Clearwater Trails Initiative (CTI) is a volunteer synergy group registered with Synergy Alberta and dedicated to providing strong leadership and support in the identification and management of quality trails, which are to be used in a safe and environmentally responsible manner leading to a secure and sustainable multi-use trail system.

We encourage all visitors and residents to enjoy Clearwater County's natural beauty responsibly. Reducing the impact that we have on our environment helps ensure that it will still be available to enjoy for years to come.

For more information on these principles visit "Leave No Trace"

Maps

Android or iPhone users can download the free Avenza app HERE

To access the Rig Street Summer Trails map:

Open Avenza, click the plus (+) sign, select from your downloaded files with the "From Device Storage” option.

The CTI group includes members from Bighorn Heritage ATV Society, Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), Alberta Energy Regulator (AER), National Trails Coalition (NTC), Clearwater County, Sundre Forest Products, Husky, Keyera, Shell, Apache as well as local citizens. They have joined forces to:

• Promote and support a managed trail system and related infrastructure.
• Protect public safety, industry infrastructure and resource inventory.
• Foster cooperation among users, industry and government.
• Optimize the outdoor experience of recreation users.

Rig Street Pilot Project

The CTI has brought together industry, municipal and local provincial government people as well as local citizens and user groups to address issues arising from large numbers of random campers and recreational motorized vehicle use in the West Country. The focus area will be east of the Trunk Road where Public Land Use Zones are not designated and management plans are not in place. Our initial efforts will be a pilot project in the Rig Street area. Industry has been taxed with expensive repairs to maintain compliance on their dispositions when overuse by motorized vehicles, particularly in wet and steep areas, damages ROW’s. There are also the risks and liabilities associated with public camping on or near facility sites.

Random camping and trail riding is a culture in Alberta and is not likely to be regulated to any great degree in the foreseeable future. Presently the liability for users on industry dispositions lies with the disposition holder. The CTI group feels that there is opportunity to softly manage recreational use through education and the provision of safe, suitable random campsites connected to trails designed to reduce impacts on sensitive environmental areas and industry dispositions. This could involve something as simple as designating the safe side of a Right of Way (RoW) as the trail and keeping users off the pipe to bridging sensitive areas to new trail construction around sensitive areas or facilities. Industry could also participate by identifying abandoned or shut in sites as suitable camping areas while higher risk ones are identified as unsuitable.

 

Clearwater County has an ongoing educational initiative that has branded respectful use of the  West Country with the Sasquatch as a mascot. CTI has been experimenting with campsite and  trail signage that features the Sasquatch directing people to the suitable sites and trails and away  from unsuitable ones. While sample size is still small, initial results are encouraging and we think  we are on to something to reduce risk, liability and even expenses to industry in a way that the  average user will respect.