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Bench Trail System
4 reviews
4.25 of 5
This is where you find the Saturday Night lake loop, the Mina Riley Loop, Katrine lake and, the Pyrimid Overlook trail (the longest downhill you're ever going to get without alot of climbing). Mixed bag, long fireroad climbs, rock and root strewn singletrack deep in the woods, and endless finger burner downhills that twist and turn all the way back to the pub. Go for an hour or go all day, its your choice. (Leave the big giant squishy bikes at home kids, this is XC country.) Obtain maps from the info center or from either of the bike shops in town. The best thing about the bench is that it always comes back to the townsite and it's always going to be downhill.
Three places to start out of Jasper. trail 3 parking lot out of Cabin Creek and, trail 2 parking lot behind the catholic church. (Or if you're weak, you can climb the pyrimid lake road and start the singletrack from the top) Everything links together at some point so you can start anywhere and still come back to the townsite.
Summary: I just got back from my Honeymoon in Alberta, and was able to get out for two rides in Jasper. I rode the trail 7 loop on the southeast side of town and the trail 7 loop that goes to the northeast side of town. Both of the loops took about 2 1/2 hours. Trail 9 is more of a rooty and rocky(babyheads) section of trail. Trail 7 has smoother less technichal but swoopy(fast) singletrack. The trails are pretty well marked so staying on track is fairly easy. On trail 7 I met up with a very large elk with a huge rack standing in the middle of the trail, which made for a cool photo op.
Recommended Route: I did both of these loops counter clockwise, which I think offerd more climbing overall.
Other recommended trails in the same area: I did not get a chance to explore the other trails around town, which are numerous, but this area is a xc riders dream. Jasper is a total bike townand there is probably as many bikes as cars there.
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Review Date November 27, 2003
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 3 of 5
Technical Difficulty 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: dwurfel
,
Cross Country Rider
Summary: Any ride in Jasper is a great ride.Canmore may have a bit more freeriding stuff but if you're into XC,Jasper is way better than Canmore.You can go out all day and not see anybody else if you don't want to.Canmore is a zoo and overpopulated.
Other recommended trails in the same area: Come to town and check out the maps,they're all fun
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Review Date October 12, 2003
Overall Rating 5 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 4 of 5
Technical Difficulty 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a week
Reviewed by: SHM
,
Cross Country Rider
Summary: Buddy here has it all wrong, these trails are great. While (he?) is right, and they are shared with the horse people, you simply have to not ride on the trails with the high horse traffic. Staying more to the western side of the system, on the trails around Marjorie, Cabin, Mina, Riley, Minnow, and Saturday Night Lakes, you are assured of no horses, great riding surfaces, and killer single track. Riding in the saw dust and manure of the horse trails sucks, so save those trails for the spring/fall when the horse traffic is lower. As for better riding in Canmore/Banff???!? Whatever dude, Jasper is where it's at!
Other recommended trails in the same area: Valley of the 5 lakes, 20 mile loop, Lonnies Downhill, Overlander, Bike-Toss
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Review Date July 16, 2003
Overall Rating 3 of 5
Aerobic Difficulty 4 of 5
Technical Difficulty 3 of 5
Ridden Trail: Once a year
Visitors rate this review 1.00 of 5,
3 votes
Reviewed by: sikamikaniko
,
Cross Country Rider
, from Edmonton
Summary: Not a big fan of many of the bench trails up at the Pyramid start points. Many of them are shared with the equine centre. Needless to say, the trails are soft and resistant - a pain in the ass to climb - like riding in thick sand. Horse crap litters the trails, which isn't too big a deal, but it's there. Some sections are hella wicked, but you have to put up with a lot to get to the good parts. Better riding at Canmore/Banff. Giver'!
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