more stats
3.0 miles
Distance
9 ft
Climb
-1,647 ft
Descent
00:32:09
Avg time
-1,637 ft
Altitude change
4,777 ft
Altitude min
6,418 ft
Altitude max
6,418 ft
Altitude start
4,780 ft
Altitude end
-10.2%
Grade
-82.1%
Grade max
3.3%
Grade min
686 ft
Distance climb
3 miles
Distance down
108 ft
Distance flat
00:32:09
Avg time

Special K Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Moose Mountain
    Bragg Creek, Alberta
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    55 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in E-Biking
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #34649 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #8305 in E-Biking
    • #130115 in Trail Running
    • #123132 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC
  • Direction
    Downhill Primary
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Climb Difficulty
    Double Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Bridge, Drop, Log Ride
  • Year Opened
    2003
  • Land Owner
    AEP

Special K is the original downhill-specific trail built off of Moose Mountain Road and has morphed into a proper all-mountain trail. There’s no time to ease into this one, as the trail begins with a few steep pitches and ruts before you’re quickly met with an optional man-made drop. The trail grade begins to mellow out and you’re treated to a fast and flowy section before another bridge crossing. Past the last bridge, the trees begin to tighten and the trail flies through the forest. Be ready for that one uphill mid-trail - this is an AM trail after all After threading the needle through the trees you're rewarded with mid-trail berms, before eventually reaching the final bridge crossing with the notorious "Wet Yer Pants" option.

At the end you’ll find yourself in the middle of the Tom Snow trail. Time to raise the saddle and pedal south (to your right) to the Station Flats parking lot. You can continue on Tom Snow or take Ridgeback out.

While this trail can be ridden on most any bike you can find, you’ll probably enjoy it most on a mid-travel all-mountain type of bike, making the best out of the techy descents and yet not punishing you too much on the pedal out!

Special K has a split personality - the first km is old-school FR/DH, and much steeper than something like SHAFT or Race of Spades. Once you're past that second bridge, it turns into a mellow ride with some berms here and there.

Note: Logging in the area introduced 2 road crossings in the trail. The road was reclaimed in the late Fall of 2016 but still do exercise caution crossing. At each crossing the trail connects directly across the road.

Access Info

Access to this trail is typically from Pneuma or the Moose Mountain Road. If you're riding up Pneuma, Special K is the next trail above Race of Spades. If you're on the road, access is at the high point of the road, where there's a small service road going up to the right and back. If you start being able to coast down the road, you've gone too far.

To ride this trail as a shuttle, park in the main parking area at the top of the Moose Mountain road. Pedal down the road a few hundred meters until you see a small road branching off to the east for a pipeline station. The trail drops in immediately to the right of the small shack located there. You’ll finish your ride at Station flats day-use area, so leave your retrieval vehicle in the parking lot there.

Local Trail Association

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 0 rides
  •  
All
  • 266 rides
  • Last: Sep 1, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
update trails status or condition

Special K Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jul 11, 2026 @ 2:43pm (America/Edmonton)
Jul 11, 2026
Trail is closed as of July 5th, 2026.
Jun 1, 2026 @ 11:02pm (America/Edmonton)
Jun 1, 2026
reporter There are two crucial bridges that don't have ride arounds that have deteriorated to the point that they are unsafe.
May 27, 2026 @ 11:08am (America/Edmonton)
May 27, 2026
Nov 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm (America/Edmonton)
Nov 11, 2025
Special Karnage With the recent winds, fallen trees are riddled throughout the beginning of the trail after the first jump. Will require some...
Aug 17, 2025 @ 11:57am
Aug 17, 2025
more »
Status:
on Jul 11, 2026
Avg: 3.89 (44 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (1,779)
close
      Directions to special-k trailhead (50.914990, -114.770480)

      Photos

      44 more »
      mtb
      892 |
      Apr 18, 2021 @ 12:27pm
      Apr 18, 2021
      mtb
      329 |
      Sep 30, 2020 @ 12:21pm
      Sep 30, 2020
      mtb
      436 |
      Sep 30, 2020 @ 12:21pm
      Sep 30, 2020
      mtb
      475 |
      Sep 30, 2020 @ 12:21pm
      Sep 30, 2020

      Videos

      4 more »
      youtuber First Time Riding Special K on Moose Mountain|...
      mtb
      12:31 | 664 | Nov 1, 2023 , Bragg Creek
      Special K [Moose Mountain]
      mtb
      22:34 | 775 | Jun 2, 2023 , Bragg Creek
      MTB Wipeouts of 2020 - Murray's Adventures...
      mtb
      7:54 | 914 | Jan 8, 2021 , Bragg Creek
      Rebound goes to Moose Mountain and ride's...
      ebike
      22:20 | 185 | Nov 4, 2024 , Bragg Creek

      Routes with this trail

      5.0 16 miles 3,151 ft 20 Loop
      Lollipop from Station Flats that starts and finishes on Ridgeback, climbing Moosepackers and descending...
      16 miles 2,820 ft 11 Loop
      Adds the new 727 trail to a loop of Special K. Be aware that you need to climb the awful, steep part of twice.
      11 miles 2,026 ft 8 Loop
      From Station Flats, Take: 1) Diamond T to to 2) Go up to the Connector to Pneuma 3) Climb Pneuma all the...
      3.8
      44 Ratings
      5 27%
      4 43%
      3 14%
      2 14%
      1 2%

      3 Reviews & Comments

      traviswbrown82
      This isnt a wet weather trail. The top km will take your mere 35% traction on the sharp jagged rock, moss, pine needles and bring it down to a mere 5 or 10%. That being said, special k is a good rip on when the sun is out. Happy hucking guys!
      Gasket-Jeff Gasket-Jeff
      Rode much of moose on sat. k was by far in the best shape
      Gluz Gluz
      Was running amazingly well this past weekend.

      We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!

      Create a FREE account to view all trail reviews and much more.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      Where is Special K located?
      Special K is located in Moose Mountain, Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada. It is part of the Moose Mountain trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 50.91499, -114.77048.
      How hard is Special K?
      Special K is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 10.2%. The climb difficulty is rated Double Black Diamond.
      What is the elevation gain for Special K?
      Special K has 9 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 1,647 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,777 ft to 6,418 ft.
      Is Special K a point to point trail?
      Special K is not a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Primary. The trail type is singletrack.
      How long is Special K?
      Special K is 3.0 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      Are dogs allowed on Special K?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Special K. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      When is the best time of year to ride Special K?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Special K are:
      • September (22 activities)
      • August (19 activities)
      • July (18 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      How do I access Special K? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Special K are: View all parking locations in the area.
      How long does it take to ride Special K?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 34 minutes to ride Special K. The trail is 3.0 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      How busy is Special K?
      Special K is a moderately popular trail. There have been 1,828 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 1,779 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

      Hit the Trail

      Open in App

      Get this trail on your phone instantly.
      open trail in app

      Download Trail

      Save to wishlist, Garmin & download.
      save the trail

      Find Related Routes

      Find routes and users activities that include this trail.
      find routes for this trail

      You must enter a description before submitting.