Trail Talk
Trail Talk – West Bragg Creek Forest Management & Community Fuel Reduction Update
Reflecting on the summer trail work, it’s been a busy season. While frequent weather challenges meant some trail days didn’t go ahead as planned, they didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. Top of mind now is ensuring ski trails are ready for the upcoming season. We’re hopeful the recent trend of increased precipitation continues — it’s been far too long since we’ve had a winter with enough snow to set a proper ski track.
Forest Management Update
From the outset, BCT’s approach has been to advocate for trails by working directly with other authorized land users, including West Fraser Timber (WFT), to identify opportunities to mitigate potential impacts on the trail network. In summer 2024, field visits with BCT, WFT, and Alberta Parks and Forestry resulted in several positive outcomes: reduced cut block sizes, strategic trail buffers, improved viewscapes, and exploration of opportunities to use some disturbed areas for re-routes or new trail alignments identified in the West Bragg Creek Master Trail Plan. This harvest is planned to begin in late fall 2026.
Earlier this year, the Alberta Government announced the Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program (CHFR) in response to the growing threat of wildfires in communities bordering forested areas. With recent events like the Jasper fire highlighting the impact wildfires can have, community protection has been prioritized. Bragg Creek has been identified as a community at risk, prompting WFT to accelerate its harvest sequence for West Bragg Creek in line with CHFR objectives. These objectives include removing hazardous fuels to reduce wildfire intensity which in turn improves firefighting effectiveness.
Potential Trail Impacts
Most of the proposed harvest under CHFR is north of the West Bragg Creek parking lot, though few trails will remain unaffected. The red areas on the provided map show where timber harvest could potentially occur. The same collaborative process used in 2024 is now underway to help ensure the trail community’s perspective is considered. Field visits began in August 2025 to gather feedback and data to help inform WFT’s cut block and haul road design. Final approval of the harvest plan and alignment with CHFR will rest with the Government of Alberta.
Harvesting under CHFR is scheduled to begin in winter 2027/28, with timber extraction planned through the Jumping Pound area to reduce impacts to the WBC trailhead and Bragg Creek community.
Public Engagement
There will be ongoing opportunities for the public to provide input as planning continues. We encourage trail users to attend WFT open houses and share their perspectives with government officials. More information on the CHFR can be found on the West Fraser Timber and Alberta Forestry and Parks websites.
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