Topp Notch Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- Hike
- Trail Running
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Riding AreaBanff
, Alberta -
Difficulty Rating
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionDownhill PrimaryPopular direction shown
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Physical RatingModerate
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Dogs AllowedYes
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TTFs on TrailBerm, Bridge, Rock Face, Rock Garden, Skinny
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Global Ranking
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Local Popularity95 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 5 in Trail Running
- 60 in Hiking
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Year Opened2014
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Land OwnerBanff National Park
Topp Notch begins with a squirrel catcher [mandatory feature] meant to weed out the less experienced. If you cannot ride this feature, head back down to Star Wars. Once past the entry on Topp Notch, the trail will climb several switchbacks towards the first large feature, the Big Daddy corner. What follows next can only be described as incredible flow along some challenging technical trail features (TTFs). Most TTFs are pretty wide, and very well built. The end of the trail rolls right into Return of the Jedi so you can climb back up.
Built entirely by hand over 3 years with 3500+ hours of volunteer labour, this trail is named after Doug Topp, former president of the Bow Valley Mountain Bike Alliance and all-around good guy. Buy him a beer.
Access Info
The access to Topp Notch is found west of the Star Wars trailhead, accessible from Tunnel Mountain Road and located across (south) from Buffalo Mountain Lodge. As you approach the trailhead for Star Wars (30 metres in), continue right (west) and past the entry to Star Wars up the trail. From here, there are markers and arrows pointing you in the direction of Topp Notch.
Local Trail Association
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trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for Topp Notch mountain bike trail trail
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Altitude change-182 ft
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Altitude min4,602 ft
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Altitude max4,887 ft
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Altitude start4,787 ft
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Altitude end4,606 ft
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Grade-1.4%
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Grade max-31%
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Grade min25.5%
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Distance climb4,278 ft
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Distance down1 mile
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Distance flat2,487 ft
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Avg time00:38:25
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Avg reverse time00:46:11
- view trail stats
- Unknown
- Snow Groomed
- Snow Packed
- Snow Covered
- Snow Cover Inadequate
- Freeze/thaw Cycle
- Icy
- Prevalent Mud
- Wet
- Variable
- Ideal
- Dry
- Very Dry
The colour categories are based on what percentage of riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
- > 96%
- > 90%
- > 80%
- > 70%
- > 50%
- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
- < 2 days
- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
- Description
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- Description & Photos
- Videos
- most popular
- popular
- less popular
- not popular
- mountain biking recent
- mountain biking (>6 month)
- hiking (1 year)
- moto (1 year)
- Downhill Ski
- Backcountry Ski
- Nordic Ski
- Snowmobile
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SaveTopp Notch Trail Reports
Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail
- 6 rides
- 8 miles avg distance
- 287 rides
- 9 miles avg distance
- 2,294 rides
- Last: Oct 2, 2023
Photos
Trail Lists
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2018 Shred List85 trails -
2019 Riding List
13 trails
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2020 Riding Wishlist
18 trails
Routes with this trail
Trail Products
29 Reviews & Comments
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Videos
Nearby Trails
- Star Wars 0 ft
- Star Wars And Topp Notch Connector 397 ft
- Banff Ave. 2,461 ft
- Return Of The Jedi 3,333 ft
- Hoodoo - Tunnel Bench Connector 3,360 ft
- By megand
& contributors - #10026 - 31,338 views
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