Scenic Bike Ride to Botrell General Stores

Slow and Steady Hikers
**DESTINATION**: Bottrel General Store & Campground is the oldest continually run general store in Alberta, est. 1901, on the Cowboy Trail

**ROUTE DESCRIPTION:** This is the northward run of a great *ROAD RIDE* along Horse Creek Road, a loop on the roads northwest of Cochrane. Grades are gentle, revealing a terrain of soft, rolling hills, sweeping ranchlands and deeply incised creek valleys that drop down to the Bow River. Lush native grasses blanket this gently undulating landscape, a defined upland escarpment lead the eye toward the majestic Foothills/Rockies. It is pretty much all up on the way to the Stores, rather till 26th Kilometric point beyond which, the road slopes down to Bottrell. All down home is lovely ride, with some gentle swooshes (S turns) to add some fun in our humdrum existence. A couple of abandoned oil pumps are mute witness the to area’s once wealthy past.
**Interesting tidbits:** The oldest general stores in Canada was Épicerie J.A. Moisan in Quebec City, closed down in 2026, after 150 years in business.
**Geology:** The geology features shallow sedimentary bedrock covered by Pleistocene glacial deposits and exposed river-cut terraces.

Distance: approx. 60 Km round trip.
Duration: No rush to return to Cochrane
Elevation: Max 1338 m, gain 300-350 m over 30 km
Physical Difficulty: Intermediate
Event Pace: Will stop to take breaks when needed.
Suggested Gear: Camera
Please be at the designated by 0800 am to drive a bit further to park our cars in a residential area.
MANDATORY ITEMS:

1. Sun screen
2. Water spiked with hydralite /eqv tablets
3. WHISTLE
4. Must remain in visual contact
5. Bikes: road bike, or hybrid, MTB or electric bikes
6. Appropriate layers for current season
7. First aid kit
8. Biking Kit (Tools, extra tube, pump ..)
9. Helmets are mandatory, no exceptions

**Amenities:** There are no amenities along the route. Stop in Cochrane prior or after the ride if you require a pit stop.
**Motor vehicle traffic**; locals/farm vehicle drivers are very polite, I was on a weekday and was NOT uncomfortable at all.
**OUTCOME:** Soothing your ocular nerves, a great training & stamina building opportunity, and wheeze past the rural homes painted in the sky.

We will ride in group, in a file, we will wait periodically for the slowest ones. We shall make best efforts to stay in visual/audio contact. We shall go along the Scenic Horse Creek Road ( **we are not biking on the Highway 1A** )

**HISTORY**: Along the foothills exists a narrow band of mixed forests and grasslands known for its moderate climate, a wide variety of wildlife species and broad ecological diversity. This attracted the First Nations people to this paradise hundreds of years ago. Alberta ranching families first settled in this area in the 1880s and transformed the rolling grasslands into cattle country.

**CAR POOLING**: please communicate directly or thru COMMENTS section
Those who want to earn their calories back; they are free to visit the watering holes of Cochrane. Club is not responsible for consequences of visiting the watering holes.

**WAITLIST:** A waiting list has automatically been created to determine this trip’s suitability for you as a potential participant. **Waiting list is not first come, first serve, but it’s based on the ability to fit into group dynamics and organizer’s discretion and also on past participation in SnS Hikers group events. I**f the organizer requires additional information from you, please provide it, otherwise, you will remain on the waiting list. As a potential participant, you must check this trip posting for additional directions from the organizer, including up to trip cancellation. I am not a licensed guide, hence completely dependent on group members for safety support.

**CODE OF CONDUCT**: By signing up for this hike, you agree to abide by the rules and regulations outlined in the Code of Conduct. [https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/19453923/CODE_OF_CONDUCT/](https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/19453923/CODE_OF_CONDUCT/)

**WAIVER**: Your participation implies that you have read the waiver. Please bring a piece of paper with the name n tel. no of emergency contact. Please carry on you, emergency medication, and administrating instructions on a piece of paper; let the team know where it is located in your pack or on you. You shall bring a piece of paper with the name of n tel no of your emergency contact and indicate that you have read the waiver. You are required to read the Slow and Steady Waiver: [https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/OUR_NEW_WAIVER/](https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/OUR_NEW_WAIVER/) ([https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/OUR_NEW_WAIVER/](https://www.meetup.com/Slow-and-Steady-Hikers/pages/OUR_NEW_WAIVER/))

**DISCLAIMER**: You are fully aware that your hosts are volunteers and not trained guides and you assume all responsibility for your own safety and well-being. All participants are responsible for assessing the current road conditions, current weather conditions, your current physical condition, current trail conditions and current avalanche conditions for the trip and you are responsible for your safety and well-being. You are fully prepared with proper gear and you’re physically fit to do this ride with the group.