Nestled in the Rocky Mountain foothills just south-east
of Calgary, Alta., Bragg Creek is known for its
extensive network of picturesque cross-country
skiing and all-season trails that draw thousands of
visitors each year.
In 2013, the hamlet of 600 people suffered a devastating
blow when the swollen Elbow River burst its banks and de-stroyed
many homes and businesses.
The community is slowly recovering, spurred in large
part to the rising popularity of the area’s outdoor offer-ings
and the efforts of the Greater Bragg Creek Trails
Association (GBCTA).
“Bragg Creek has struggled over the past few years be-cause
of the huge flood that damaged much of the town site,”
said Jeff Hughes, a long-time Bragg Creek resident and lead
groomer for the GBCTA.
Hughes says the flooding destroyed local malls and dis-placed
some homeowners.
“It was basically a hundred-year flood,” he said, adding that
rebuilding has taken a few years.
Hughes says trail developments in the West Bragg Creek
area in recent years have led to a significant rise in visits by
skiers, mountain bikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. The
numbers are continuing to trend upwards, which is good
news for Bragg Creek.
“We’ve seen a 60 per cent increase in the traffic every
year over last four years, and we’re expecting to see close to
200,000 visitors this year,” said Hughes. “We’re hoping that
the increase in the popularity of our trail system will help re-invigorate
our town. I think it’s really the future.”
The GBCTA, an all-volunteer organization founded in
2004 to design, build and maintain trails and pathways for
the benefit of Bragg Creek residents and visitors, oversees 65
kilometres of Nordic ski trails and another 65 kilometres of
all-season trails.
The all-season trails are used for activities like fat-tire
biking, snowshoeing and dogsledding in the winter. Warm
weather activities include mountain biking, hiking and
horseback riding.
According to Hughes, the Alberta government recognizes
the recreational value of the West Bragg Creek trail network
and is investing CAN$2.4 million in improvements to user
parking.
The money is going towards paving the parking lot and
adding washrooms, says Hughes, as well as building garages
for grooming vehicles and other maintenance equipment
used by the GBCTA. Construction started in the spring and is
expected to end in October.
DAVE BLOGGS / FLICKR.COM
COVER FEATURE
The Bragg Creek flood of 2013
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