2 Elbows and a Lake

The Big Elbow/Little Elbow Loop is a classic route that many mountain bikers will be familiar with. Unburdened by camping gear, this loop is often tackled as a "big day out" ride with most folks starting at the Big Elbow/Little Elbow parking area.

The route can be ridden in either direction - pick your poison :)

This loop is a great option as an introduction to bikecamping/bikeovernighting for new bikepackers and can be ridden by someone with an appropriate bike and a moderate level of fitness as a 2 day/1 night adventure.

We've added an option to ride out from Tombstone to Elbow Lake backcountry campsite for more riding in the spectacular upper Elbow Valley. One could also park at the Elbow Lake parking lot on Hwy.40 and stage their 2 day ride from there.

Backcountry campsites do require pre-registration on Alberta Parks' site. There are no services and many streams to filter water.