Recreational trail monitoring

Products

Monitoring Group

The Monitoring Group comprises a Standing Committee and a Steering Committee. The Standing Committee members were chosen by the user group to represent their user group as well as other user types and the community as a whole. The Steering Committee consists of provincial government members.

Meeting summaries

Summaries from Bighorn Backcountry Monitoring Group meetings are listed below.

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

For meeting summaries from prior years, download the zip file:

Trail usage counter graphs

The following graphs show the general trail use in the Bighorn Backcountry. The raw data on these graphs are only baseline and preliminary data for considering the overall impact on trails within the Bighorn Backcountry.

The number of users on a trail is only one factor of many used for evaluating trail conditions and future maintenance or timing restrictions. More than one graph may be shown for the same trail.

Generally, the calendar year is divided into:

  • summer season (July and August)
  • fall hunting season (September through and including November)
  • snow vehicle season (December through and including April)

Adverse weather and frozen ground conditions may affect the date or gathering of data from trail counters.

Two types of counters are being used to measure the usage:

  • Infrared Trail Counters – These counters measure warm objects passing through an emitted beam. The counter cannot distinguish between a human or an animal.
  • Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Counters – OHV counters make use of the magnetic field when a metallic object passes through the field.

Infrared Trail Counters

The graphs below indicate the average number of non-motorized detections (hikers, equestrian, mountain bikes).

For prior year infrared detection graphs, download the zip file:

Off-Highway Vehicle Counters

The graphs below indicate the average number of off-highway vehicle detections.

For prior year off-highway vehicle detection graphs of additional trails, download the zip file:

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