Elbow Loop
Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada
Elbow Loop is a classic Rocky Mountains ride which combines the Big and Little Elbow trails into one full loop. The scenery on the mostly doubletrack (4WD) trail is breath taking as it takes you through the Tombstone Pass. Pack your overnight gear and stay a night or two at the Tombstone campground or take a side trip hike up to Tombstone Lakes; the trailhead is located about 15 km up Little Elbow Trail and no bikes are permitted on this side trip.
Elbow Loop may be ridden either direction, but the preferred route is counter-clock-wise. Starting up Little Elbow trail ride over to the forks and return via the Big Elbow trail ending at the suspension bridge crossing the Little Elbow River, returning you to the trailhead.
Expect a gradual gravel climb up Little Elbow all the way to Tombstone Pass before descending a short, but fast section down to Big Elbow Valley. Make sure to turn left onto Big Elbow (large sign indicating turn), right will take you down to the Tombstone Campground. From there you will be greeted with a few short and steep climbs on more gravel roads, before the trail turns into some of the most amazing and breathtaking singletrack found on this ride. Following the flowy singletrack, the trail turns back to a wide gravel descent crossing a few creeks and the river along the way. The last part of trail on the Big Elbow takes you out along an open, yet flat, gravel doubletrack that follows the Elbow River before crossing the final suspension bridge back to the trailhead parking lot.
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