Day cycle touring around Banff is a great way to see the sights and give the kids an opportunity to get active. Try the routes below or contact a cycling store, such as BacTrax, to plan your family’s bicycling adventure.
Recommended routes
Sundance Canyon Trail. Start this paved trail at the Cave and Basin and ride to the picnic area (3. 3 km). Extend the trip by turning onto the Healy Creek trail.
Vermillion Lakes Road (4.3 km). There’s not a lot of traffic on this road, but be sure children riding their own bikes follow road safety rules. There are good opportunities for watching waterfowl on this ride and the dock makes a nice picnic spot. A pretty and short detour on this ride is the Fenland loop trail (1.5 km).
What to take
- A helmet for each rider: Have helmets properly fitted at a bike shop. Wearing helmets pushed back on their heads with foreheads exposed or helmets that slip around while kids are riding does not provide proper head protection.
- First aid kit
- Rain jackets: Light-weight foldable jackets can be carried in pannier or zip pocket.
- Pump and repair kit
- Plenty of water: Each bike should be equipped with a water bottle carrier and a full bottle of water. Just having their own bottle on the bike can motivate kids to keep hydrated.
- Sunscreen and sun blocking lip balm
- Cameras: Disposable cameras for the kids can be a great motivator. Be sure they know that picture taking is only allowed on stops!
Kids who are not riding in trailers or on trail-a-bikes, need to be taught proper trail etiquette for safety reasons. Kids are easily distracted and riding in the mountains can be very exciting, so expect them to forget the rules. Give reminders when necessary. Stay alert and be their eyes and ears for them. You never know when a grizzly, moose, or elk may turn up around a bend in the trail.
Trail etiquette
Ride single file.
Warn pedestrians when passing: Ring a bell and call, “Passing on left”.
Pass on the left.
Tips
Remember, you are in bear country. Usually, riding with kids means your group is bound to be noisy enough to warn wildlife that you’re coming. But when the kids take a break from talking, ring a bike bell or shout from time to time.
Teach by example. Wear your helmet and observe trail rules.
Share your travel plans.Look at trail maps together so the children have an idea of where they’re heading.
Stop and smell the lupines.Take lots of breaks to give kids a chance to poke around. Stop and look at the alpine flowers, examine the rocks, or watch the birds and chipmunks.
Bring food! Set goals and pull out the snacks at stop breaks.
Tammie Burak - A former elementary school teacher, Tammie Burak traded in her daily commute for a classroom at home where she now homeschools her own ...
