3.0 miles
Distance
2 ft
Climb
-1,640 ft
Descent
00:31:25
Avg time

Special K Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Moose Mountain
    Bragg Creek, Alberta
  • Difficulty Rating
  • 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
  • Global Ranking
    #7278 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #8305 in E-Biking
    • #91050 in Trail Running
    • #86349 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    60 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 70 in E-Biking
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • 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
More Stats for Special K mountain bike trail trail
  • Altitude change
    -1,639 ft
  • Altitude min
    4,779 ft
  • Altitude max
    6,418 ft
  • Altitude start
    6,418 ft
  • Altitude end
    4,780 ft
  • Grade
    -10.5%
  • Grade max
    -82.1%
  • Grade min
    0.9%
  • Distance climb
    243 ft
  • Distance down
    3 miles
  • Distance flat
    240 ft
  • Avg time
    00:31:25
  • Avg reverse time
    01:30:40
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Oct 16, 2022
Dry
Avg: 3.95 (36 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Inadequate
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to special-k trailhead (50.914990, -114.770480)
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      Special K Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Oct 16, 2022 @ 4:05am
      Oct 16, 2022
      Aug 10, 2022 @ 5:02pm
      Aug 10, 2022
      Aug 8, 2022 @ 9:11am
      Aug 8, 2022
      Jul 8, 2022 @ 10:05am
      Jul 8, 2022
      Jun 22, 2022 @ 5:07pm
      Jun 22, 2022
      a few puddles and a muddy stretch right at the end in the usual place by the bridge. otherwise running mint
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 0 rides
      •  
      6 Months
      • 33 rides
      • 13 miles avg distance
      All
      • 1,219 rides
      • Last: Oct 16, 2022

      Photos

      more »
      446 |
      Apr 18, 2021 @ 12:27pm
      Apr 18, 2021
      122 |
      Sep 30, 2020 @ 12:21pm
      Sep 30, 2020
      168 |
      Sep 30, 2020 @ 12:21pm
      Sep 30, 2020
      187 |
      Sep 30, 2020 @ 12:21pm
      Sep 30, 2020

      Routes with this trail

      more »
      titledistance
      Ridgepackers Special Loop16 miles
      Special Throw15 miles
      Special Stone15 miles
      Ranger, Bobcat, Moose, Special k, Snakes, Strange23 miles

      4 Reviews & Comments

      • + 0
      Yeltsin (Aug 27, 2021 at 16:04)
      This trail has an identity crisis, it wants to be a DH trail for a very short and steep descent, then basically turns into a blue xc trail. Easily my last choice in the whole Moose/Prairie network.
      [Reply]
      • + 0
      traviswbrown82 (Aug 24, 2019 at 6:26)
      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!
      [Reply]
      • + 1
      Gasket-Jeff (May 30, 2016 at 6:42)
      Rode much of moose on sat. k was by far in the best shape
      [Reply]
      • + 3
      Gluz MTBco (Oct 20, 2014 at 21:46)
      Was running amazingly well this past weekend.
      [Reply]





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      Videos

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      MTB Wipeouts of 2020 - Murray's Adventures...
      7:54 | 707 | Jan 8, 2021 , Bragg Creek
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