Bighorn Backcountry — Cline River Road to Coral Pink Sand Hills
Deep Bighorn Wildland — earn every kilometre.
Most people driving Highway 11 along Abraham Lake never notice the Cline River Road cutting north into the Bighorn Wildland. That’s exactly why it’s worth taking. The rough two-track follows the Cline River drainage for roughly 40 kilometres, skirting willow flats and crossing tributary streams before the maintained surface gives way entirely to a rocky pack trail. The ford at the main Cline River crossing — typically knee-deep with a gravel bottom in late summer — is the defining moment of the run. Beyond it, the Bighorn feels genuinely remote: no crowds, no facilities, just lodgepole forest and the chance of seeing bighorn sheep on the valley walls above you.
You need a capable, high-clearance 4×4 with solid all-terrain tires and river-crossing experience. The road is impassable during spring melt and again after heavy fall rains — late July through mid-September is your window. Bring all your own water; the river water needs treating. There are no designated campsites but dispersed camping is permitted in the Bighorn Wildland. The nearest fuel is in Nordegg to the south or Rocky Mountain House to the east. Cell service is zero once you leave the highway. This is one of those places where you earn the solitude.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed, Rock |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 50 mi / 80 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5900 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with river-crossing experience |
| Nearest town | Nordegg, Alberta |
| Land manager | Alberta Environment and Protected Areas — Bighorn Wildland |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | alberta.ca |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need something more serious?
A high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner can physically manage the terrain, but the water crossings on the Cline River system are the real filter — you need river-crossing experience and ideally a snorkel or at minimum a high air intake. A stock SUV with no crossing experience has no business here.
When does the trail typically open and is snow a real concern in July?
July through September is the window. Snow can linger at elevation into early July, and the spring melt keeps river crossings dangerously high through June — that's the bigger threat than snow itself. September can bring early fall storms that turn the trail greasy and close it fast.
Do you need a permit to run this trail or camp in Bighorn Wildland?
No permit is currently required for vehicle travel or dispersed camping in the Bighorn Wildland, but regulations are managed by Alberta Environment and Protected Areas and can change. Check the official Alberta page before you go — fire bans and seasonal closures get imposed with little notice.
What's the hardest section and what specifically makes it gnarly?
The Cline River crossings are the crux — multiple braided channels with rocky bottoms, unpredictable depth depending on recent rain or snowmelt, and zero bailout options mid-crossing. The trail also has extended sections of loose rock and mud through spruce corridors that will high-centre a poorly set-up rig if you're not reading the line.
Is there any fuel or resupply between the trailhead and the end, and how far is the nearest gas?
There is zero resupply on trail — 80 kilometres of pure backcountry with no services. Nordegg is your last fuel stop before the start, roughly 60 kilometres away. Top off there, carry extra fuel, and plan for the return leg too.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.