Superb ride that climbs above treeline for peerless prairie and Rocky Mountain views before a long twisty, rocky and rooty, but fast, descent.

It’s a big ride that takes a lot of energy even if you shuttle it between the start and finish points (see map in entry photos). Without the shuttle, you’ll need to add a fairly shadeless 17km (1.5hr) ride along a Powderface Trail, a dirt road, before you even get to the steep climbs along this trail. Take plenty of water and energy bars.

Start: Park at the Dawson Campground (3km south of Hwy 68; or 20km southeast of Barrier Lake Visitor Centre).

Directions: From signposted trailhead 20km south of Hwy-68 on Powerderface Trail start the ride on a real pig of a climb. Things ease up as you make your way above the treeline where superb views should be encouraging. Traverse the ridge then ascend a more manageable trail up Cox Hill before the fun downhill run. Trail is fairly well signposted and turnoff options are limited – they are marked on the map and allow shorter loops; only a basic map needed, if the weather is good.