Plans unveiled for Calgary to Cochrane section of Trans Canada Trail

A long-awaited hiking and biking trail that would run all the way from Calgary's western edge through to Cochrane stepped closer to completion Tuesday, as organizers unveiled details of Stage One of the construction.

Parts of the pathway already exist, including a paved trail through Glenbow Ranch Provincial Park.

Organizers said Tuesday that they hope to complete the first phase of the trail — a 38-kilometre-long section between the western section of the Rotary/Mattamy Greenway Trail in Calgary along the Bow River through to Cochrane — by 2025.

Eventually, the group hopes to extend the trail all the way to Canmore, filling a gap in the Trans Canada Trail, which runs more than 27,000 kilometres across the country.

The organizers said at a news conference at the Cochrane RancheHouse on Tuesday that 70 per cent of the land needed to construct the trail from Calgary to Canmore has been secured, thanking several prominent Alberta families — including the Haskayne, Harvie and Robinson families — for donating land.

Parts of the trail will be built along Treaty Seven Territory, including lands of the Stoney Nakoda Nation.

As part of the plan, they'll have to build a bridge over the Bow River to Cochrane.

The trail has been the works for more than a decade, according to the group behind the project, which is being overseen by the Rotary Club of Cochrane. The group includes volunteers from the Rotary club and members of the prominent Alberta families who donated land to the project.

'A great day for Calgary and Cochrane'

Tim Harvie is part of one of the families who have donated land for the trail. Harvie, who is a board member for the Glenbow Ranch Park Foundation (created by his family), said getting the trail built has been a dream for the park since it was created.

"A lot of the trail is already built. We just need to connect [it] at either end, and that'll be a great day for Calgary and Cochrane [and] all Albertans to be able to bike, walk, cycle from Calgary to Cochrane," said Harvie.

Harvie credits the Albertan families that donated land to make their vision a reality.

"They're all legacy families, really pioneers, some of them there. They go back with deep roots to Alberta's early beginnings," he said.

"If it wasn't for these families and their philanthropic nature and seeing the value and connecting all Albertans this way, it wouldn't happen. So, it's pretty nice to see."

According to project's website, organizers are still looking for businesses, organizations and individuals to donate toward the completion of the trail. There is also a contest on the website to name the trail. The contest is open to all Albertans.