Riding in Southern Alberta
Lethbridge is a great place to ride, but it has a personality: strong west winds, steep coulee hills, a mix of paved, gravel and natural trails, and weather that can change in an afternoon. This page covers riding with our wind, hills, surfaces and seasons, where to find the City’s official pathway maps, and what’s open on the MPE LINK Pathway to Coaldale.
On this page
Wind: the big one
If you ride in Lethbridge, the wind will shape your ride more than anything else. Environment and Climate Change Canada has ranked Lethbridge the second windiest city in Canada, with about 116 days a year of winds or gusts of 40 km/h or more. The prevailing wind is from the west and southwest, and chinooks bring strong, warm, gusty west winds, especially in winter.
Gary says there’s no way he could ride a regular bicycle in some of the winds we get. On his e-bike, even riding into the wind, he keeps up better than 20 km/h, “and I love it.” In his words, “you don’t go out for a couple of kilometres. You go out for 20 or 30.” Because riding in the wind “isn’t nearly the challenge that it was before,” he says it’s even good to go out on a windy day.
Headwinds and tailwinds
Air resistance grows quickly with the speed of the air passing you. Ride at 18 km/h into a 25 km/h headwind and the air is hitting you at 43 km/h; your effort can be several times what it would be on a calm day. Turn around, and the same wind gives you a free push. The trouble is that the push home doesn’t make up for the struggle out. A windy out-and-back ride is always harder than the same ride on a calm day.
The headwind home
The most common Lethbridge cycling mistake: a lovely, easy ride east on a west wind, a long way from home, and then the realization that every kilometre back is into the wind. Riders on e-bikes face the same trap, made worse because the battery is lower on the way home just when the motor has the most work to do.
- Ride into the wind first, while you’re fresh and the battery is full, and come home with it behind you.
- Check whether the wind will change. Afternoon winds are often stronger than morning winds, and the direction can shift.
- Turn around early. If the outbound leg feels effortless, that’s the wind. Plan the return as if it will be twice as hard.
- Plan a bail-out. Know who you could call, or which route is more sheltered, if the wind picks up.
Posture and aerodynamics
Sitting upright makes you a sail. Bending your elbows, lowering your chest and tucking in a little can make a real difference into a headwind. Drop handlebars on road and gravel bikes give a lower position; recumbents are naturally low. Loose jackets and big baskets catch the wind; snug clothing and low-mounted panniers catch less.
Wind and battery range
A strong headwind can use far more battery than the same route on a calm day, because the motor is working against the air the whole time. Plan your reserve around the windiest leg of the ride. There’s a worked range example on E-bikes explained.
Check wind speed, gusts and direction on the forecast page before you go, and again before you turn for home on a long ride. A west wind means start by riding west. Watch the gust figure as well as the average; gusts are what push you around.
Crosswinds and gusts
A steady crosswind is tiring but manageable. A sudden gust from the side is what knocks riders off line, or off the bike.
- Exposed spots. Coulee rims, bridges, open fields beside pathways, gaps between buildings and the ends of shelterbelts are where gusts hit hardest. Expect a shove as you leave shelter.
- Ride relaxed. Loose arms, a firm but not rigid grip, and a slightly lower position let the bike move under you without steering you off course.
- Leave room. Ride a little further from the pathway edge, from other riders and from traffic, so a gust doesn’t push you into anything.
- What catches the wind. Tall riders, upright positions, large panniers, child trailers, cargo boxes, flags and deep-rimmed wheels all catch more side wind. So does a long, light recumbent. Heavy e-bikes and low trikes are pushed around less.
- Passing trucks on rural roads create their own gust as they go by. Hold your line and expect it.
Why is riding into the wind so hard? When you ride, you push air out of the way, like walking through a swimming pool. The faster the air hits you, the harder it pushes back. Riding into the wind is like riding uphill without a hill.
Wonder: why do bike racers ride in a line, close behind each other? (The rider at the front breaks the wind, so everyone behind has an easier time. Only grown-ups who practise this should try it, because riding close is tricky.)
Try this: on a windy day, with a grown-up, ride slowly into the wind sitting up tall, then crouch down a little. Can you feel the difference? Then turn around and feel the wind push you along.
When not to ride
Part of riding in southern Alberta is knowing when to leave the bike at home. There’s no single number that’s right for everyone. A heavy e-bike on a sheltered street handles more wind than a light bike on a coulee rim or a rider towing a child trailer. Set your own limits, and lower them if you’re new, riding with children, or riding a trike or cargo bike.
- Stay home if there’s a wind warning, a severe thunderstorm warning, or a forecast for hail or lightning.
- Skip exposed routes when gusts are strong enough that walking feels unsteady. Choose sheltered streets, or shorten the ride.
- Don’t ride a long out-and-back into the forecast building of an afternoon wind.
- Avoid icy pathways on two wheels, especially after a chinook melt followed by a hard overnight freeze.
- Skip blowing dust or smoke days if you have breathing problems. Check air quality when there’s wildfire smoke.
- Stay off coulee trails when wet. The City asks riders to avoid trails in wet conditions to prevent ruts and erosion, and wet clay is very slippery.
The forecast page shows current conditions, gusts and any active warnings. If the gusts on the coulee rim worry you on foot, they’ll worry you more on a bike.
Coulee hills
Lethbridge sits on open prairie cut by the Oldman River valley and its coulees. Many routes are flat up top, but getting into or out of the valley means a real climb. The City’s own cycling map warns riders to be aware of steep slopes on routes in and out of the river valley.
Climbing
- Shift early. Get into a low gear before the climb starts, not halfway up when the chain is under load.
- Find a steady pace you could hold for ten minutes. Spinning a low gear is easier on knees than grinding a high one.
- It’s fine to walk. Many experienced riders walk the steepest pitches. Climbers on foot and on bikes have the right of way on City trails, so step aside for them when you’re coming down.
- E-bikes make coulee climbs much easier, but use a lot of battery doing it. Use the assist you need on the hill and less on the flat.
Descending
- Check your brakes at the top.
- Control your speed from the start. Brake steadily before you go too fast, rather than hard at the bottom. On a long descent, use both brakes and ease off now and then so they don’t overheat.
- Watch for bends, gravel and people at the bottom of hills, where pathways often meet.
- Trikes and heavy e-bikes build speed quickly and are harder to stop. See why trikes can tip.
Cross-slopes
Some pathways run across a slope rather than up and down it. A cross-slope pulls the bike sideways and, on a trike, tilts the whole machine. Take them slowly, and avoid turning downhill on them.
Pathway and road surfaces
| Surface | Examples (from the City) | What to expect | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paved pathways | Henderson Lake, Metis Trail, Coal Banks Trail | Smooth asphalt, open year-round, many cleared of snow in winter. Shared with walkers, runners, strollers and dogs. | Every type of bike, including trikes and recumbents |
| Aggregate trails | Indian Battle Park, Nicholas Sheran Park | Shale or crushed limestone. Firm when dry, softer when wet; can be loose on corners. | Hybrids, gravel and mountain bikes; most e-bikes. Slower going for narrow tires and low trikes. |
| Single track (natural trails) | River Valley Trail Network, Six Mile Coulee, Bull Trail Park | Narrow, often unmaintained, with roots, rock, steep pitches and jumps. Limited cell service; more wildlife. | Mountain bikes and skilled riders. Not trikes or road bikes. |
| Shared-use pathways along roads | Many neighbourhood connectors | Driveway crossings, curb cuts and intersections. Drivers may not expect you. | Most bikes, at moderate speed |
| Rural roads | Range roads around the city | Gravel, washboard, loose shoulders, dust from passing vehicles, farm traffic. | Gravel bikes, hybrids with wider tires, sturdy e-bikes |
- Loose surfaces. Brake gently and early on gravel and shale, and avoid sudden turns.
- Preservation areas. The City’s pathway map marks some preservation areas as closed to dogs and bikes. In the Lethbridge Nature Reserve, bikes may only pass through on the paved path, and in the Elizabeth Hall Wetlands they may use only the west path closest to the golf course.
- Stay on sanctioned trails. The City asks riders not to build jumps or new trails, which damage coulee slopes. For jumps and skills, the City’s free Botterill Bottom Park mountain bike park, reached through Indian Battle Park, is the place.
Weather and seasons
Heat and sun
Our sun is strong and the air is dry, and the wind hides how much you’re sweating. Carry more water than you think you need, especially on the LINK Pathway and rural roads with no shade. Ride early or late in a heat wave. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses.
Thunderstorms and hail
Summer storms build quickly, and hail is most common from June to August. If the sky darkens to the west or you hear thunder, get off the bike and into a building or a hard-topped vehicle. Picnic shelters and lone trees don’t protect you from lightning. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before riding on.
Rain
Brakes, especially rim brakes, take longer to bite when wet. Paint lines, metal plates and wet leaves are slippery. Fenders keep the spray off. Stay off natural trails until they dry.
Snow and ice
Many paved pathways are cleared in winter, but chinook melt followed by a freeze can leave sheets of ice. Studded winter tires help on two wheels. Trikes are steady on snow but can slide sideways on ice.
Cold and wind chill
Riding makes its own wind, so wind chill on a bike is colder than standing still. Cover fingers, ears and face first. E-bike range drops in the cold.
Daylight and visibility
Winter days are short, and late-afternoon rides end in the dark. Low sun in the morning and evening can blind drivers. Use lights day and night in winter. See lights.
Batteries through the seasons
- Don’t leave an e-bike battery in a hot car or truck bed in summer, or in a freezing garage in winter.
- Bring the battery indoors to charge, and let it reach room temperature before charging.
- For winter storage, see storage and maintenance.
Spring and fall can swing from shirt-sleeves to sleet in a day. Check the hourly temperature, wind and precipitation on the forecast page and dress in layers you can stuff in a pannier.
Bike paths in Lethbridge and where to find a map
The City of Lethbridge describes a network of more than 280 km of paved and unpaved trails, with more than 100 km of trails in the river valley alone. The best way to plan a ride is with the City’s own maps. These are the official ones:
- Parks, Pathways and Trails map (printable PDF). The City’s citywide map, dated January 2025, showing paved paths, aggregate paths, river valley natural trails, dog parks and preservation areas closed to dogs and bikes: Parks, Pathways and Trails map. The City’s Trails and Pathways page also has printable image versions of the 2025 pathways map and a river valley trail network map.
- Interactive trails map. The City’s Lethbridge Explorer WebMap with the trail system turned on. You can tap a trail segment to see its length and surface: trails WebMap.
- Parks and Recreation WebMap. Shows parks, playgrounds and facilities across the city; tap a location to see its amenities. Handy for finding washrooms, parking and playgrounds along a ride: Parks and Recreation WebMap, listed on the City’s Interactive WebMaps page.
- Pedal the Pathways cycling map. The City’s cycling map of popular pathway routes, mostly separated from traffic, with approximate lengths: Pedal the Pathways (PDF).
- Lethbridge Cycling Handbook. The City’s handbook (first edition, July 2020) covering rules, safety, bike boxes and the 7 Avenue S bike boulevard, locking and registering your bike: Lethbridge Cycling Handbook (PDF).
- Tuesday Trail Tips. The City’s series on trail etiquette, pathway types, navigation and protecting trails: Tuesday Trail Tips.
- All of the City’s cycling links in one place, including bicycle detection at traffic signals and the nature reserve bike-through path: City of Lethbridge Cycling page.
The City notes that its web maps are illustrative and shouldn’t be relied on for precise routes or navigation. Printed pathway maps are also available at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre.
The main pathway areas
The river valley and coulees
More than 100 km of trails through cottonwood forests, coulees and wetlands along the Oldman River. A mix of paved pathways, aggregate trails in places such as Indian Battle Park, and natural single track in the River Valley Trail Network, Six Mile Coulee and Bull Trail Park. Expect steep climbs in and out. Bikes stay on designated pathways in the nature reserves.
Coal Banks Trail and the west side
The paved Coal Banks Trail is a 30 km point-to-point regional pathway that, in the City’s description, runs from west Lethbridge through Henderson Park to Pavan Park, with a West End start just off Highway 3 at the east end of the Oldman River bridge and a North End start at 13 Street North. The City also lists the Metis Trail pathway as paved and Nicholas Sheran Park as an aggregate trail.
Around Henderson Lake
The City lists the Henderson Lake pathway among its smooth, paved, year-round pathways. Flat and family-friendly, it’s a good place for a first ride, a new rider, or a trike test.
What it means for you: for a first ride, pick a short paved loop from the Pedal the Pathways map and check it on the interactive map for length and surface. Add hills and aggregate trails once you know how you and your bike handle them.
Suggested routes from the City
The City’s Pedal the Pathways map lists 17 named pathway routes with approximate lengths. A few examples, as the City describes them:
| Route (City name) | Approximate length | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Heights | 3.9 km loop | A short neighbourhood loop |
| Henderson Lake Park | 3 km loop | Flat and family-friendly |
| North Side-South Side via Coalbanks Trail | 15.3 km loop | A longer loop using the Coal Banks Trail |
| Bridge Dr hill climb | 3.0 km one way | Includes a climb in or out of the valley |
| Bull Trail-University hill | 2.8 km one way | Includes a climb in or out of the valley |
We’ve only listed routes and lengths that appear on the City’s map. For difficulty, surface and the full route list, see the map itself. The City’s network keeps growing: a 2 km Crowsnest Trail Pathway, linking the regional pathway network to the WT Hill Business Park, was under construction as of February 2026, with federal, provincial and City funding.
The MPE LINK Pathway to Coaldale
The MPE LINK Pathway is a community-led project to build a paved pathway for walking, running and cycling between Lethbridge and Coaldale. It was approved in 2023 to become part of the Trans Canada Trail network. When complete, the project’s FAQ describes it as about 14 km long and 3 metres wide, connecting to existing pathways in both communities.
What’s open
- Phase 1 is open. It runs from Coaldale west towards Highway 512, and had its grand opening on August 8, 2024. News reports give its length as about 3.4 to 4.7 km.
- It ends before Highway 512. The project’s FAQ says the pathway currently turns around before the highway. Sunny South News reported in July 2025 that a tunnel under Highway 512 is planned for the next phase.
- The Lethbridge section isn’t connected yet, as far as we could confirm. As of July 2025, the underpass and the Lethbridge section, planned to start near 43 Street and connect at 4 Avenue S and 43 Street, were still in progress, with some land negotiations ongoing. The project’s stated goal is completion by the end of the 2026 construction season, depending on funding. We couldn’t confirm the current fall 2026 status, so check linkpathway.org before you go, and don’t plan on riding through from Lethbridge until it says the route is complete.
Starting from the Coaldale end
- The project’s FAQ gives the trailhead as being along 30 Street in Coaldale.
- Ride it as an out-and-back: west to the turnaround before Highway 512, then back to Coaldale.
- Washrooms and a picnic shelter are planned at a halfway point, and shade trees are planned for rest stops, but don’t count on them being there yet. Bring water and use facilities before you start.
- The FAQ says motorized vehicles aren’t intended for the pathway, while e-bikes and scooters “may be allowed with certain speed limits”. Follow any signs posted at the trailhead.
- Parts of the route run near irrigation canals. Keep children close and stay on the path.
Open prairie, open wind
This pathway runs across open farmland, with almost no shelter. A west wind that’s a gentle push riding east from Highway 512 back to Coaldale is a hard headwind riding west. On a gusty day, crosswinds on an exposed pathway can be tiring and unsettling, especially for children, riders with trailers, and trikes.
- From the Coaldale trailhead, the outbound leg west is usually into the prevailing wind. That’s the right way round: you’ll come home with the wind.
- If the wind is from the east, it’s the reverse. Shorten your outbound leg.
- Bring sun protection; there’s little shade.
Check the wind direction and gusts on the forecast page before heading to Coaldale. Strong west winds are the norm here; on a day with gusts that would make the coulee rim unpleasant, the open prairie will be worse.
Sources
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020, Lethbridge Airport (elevation), and Environment Canada’s city weather rankings (windiest cities).
- City of Lethbridge, Trails and Pathways (network length, river valley trails, cyclist etiquette, map links): lethbridge.ca/parks-leisure-recreation/trails-and-pathways
- City of Lethbridge, Lethbridge River Valley: lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Lethbridge Nature Reserve and Elizabeth Hall Wetlands (where bikes may ride): Lethbridge Nature Reserve, Elizabeth Hall Wetlands
- City of Lethbridge, Parks, Pathways and Trails map (January 2025): lethbridge.ca (PDF)
- City of Lethbridge, Pedal the Pathways cycling map: lethbridge.ca (PDF)
- City of Lethbridge, Interactive WebMaps (Parks and Recreation WebMap; map disclaimer): lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Tuesday Trail Tips (pathway types and examples, Coal Banks Trail, wet trails, Botterill Bottom Park, printed maps): lethbridge.ca
- City of Lethbridge, Cycling page and Lethbridge Cycling Handbook (July 2020): lethbridge.ca/roads-parking-transit/cycling
- Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada, “Federal government invests in active transportation connection in Lethbridge” (February 4, 2026), Crowsnest Trail Pathway: canada.ca
- MPE LINK Pathway, home page and FAQs: linkpathway.org, linkpathway.org/faqs
- Lethbridge Herald, “First phase of Link Pathway celebrated in Coaldale” (August 9, 2024): lethbridgeherald.com
- Sunny South News, “LINK Pathways project moving forward” (July 24, 2025): sunnysouthnews.com
- My Lethbridge Now, “Link Pathway approved to be part of Trans Canada Trail network” (October 20, 2023): mylethbridgenow.com