trail runs in Cold Lake — LOCAL RUNS

By: Matt Setlack

Location: Starts/ends in Cold Lake South just south of the Jackson Field Track (in between the RCMP Detachment, the Holiday Inn and Assumption High School)

Distance: Approximately 11km to get from the track to the bridge and back

Surface: Mostly gravel with some dirt

The Iron Horse Trail is a recreational use trail that was formed when the rail line used by the Canadian National Railway from removed. I believe the train tracks were pulled up around 2000. For full details of the complete Iron Horse Trail, please visit ironhorsetrail.ca.

Old Train Bridge crossing over Beaver River

The Iron Horse Trail is not really an amazing trail in itself but if you follow it for about 5-6km from the Jackson Field Track, then you will get to an amazing old train trestle bridge that was built in 1930. Seeing this bridge is definitely worth the run. The trail surface is mostly gravel, which is fairly soft, albeit slower so this is a perfect run for your easy run days. The soft surface allows your body to recover. Don't worry about your pace on this trail as it will likely be slower than usual.

Most people start this trail near the Jackson Field Track. There is ample free parking in a gravel parking lot at the trailhead.

Iron Horse Trail trailhead at Cold Lake Staging Area

From the "Cold Lake Staging Area" sign, simply follow the gravel trail initially west then south-west. After about 1km, you will get to a fork in the trail. Take the left fork and then continue straight for another 4-5km.

The middle of this map shows the fork. Take the left fork on your way out.

On the way to the bridge, take the fork to the left

The Iron Horse Trail is about 4m wide.

Running SW towards the bridge on the Iron Horse Trail

The majority of this trail is gravel with a few sections being dirt or mud. After about 4km, you will get to a small bridge. This is not the main train trestle bridge that you want to go to so keep running for another 500m to 1km farther. As you can see in the photo below, the Iron Horse Trail does get muddy when you get closer to the old train trestle bridge.

This is the first small bridge you will get to. Keep running.

Once you have covered 5-6km, you will come to a large old train trestle bridge that was built in 1930. It was vandalized a few times but thankfully it has now been restored. It really is a beautiful place to go and is definitely a local gem.

Train Trestle Bridge crossing over Beaver River

You can walk right out onto the middle of the bridge. The deck height is about 30 to 35m off the water below. There are occasional boardwalks that jut out from the bridge deck and this lets you see a nice view of the side of the bridge.

The view from the top of the bridge is very nice.

View of Beaver River from the top of the bridge

You might even be lucky enough to see some wildlife, like the deer swimming in the Beaver River below.

Advice: I do not recommend running on this trail after it has rained as it will be very muddy and not enjoyable. Keep your eyes open for ATVs (and maybe even full size vehicles) as this trail does get used by motorized vehicles.

Overall, the Iron Horse Trail is a decent (albeit relatively slow) trail to run on. The old train trestle bridge that you see once you get to Beaver River is definitely worth the run.

Stay tuned for Matt's Favourite Run #4!

By: Matt Setlack

Start/End Location: I usually start/end this run in Tri-City Estates but you can also start/end it at the Tim Horton's near Staples/Canadian Tire or the Cold Lake Provincial Park (shorter version).

Distance: Approximately 20km (Cold Lake Provincial Park Outside Loop is 6km)

Surface: 95% trail, 5% road

This is a really quiet and relaxing trail to run on. There are no motorized vehicles around except for the occasional ATV. It is one of my favourite trails in the area. The route described here is only one of many different possible trail options.

Map for Countryside Trail Run (click map to enlarge)

Route Description

Starting at the Tri-City Tim Horton's, run east towards the Museum and then turn left (north) when you are at an opening in the trees about half way there. Go through the opening past a muddy depression and veer to the right (NNE) on a ATV trail.

Once you leave the road and go through the opening in the trees, you should see something similar to the trail below.

Keep following the main trail (there are A LOT of ATV trails in this area).

Take the left trail and head for the green field

Keep running in generally a NE direction. Cross up and over a gravel/dirt road and back down into a green farmers field. Keep following the trail through the field. This field is perfect for doing cross-country interval sessions (as is the adjacent field to the north).

You will get to a 4-way trail intersection (about 300m ahead of where the above photo was taken). The right (south) goes to toward the Museum. The straight option (east) goes towards the African Lake bike trail (not recommended). The left option (north) is the direction you want to go.

This is the trail intersection. Go left (north) here.

You will run up a slight incline on a trail through a farmers field and eventually get to row of trees/bushes that separates the fields.

View looking over your left shoulder (west). What you will see during the Countryside Trail Run — View looking over your left shoulder (west). What you will see during the Countryside Trail Run

Go through the opening and take an immediate right (east) turn. You will then get to a muddy depression (it's always muddy here), which you will have to go around it. The muddy depression is you crossing over the African Lake bike trail (not recommended). Keep heading east through the muddy depression and into another field.

Typical running conditions for the Countryside Trail Run

You will eventually see the back of some houses on your left. Keep them on your left side until you get to 16 Ave / Township Rd 633, at which point you run up onto this road/highway and follow it east until you get to the Cold Lake Provincial Park (CLPP). Take the first left after you get into the park and you will pass by a couple of parking lots and a washroom. You can do the CLPP loop in any direction but I like to run CW (the lakeshore is always on my left). Once you get back to the CLPP parking lot, you can turn around and follow your trail back to Tim Horton's in Tri-City.

Running on the Cold Lake Provincial Park Outside Loop Trail

This trail is perfect for:

Training for cross country (XC) races because the surface of the terrain and rolling hills is exactly what you can expect in an XC race.

Alternate OptionS

There are MANY ATV trails in the fields between Tri-City and the Cold Lake Provincial Park. There are a lot of good fields where you could do a interval session if you bring your flats or spikes along. The ground is nice and soft especially after a light rain.

Matt running at the CLPP just north of the parking lot

If you don't want to run to the Cold Lake Provincial Park from Tri-City, you could drive to the park and park in the parking lot. Then do the "Cold Lake Provincial Park Outside Loop", which is approximately 6km. The trail is extremely nice and very well maintained. The park attendants keep the trail clear all year around. Typically within a few days of a tree falling over the trail, it is removed. Very impressive!

As shown in Strava segment entitled "CL PP Around The Outside", the fastest time that this 6km trail segment has been run in is 22:34. If anyone runs this segment faster than this, I will buy them a beer.

Stay tuned for Matt's Favourite Local Run #2!

LOCAL RUNS

Iron Horse Trail

Countryside Trail Run

Route Description

This trail is perfect for:

Alternate OptionS