High Rockies - Buller to Driftwood

This section of the High Rockies trail begins from the Goat Creek parking lot and is the starting point if riding the entire trail from north to south. Descend the Goat Creek trail to the Banff park boundary, the first signed trail junction. As of May 2016 there was no sign indicating the trail to the left is the High Rockies trail, but it is. This section of trail primarily follows old service roads used to access power lines. The scenery is outstanding but the riding itself is fairly ordinary. There is a short, but beautifully built, boardwalk section just before Goat Pond. Traveling south one gains altitude fairly steadily but never steeply. Cross the dam at the north end of Spray Lake and keep right, the trail parallels the lake all the way up to the Driftwood parking area and comes out on the just south of the Driftwood parking area access road. The trail continues on the east side of the road with a very visible climb back up into the trees, the character of the riding changes to up and down single track. Let the fun begin.

The Original trail report was close, but it missed a large section in the middle and a suggested that you have to ride the gravel road. It's all one trail, no need to break it up. Strava has the correct trails as well.

Access Info

From Canmore follow signs to the Canmore Nordic Centre then keep driving past the Nordic Centre up the Spray Lakes Road (AKA Smith Dorian Road). This soon turns to dirt and cuts across the steep lower slopes of the East End of Rundle (EEOR). 10 minutes up the dirt road you'll level out and pass a long, narrow body of water, Whiteman's Pond. As you begin to descend slightly you'll find the Goat Creek carpark on your right. If it's a weekend it will be packed with cars as this is the starting point not only for the High Rockies trail but also the Goat Creek trail (drops you in Banff) and the hiking routes up both Ha Ling and EEOR.