Experience Guide | Tourism Medicine Hat

Canadian Enduro League

The event organizer says Elkwater is a unique place to host a Canadian Enduro League round. Riding through forested hills that rise dramatically out of the surrounding prairie landscape makes the setting feel special before you even hop on the bike. “From an event perspective, it’s also a very welcoming destination. Everything is close together, the community is supportive, and there’s a strong sense that the event becomes part of the weekend experience,” he says. This is the whole goal of the Canadian Enduro League. It brings riders, families and communities together, while highlighting incredible mountain bike destinations, and invites people to explore the nearby attractions and surrounding cities. “Many people travel with friends or family from across Western Canada and stay for the weekend. We heard they were genuinely excited to discover Cypress Hills and Elkwater for the first time in 2023,” says Knoll, who’s originally from Calgary, Alberta and now lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.

“We also heard from many riders afterward that Elkwater was one of the most surprising and enjoyable stops of the season.” Knoll’s mountain bike journey started as something fun to do outdoors and gradually turned into something he became more involved in through racing and meeting trail communities. Over time it became clear that events like the Canadian Enduro League play an important role in building the sport and connecting riders across regions, which is why he chose to become a part of it. “Stepping into the ownership role felt like a chance to support the riding community, bring the series back to great destinations like Elkwater, and help create opportunities for riders of all levels to participate in events close to home.”

The Canadian Enduro League is returning to Elkwater, Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park from August 8-9, 2026. Since 2016, Canadian Enduro League has hosted mountain bike events in the best riding destinations across Canada. Owner and operator Ryder Knoll is bringing the Western Canadian mountain bike series to Elkwater in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park for a second time in 2026. He’s been involved with the League for several years as a rider and stepped into the ownership role more recently. “One of the strengths of Elkwater is the variety of the terrain packed into a relatively compact area,” says Knoll. The Elkwater trail network allows the team to build stages that are fun, technical, and accessible to a wide range of riders while still challenging competitive athletes. “That balance is important. We want events that feel exciting for experienced riders but are still welcoming for newer participants and youth categories. Cypress Hills delivers that mix very well,” says Knoll, who’s been mountain biking for most of his life.

Find more details about the Canadian Enduro League at canadianenduro.com/ cypress-hills-ab

.com

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