Old Rail-line west of Rocky to Nordegg

[hadster]

From the "Morley" cross on the edge of the pipeline you need to go up the hill straight north to get onto the trail, if you go straight west of the "Morley" cross it will come out on the trail at the "Phenoix" spot (the old car door leaning on the tree),but some of this route will be very muddy and rutted up in wet conditions.
There is now a bridge in the huge ravine west of "Palmer's " cabin turn off, and several bridges on the part of the trail that is on the northside of hwy 11 closer to Harlech & Nordegg area. There are some very steep hills in spots (very muddy or snow & ice) you may not be able to climb or may lose control coming down,mostly between Palmers cabin & Saunders areas, but most is good trail.
The old caboose and townsite (old school house) of Lamoral is a little ways west of "the Palmer's cabin area", should be some orange ribbon on a tree and an old pair of yellow rain pants on the side of the trail. The signs keep getting ripped down but if you spot it head north into the trees on a little rutted up trail, it's approx. 1 km or so in to it.
Right now alot of the trail has too much snow on it and little to no traffic so most of it will have to wait 'till spring, unless you are on a sled.
Most of the turns are marked with blue paint & black arrows or Coalminer's trail signs.
Happy Trails.
If anyone on this site can explain in detail how to attach pictures etc. i will post a full hand drawn map start to finish from Horburg all the way to Nordegg. Anyone planning to do the whole trip will need about 8hrs one way and some riding experience.

 

[medler]

I can't tell ya how to post pics but i would really like to ride this area this summer or as soon as poss.P.M. ron Knight and he can tell ya about the pics.I haven't been to the morley cross for a few years but if you are standing looking at the cross that is south isn't it??And the pipe line runs east and west?And i thought the rail line was pretty much behind the Cross ,,Maybe i have got my directions screwed up.You'll have to help me out.Maybe may long should be in this area this year instead of Falls Creek

 

[hadster]

I can't tell ya how to post pics but i would really like to ride this area this summer or as soon as poss.P.M. ron Knight and he can tell ya about the pics.I haven't been to the morley cross for a few years but if you are standing looking at the cross that is south isn't it??And the pipe line runs east and west?And i thought the rail line was pretty much behind the Cross ,,Maybe i have got my directions screwed up.You'll have to help me out.Maybe may long should be in this area this year instead of Falls Creek

I'll try to " P.M." Ron Knight however i've never done that yet either so i don't know if i'll figure it out. If you send your e-mail address i could send the map pic's directly to you..You have the directions a little off.... if you are standing in front of the morley cross looking at it....you are facing west and the river will be to your left or south. The river flows from the west to the east and the pipeline runs north and south.
Normally i'm out clearing deadfall and finding better ways through the bypasses when you have to leave the rail-line, but this winter we have had so much snow out there and my wrist has been in so much pain that i have only been out a few times. As the snow melts down i'll get back out there to clear it off again. I'm sure i'll be out in that area somewhere on may long weekend for some trail riding and beer drinking, just not sure where i'll set up camp yet.
I notice you have a Yamaha Grizz, with my painfull wrist i've been thinking about getting one for the power steering, do you have any regrets or problems with it ?? I have never been a Polaris fan, however after reading everyone's reviews and praise i have been thinking about the new 850 XP, it sounds like they have really made a great bike. So i'm not sure which one to go with yet.
Happy Trails
Hadley

 

[catmando]

Pm sent Hadster
Post those maps and pics!
catmando!

 

[medler]

Pm sent Hadster
Post those maps and pics!
catmando!

Thanks kittyman.

 

[medler]

I'll try to " P.M." Ron Knight however i've never done that yet either so i don't know if i'll figure it out. If you send your e-mail address i could send the map pic's directly to you..You have the directions a little off.... if you are standing in front of the morley cross looking at it....you are facing west and the river will be to your left or south. The river flows from the west to the east and the pipeline runs north and south.
Normally i'm out clearing deadfall and finding better ways through the bypasses when you have to leave the rail-line, but this winter we have had so much snow out there and my wrist has been in so much pain that i have only been out a few times. As the snow melts down i'll get back out there to clear it off again. I'm sure i'll be out in that area somewhere on may long weekend for some trail riding and beer drinking, just not sure where i'll set up camp yet.
I notice you have a Yamaha Grizz, with my painfull wrist i've been thinking about getting one for the power steering, do you have any regrets or problems with it ?? I have never been a Polaris fan, however after reading everyone's reviews and praise i have been thinking about the new 850 XP, it sounds like they have really made a great bike. So i'm not sure which one to go with yet.
Happy Trails
Hadley

The power steering is quite different.Your shoulders don't get sore or wrists.You can put the diff. lock on and turn the handle bars with one hand very easily.There is no jarring if ya hit a stump.really cool.I would rent one first and see what ya think.nice bike just over 600#dry..I think the polaris is very heavy.

 

[Major]

I talked to the Old lady and she wants to go here. I think Rider and Tucker are planning to go someplace to. I told him to come with us, the more the better. You just have to keep your pants on this time round you wierdy.
Maybe Miller will come too. I would rather random camp around there as I dont have the fancy shmancy trailers and all the goodies you rich guys have. So I can sleep under the stars with the hound and the old lady I guess.

 

[BIG_BRUTE750]

yea i would like to try that out sounds pritty good

 

[razer4]

hey I am interested in this map i just purchased a razer for me and the family and have no idea where any trails are. I live near rocky moutain house

 

[medler]

Talk to Hadster. He lives in RMH to. Still to early for that rail line ride another month or so depending on the weather

 

[tex78]

Ya big time early.

Went past this morning. Lots of snow still


And those frozen hills are not fun


Sent from my HTC-Z710a using Tapatalk

 

[Drako99]

Cant wait to ride this area agin this year.... maybe avoid make shift bridges though... i hear they can be sketchy

 

[tex78]

Ya no more brakein them.

Sent from my HTC-Z710a using Tapatalk

 

[subzero]

here is a map actually 9 of them that shows your from east to west

 

[subzero]

more pics

 

[subzero]

last 3

 

[174mcx]

I live in Horburg, Just curious how your crossing the steel tressle west of saunders? I quit riding from home about 5 yrs ago due to the mess being created in the area, at that time you couldn't follow the tracks for very far at a time before coming to a tressle thats been removed.

 

[Open Season]

I live in Horburg, Just curious how your crossing the steel tressle west of saunders? I quit riding from home about 5 yrs ago due to the mess being created in the area, at that time you couldn't follow the tracks for very far at a time before coming to a tressle thats been removed.

Drop down to te road and go around the south side passed the old gravel pit then climb the hill back up to the tracks about 300 yrds west of the tressle.

 

[medler]

You have to go around the tressle. Cant ride across it
I haven't seen much mess out there other than a few beer cans which we pick up. The trail is ruff in some places but very scenic

 

[174mcx]

Okay, so go down the saunders road to near the river and cross the creek down there? then there must be a "new" trail through the bush up to the tracks? Just so everyone knows there was also 6 quads stolen from horburg night before last.