E-Tree Farm Long Run

By: Matt Setlack

Location: This is a loop so you can start it wherever you like but I prefer to star/end it in Tri-City Estates.

Distance: Approximately 34km

Surface: Paved road in the countryside

Map of E-Tree Farm Long Run (click to enlarge)

This is one of my favourite long runs around Cold Lake. It is very fast and extremely flat (about 180m of elevation gain and loss over 34km). The countryside roads are quiet and the motorists are generally very courteous (as long as they see you - so wear a bright shirt). I generally start this run in Tri-City Estates and run the loop CW.  

Looking east on the road to Kinosoo Ridge (Township Rd 630)

Washrooms: Located at Tim Horton's in Tri-City Estates, community garden porta-party outside the Energy Centre (in summer), inside the Energy Centre, gas stations in Cold Lake North, washrooms in the first parking lot at the Cold Lake Provincial Park (if you want to make a detour at the NE corner of the map above) and there may be washrooms at the Grand Centre Golf Course but I have not used them before.

The busiest section of this long run is the road leading to the Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort. Once you are off this road, the run gets significantly better and much quieter. The majority of the roads on this run are lined with trees, which provide shade from the +30C heat in the summertime and a wind block from the -30C cold in the wintertime. You can run this route all year around.

Looking south on the road near E-Tree Farm (Range Rd 414)

The roads are moderately cambered so I like to run facing traffic for half the run and with traffic for half the run (on the roads that are less busy). 

Looking north near the turn on Range Rd 414

You can really get into a nice groove/pace running this loop. The roads are very clean and in good condition for the most part (when they are not under construction as they are currently (Sep 2017)). Once construction is done, this is going to be an even more amazing long run. 

Looking east at the intersection of Township Rd 624 and Range Rd 415

Alternates: If you don't want to run the complete 34km loop, then you can just do the "upper left box" in the map above (approx 18km, I believe). Also, when you are running eastbound on the road to Kinosoo Ridge, you can turn south a little earlier (on Range Rd 415 (as per map above) or Range Rd 15 (as per Google Maps)). I believe this would reduce the distance by about 5-6km. 

Looking north on Range Rd 420A near the Grand Centre Golf Course

Advice: As of 28 Sep 2017, there is construction occurring on Range Rd 15A and on the road to the Kinosoo Ridge Snow Resort so I would not recommend running on these two roads until construction is finished.

Update: As of 28 Apr 2018, construction appears to be complete on Range Rd 15A. This road is now very likely the fastest road to run on in the Cold Lake area. I love it! The surface is relatively soft asphalt that has minimal camber. The lines have not been painted on the road yet. I recommend running facing traffic and wearing brightly coloured clothes for better visibility for the motorists.   

Countryside Trail Run

By: Matt Setlack

Start/End Location: I usually start/end this run in Tri-City Estates but you can also start/end it at the Tim Horton's near Staples/Canadian Tire or the Cold Lake Provincial Park (shorter version).

Distance: Approximately 20km (Cold Lake Provincial Park Outside Loop is 6km)

Surface: 95% trail, 5% road

This is a really quiet and relaxing trail to run on. There are no motorized vehicles around except for the occasional ATV. It is one of my favourite trails in the area. The route described here is only one of many different possible trail options.  

View fullsize

Map for Countryside Trail Run (click map to enlarge) 

Route Description

Starting at the Tri-City Tim Horton's, run east towards the Museum and then turn left (north) when you are at an opening in the trees about half way there. Go through the opening past a muddy depression and veer to the right (NNE) on a ATV trail.

Turn left here (at the muddy ATV trail)

Once you leave the road and go through the opening in the trees, you should see something similar to the trail below.

Follow the ATV trail

Keep following the main trail (there are A LOT of ATV trails in this area).

Take the left trail and head for the green field

Keep running in generally a NE direction. Cross up and over a gravel/dirt road and back down into a green farmers field. Keep following the trail through the field. This field is perfect for doing cross-country interval sessions (as is the adjacent field to the north).

Typical trail conditions

You will get to a 4-way trail intersection (about 300m ahead of where the above photo was taken). The right (south) goes to toward the Museum. The straight option (east) goes towards the African Lake bike trail (not recommended). The left option (north) is the direction you want to go.

This is the trail intersection. Go left (north) here.

You will run up a slight incline on a trail through a farmers field and eventually get to row of trees/bushes that separates the fields.

View looking over your left shoulder (west). What you will see during the Countryside Trail Run

Go through the opening and take an immediate right (east) turn. You will then get to a muddy depression (it's always muddy here), which you will have to go around it. The muddy depression is you crossing over the African Lake bike trail (not recommended). Keep heading east through the muddy depression and into another field.

Typical running conditions for the Countryside Trail Run

You will eventually see the back of some houses on your left. Keep them on your left side until you get to 16 Ave / Township Rd 633, at which point you run up onto this road/highway and follow it east until you get to the Cold Lake Provincial Park (CLPP). Take the first left after you get into the park and you will pass by a couple of parking lots and a washroom. You can do the CLPP loop in any direction but I like to run CW (the lakeshore is always on my left). Once you get back to the CLPP parking lot, you can turn around and follow your trail back to Tim Horton's in Tri-City.  

Running on the Cold Lake Provincial Park Outside Loop Trail

This trail is perfect for:

Training for cross country (XC) races because the surface of the terrain and rolling hills is exactly what you can expect in an XC race.

Alternate OptionS

There are MANY ATV trails in the fields between Tri-City and the Cold Lake Provincial Park. There are a lot of good fields where you could do a interval session if you bring your flats or spikes along. The ground is nice and soft especially after a light rain.

Matt running at the CLPP just north of the parking lot

If you don't want to run to the Cold Lake Provincial Park from Tri-City, you could drive to the park and park in the parking lot. Then do the "Cold Lake Provincial Park Outside Loop", which is approximately 6km. The trail is extremely nice and very well maintained. The park attendants keep the trail clear all year around. Typically within a few days of a tree falling over the trail, it is removed. Very impressive!

"CL PP Around The Outside" Segment Map

As shown in Strava segment entitled "CL PP Around The Outside", the fastest time that this 6km trail segment has been run in is 22:34. If anyone runs this segment faster than this, I will buy them a beer.

Stay tuned for Matt's Favourite Local Run #2!