There is a history behind the Iron Horse Trail that dates back to our early heritage.
Before Canadian National Railways (CNR) ever left its mark in northeast Alberta, the Carlton Trail was formed. A path used by pioneers to come into and settle the province, a piece of the trail is still used to this day, but in a much different way.
In the 1830's CNR began its long journey through Canadian history, and still clings to the areas grassroots to this day.
“There are lots of rail lines that have been abandoned, so this trail is taking a piece of our heritage. Alberta was developed because the rail lines were able to come in, and communities were built along that rail line. Some of those communities are still there, and this trail goes through some of those communities just like the train used to do,” said Marianne Price, administrative coordinator for the Iron Horse Trail.
Running nearly 300-kilometres of the Bonnyville-Coronado rail line, the Iron Horse trail was officially formed in June 2003.
The trail was started long before however, dating back to 1993 when Smokey Lake and Heinsberg citizens banned together to form the Riverland Recreational Trail Society.
With the help of the County of St. Paul, the county took ownership of an abandoned stretch of the CNR line and formed the first length of trail.
“That part of the trail is a good 10 years older than the rest,” said Price.
“When CN abandoned the rest of the rail line in northeast Alberta in 1999, the municipal governments and trail users were already loosely formed and had the idea in their head that the old rail line could be converted into a trail,” she continued.
In total, 10 municipalities worked together to convert the remaining length of the trail, with the land transferring over officially in 2001.
Fencing the 18-trestle bridges, and removing the track took two-years, and in 2003 they opened the trail for the first time to ATV users, snowmobiles, horses, bicycles, and hikers.
“We are the only designated multi-use trail in Alberta of any length, so the tourism aspect for our region is huge,” said Price, adding the connections into communities such as Bonnyville and Cold Lake means people from across the country are brought into the towns and cities along the trail.
The trail is also used for fundraising, and has been helpful to local municipalities.
“We have five waterlines installed on the right of way now, with two more being planned for this summer. Because it's a right of way, and because the municipalities own it, they don't have to pay to be there,” Price explained. “We have been able to save taxpayers hundreds or thousands of dollars by having that right of way and for it to be able to be used as a utility corridor.”
Having the trail system incorporate the history of northern Alberta means riders are taking in pieces of history. There are 18 trestles, original CNR stations, and the only wooden intact wooden water tower on its original site in Alberta along the route.
“This trail is a piece of our heritage, and it's using a footprint that was already there and repurposing it,” Price noted. “I guess when you take a look at communities that preserve old buildings and pieces of their heritage, this is no different except it goes through the whole region. We're just trying to keep our history alive while still having a modern day use for it.”
