June 1, 2024
What is Buffalo Pound Trail Fest?
Buffalo Pound Trail Fest is a one-day festival celebrating all things trails and Buffalo Pound Provincial Park for people who enjoying being outdoors and those participate in outdoor recreation and sport activities. This is a family friendly event with activities for children through to adults. There will be trail running, mountain biking (enduro and XC-rally), gravel biking, and adaptive cycling and hiking. There will also be mountain bike slalom, possibly the first time ever held in Saskatchewan; maybe, we do not know, it will be fun either way! Come race hard or come and race at your pace to enjoy the surroundings.
Don’t want to race? Come watch the participants from the festival area with great views and food.
Who is Buffalo Pound Trail Fest For?
Buffalo Pound Trail Fest aims to be an inclusive active outdoor event. Join passionate trail users (cyclists, hikers, runners, wheelchairs) through trail activities (running and cycling), gravel biking, and gather as the park and trail community in the festival area with music, bouncy castles, a food truck, and beer garden. Of special note, Alberta Abilities Lodges Society is bringing a TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair, two tandem bikes, and other adaptive equipment. Our trail friend is also bringing a TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair.
Why Buffalo Pound Trail Fest?
Earn trail karma while coming together with the trail community! Seriously though, registration fees alongside Grants and Sponsorships will all be put towards the construction of the new trail with a focus on creating an accessible (i.e., adaptive equipment and user friendly) trail in the park so everyone can access the trails and views from the top of Buffalo Pound.
Come together as a community event and have a positive lasting impact for all community members.
Buffalo Pound Trail Fest aims to be an inclusive active outdoor event. Join passionate trail users (cyclists, hikers, runners, wheelchairs) through trail activities (running and cycling), gravel rides, and community gathering festival area (music, bouncy castles, foodtruck, beer garden). Alberta Abilities Lodges Society is bringing a TrailRider all-terrain wheelchair, two tandem bikes, and other adaptive equipment. Proceeds raised will be used to create an accessible trail in the park so everyone can access the trails and views from the top of Buffalo Pound. Come together at a community event which will have lasting impact for all community members.
Trail Fest Events
Trail Race (Run) - 8:00 am Start @ Upper Chalet
Saturday morning is going to be kicked off with a Trail Race. For all you runners out there, I suggest you start training with elevation. This course is not for the faint of heart, but if you are a true trail runner, you laugh in the face of fear. Race our 12km or 6km course or come out with your whole family for the Beaver Loop Fun run which will be around 2 km.
XC Rally (Bike) - 10:30 am Start @ Upper Chalet
This is a new and exciting cross-country style race. Think enduro with spandex… and climbing within the timed stage. This race consists of multiple stages that need to be completed. Each stage has a designated start and finish line. Each stage will be timed separately and riders with the lowest/fastest combined time from all stages are the winners. The transfers/ride between stages are untimed but the riders must follow a designated route to get to the start of each stage.
Gravel Ride - 10:30 am Start @ Upper Chalet
Gravel riding, you know it, and you love it! Whether you want a social ride while enjoying the beautiful landscapes on our backroads or looking to set a PR and gap your friends. It's certainly not for the faint of heart! There will be a lead ride with a predetermined route around Buffalo Pound, with the start and finish at the chalet. Consideration will be made for different paces and multiple groupings will be sent out accordingly.
Enduro Race \m/ - 2pm Start @ Upper Chalet
What is enduro? SImply put, get yourself to the top and then race against the clock on the way down. With untimed climbs (thank god), and timed downs. This is a multi stage race where riders have to descend on predetermined trails. Between stages, riders can take their time and chill with friends. Get creative and choose your own route for transferring between stages. Great vibes guaranteed.
Pump Track & Dual Slalom Jam - 5pm Start
Come Jam on the pump track with your friends and have some friendly competition! Maybe it’s a race? Maybe it’s style that counts? Did your friends beat you on the pump track? No problem, come over to the Dual Slalom and try again. Race from the top to the bottom having to maneuver side to side around the flags while trying to keep your speed up? Sounds fun to me! If that doesn't excite you, everyone will be watching and this is your time to shine. Announcers and Music will be pumping up the crowd and hype will be high.
Food Truck & Beer Garden - Opens at 11am
Need some motivation to finish your event? Schmitty's Catering is bringing out their food truck to serve our amazing community of trail users. One meal is included with your registration (depending on which event you registered for).
Oh shoot, did you run out of water half way through your run or bike? We’ve got you covered with the beer garden that will be fully stocked with beverages from Rebellion Brewing! Come on in and enjoy a well deserved drink! The harder you work out on the trails, the better the food and beer will taste.
Do you have an E-bike and want to be part of the Fest?
Do you have a class 1 e-bike and want to be part of this event? Sign up for any cycling event as this festival is for all trail users! Are we jealous of your insane speed? Yes, but biking is biking and we love you too!
Kids and other activities - Start @ 9am
Other than running, racing and eating. There will be plenty of things to keep you and your family busy. Even if you dont want to participate in any of the events, bring your whole family out for a high energy day out at Buffalo Pound. There will be plenty of kids activities at the upper chalet area such as:
Bouncy Castle
Strider course
Dive bomber airplane making and throwing
Bubbles
Activity Backpacks from Parks
Music
and much more!
Camping
If you want to camp out at Buffalo Pound before and during the event. Why not book a site at the Lower Chalet A or Lower Chalet B so you can be right in the action for Trail Fest. Get some friends together and enjoy this event and take it to another level.
Lower Chalet Parking and Camping
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Upper Chalet Parking
Trail Fest Site Plan
