Bighorn Ridge Trail
General Information
Amenities
- 30 kms of hiking trails
- 37 kms of mountain bike trails
- One toilet at northern trailhead
- Parking at both the northern and southern trailheads
- Information kiosks and “you are here” signs throughout trail system
- Picnic table at northern trailhead
Information
The Bighorn Ridge Trail is located only 6.5 kilometres off of Highway 16 just outside the Town of Hinton. This trail system offers a stunning mountain bike ride or hike, through spectacularly beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery. West Fraser finished construction of this trail in 2024 – there are over 37 kilometres of trails to mountain bike and 30 kilometres of trails to hike.
The original Bighorn Trail was built in the early 1900s by the Dominion of Canada Forestry Service as a pack trail used by forest rangers to patrol the forested areas along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains. It had a telegraph line along it to link the forestry cabins along the route. Old telegraph line insulators can still be seen along the trail.
From the kiosk at the northern trailhead on the Cold Creek Road, the hike/bike begins at 1189 metres (3900 feet) and quickly rises to 1664 metres (5460 feet) over the first 12 kilometres of the trail, while passing through mature forest, of mostly spruce and mixed wood. Once the ridge top is reached, the trail is gently undulating, maintaining the same elevation for nine or ten kilometres. The forest here is mainly mature lodgepole pine. This section is very scenic, offering beautiful views to the west of the Rocky Mountains all along the trail.
The trail then descends gradually to the Cold Creek Road and the trail’s southern trailhead, which lies at an elevation of 1284 metres (4200 feet), passing through various ages of cut blocks and mature forests along the way. Currently (2026), the last four kilometres of the trail from the southern trailhead to the Gregg River Road is not maintained – travel is not recommended with a mountain bike. Use at your own risk. There are future plans to upgrade this section of the trail.
Trail maps
The Bighorn Ridge trail can be found on the popular “Trailforks” app and information about the trail can also be found on the Bike Hinton website (www.bikehinton.com).
The trail is generally thought of as two main trail systems – the “Stairway to Heaven” trails and the “Bighorn Ridge” trails. The “Stairway to Heaven” trails are accessed via the northern trailhead. There is one 12 km up-trail to the top of the Bighorn Ridge and four down-trails. The “Bighorn Ridge” trail starts at the top of the Bighorn Ridge (at 12 km) and travels 13 kilometres along the Bighorn Ridge and down to the southern trailhead.
Safety
This is a wilderness trail. Please be prepared and use the trail at your own risk. Remember- YOU are responsible for your own safety. As in all wilderness settings, bears and cougars may be encountered at any time. To reduce the chance of an animal encounter, make plenty of noise to alert animals to your presence and carry bear spray. NEVER feed or approach a bear.
To get to the north trailhead from the Hinton Visitor Information Centre, travel east on Highway 16 and turn right onto Switzer Drive(first set of traffic lights). Proceed until the next set of lights (Robb Road intersection) and turn right(south). This road is followed for approximately 3.8 kilometres, where the traveller must branch off the Robb Road onto the Cold Creek Road. From this junction, travel approximately 500 meters to the parking lot, which is on the left side of the road. There are signs indicating the turn off to the Bighorn Trail on the Robb Road.
To get to the south trailhead from the Hinton Visitor Information Centre, travel west on Highway 16. Approximately four km west of Hinton, and then turn south (left) onto Highway 40. Travel south for just under 14 kilometres on Highway 40, until a major gravel road can be seen on the left – this is the Cold Creek Road. Turn left here and follow this road for just under 10 kilometres, where the southern trailhead kiosk can be seen on the left side of the road. Park in the parking area on the right side of the road.
Contact
For Information please e-mail: sharon@fcda.ca