By Dan Hermanutz

report coming this month

Capitalizing on trails to promote tourism in central Alberta

Mar 3, 2020 | 5:41 PM

The Central Alberta Tourism Alliance is putting a plan ahead to upgrade and grow the trail-based visitor economy in central Alberta.

Ten local municipalities make up the alliance – Lacombe, Olds, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail, Blackfalds, Red Deer, Red Deer County, Clearwater County and Lacombe County.

“Our plan is to capitalize on the trails we have in the area,” said Jennifer Hartigh, Economic Development Officer for the Town of Blackfalds and project lead on the Trails Tourism Strategy. “This particular strategy looks at the inventory of the trails we currently have in the region and identifying those that have the greatest potential to attract tourism and enhance our economy that way.”

Currently, there are three signature trails in the central Alberta area. One is a hiking trail out west in Clearwater County. The second is a trail designed for off-highway motorized vehicles, like ATVs, from Rocky Mountain House to Nordegg, then beyond through various trails to the Bighorn Area. The third is a cycling trail that goes alongside the Trans-Canada Trail from Olds to Lacombe.

The Destination Management Plan charts a path to strengthening and diversifying the region’s tourism industry. Though the plan recognized the considerable supply of local trails, it indicated most of the trails are not yet market or export ready.

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“Portions of all of those trails are in place currently, but there are recommendations on how to complete those and enhance them and really make them world-class trails,” Hartigh says. “Having these trails will help us leverage government support, funding and ongoing collaborations to keep that moving forward.”

The upgrades to the trails will include increased signage, amenities like washrooms and rest points, along with many more to increase the quality of the trails.

“Trails can be a real motivator when it comes to travel and tourism,” Hartigh notes.

The final report is set to be released by the end of March.