life Distillery, hosted with the Bow Valley Chamber of Commerce. This casual networking night runs 5:30 to 7:30 PM and is designed to help you hear what’s actually working and not working for other local businesses, meet owners who can turn into clients or collaborators, and swap ideas. Two complimentary drinks and light snacks included. Registration closes Jan. 26.*

• 🛣️ Bragg Creek Trails Are Icy. The Bragg Creek Trail Association says recent warm temperatures have left many routes in West Bragg Creek icy or a mix of ice and frozen dirt. Conditions are not expected to improve in the short term, even with colder weather in the forecast. No official warnings have been issued for Bow Valley trails yet, but after running the Highline last night, we can confirm it’s just as slick out here too. 

• 🛎️ A New Winter Menu Has Landed at The Boss. Bundle up and dig in at The Boss, where the Hibernation Menu has just launched. The $39 three-course menu lets you choose from three appetizers, four mains, and two desserts, with standouts like pork belly and scallops, duck wings, braised bison short ribs, sablefish, and a 6-oz Alberta sirloin. It’s a limited-time winter lineup, running only until early February.*

• 🍸 Cocktail Masterclass at Banff Social. The Cocktail Masterclass at Banff Social runs Fridays and Saturdays from January 23 to February 7 at 5 PM. This one-hour, hands-on class teaches professional cocktail techniques and includes three cocktails to make and taste, plus take-home recipes and tips. Classes are limited to small groups of two to ten guests. Book here.*

• 🫧 A Bubble at Lake Minnewanka Just Blew Up Online. A guy blew an air bubble into the ice at Lake Minnewanka, filmed it, and the clip has now crossed 15 million views on Instagram. That’s it. No soundtrack. No stunt. Just ice, air, and the internet doing its thing. Something tells us this won’t be the last bubble we see under the ice this winter.

• ⛸️ Lake Louise Ice Rink Is Officially Open. If Lake Minnewanka’s viral ice bubble has you thinking about lacing up skates, good timing: the Lake Louise Ice Rink opened for the season yesterday. In case you didn’t know, winter parking at Lake Louise is free, making this a solid locals’ window. Weekends still reward early starts, but we’ve shown up mid-day on weekdays and found it surprisingly peaceful.

CIVIC NEWS

• Bow Falls Upgrades Deferred Again. Plans for a new pedestrian pathway and permanent washrooms at Bow Falls are being pushed back once more after Banff council voted to defer the project. The delays are tied to pressure on capital planning and ongoing infrastructure hurdles, including the lack of water and sewer access. With Parks Canada ruling out options like wells, only limited and temporary solutions remain on the table for now.

LIVE MUSIC

• Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, 9:00 PM: What So Not.. Location: Melissa’s MisSteak, Banff. $26.89 - $42.48.

• Wednesday, January 21st, 2026, 10:00 PM: Hit The Decks hosted by DJ Bunny Hops. Location: High Rollers, Banff. No Cover.

• Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, 7:30 PM: Steph O’DetteSong Circle Ft. Mike Petroff, Steph O'Dette, Lori Reid. Location: artsPlace, Canmore. $12.50-$21.25.

SPORTS

• Canmore Eagles Stay in the Hunt, Miss Chance to Take First. The Canmore Eagles split the week with a 4-2 win over Calgary and a 6-1 loss to Bonnyville, leaving them third in the AJHL South at 39 points. A Monday win would have put them in first, but the door stays just barely open. Cohen Daoust led Friday’s win with four points, while Aidan Tkachuk’s hot streak continued despite the loss. A tough three-games-in-three-days road trip could decide a lot.

That’s all, folks!

We’ll see you back here on Friday, same time, same place! 

Heads Up: We sometimes feature paid promotion from local businesses and organizations we trust. When you see a little asterisk (*), that means it’s a sponsored post. We only work with partners we think our readers will actually care about.