Merlin View Details

Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Winter Fat Bike
- Horse
- Hike
- Trail Running
- Snowshoe
Riding Area

West Bragg Creek
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Difficulty Rating

Blue Rate
Voted Difficulty

Blue (5 votes)
Local Popularity
100 in Mountain Biking [+]
- 100 in E-Biking
- 100 in Trail Running
- 95 in Hiking
- 5 in Horseback
- 5 in Snowshoeing
Global Ranking
#6 in Mountain Biking [+]
- #2107 in E-Biking
- #33 in Trail Running
- #412 in Hiking
- #1 in Horseback
- #26 in Snowshoeing
Hiking SAC Scale

T1 Hiking
Trail Exposure

High Risk
Trail Type

Singletrack
Snow Grooming

Groomed Smooth
Bike Type

AM, XC, Fat
Direction
Both Directions[+]
- Both Directions for Winter Fat Biking
Climb Difficulty

Blue
Physical Rating

Moderate
Trail Visibility

Always easy to follow
Dogs Allowed

Yes
eBike Allowed

Yes up to Class 1
TTFs on Trail

Berm, Bridge
Year Opened

2014
Land Owner

Alberta Forestry and Parks

Built in 2014, Merlin View followed the successful build of Bobcat the previous year and it shares the same trademark features: consistent grades for easier climbing and flowing descents, sweeping bermed corners, rollers, bumps & table-tops. It has some good views too but you're likely to be too engaged by the trail to notice

Easily accessed from the trailhead via Braggin' Rights, Merlin View is a loop that should be ridden counter clockwise, and combines seamlessly with Braggin' Rights to create a fairly easy & shortish (14km) ride. You could also add Merlin to the traditional Northern Flow loop (15km) for some extra climbing. Choosing to ride Merlin View counter-clockwise gives you the shorter (2km, 9%) climb and the longer (3km, 6%) descent.

From the Braggin' Rights / Reconnect junction head west into the long meadow / cut-line and turn right to begin the climb (if you're riding counter-clockwise). The trail follows this cut-line for the next kilometre, snaking back and forth through the trees on either side, until it reaches a big meadow. There a bench made from boulders offers a chance for a rest at this mid-point on the climb and you can take in the views to the south & east.

The trail then enters the trees and after a short rock-armoured section it climbs to the summit before following the ridge for 500m. It dips briefly and crests another minor summit before the descent begins for real - and it continues for the next 3km!

The descent is punctuated by all sorts of berms & bumps etc. to add to the fun, but there's nothing that interrupts the flow or demands advanced riding skills.

Eventually the trail emerges into a meadow / cut-line again, and finally climbs (via one switchback in the trees) up the cut-line back to the Braggin' Rights junction. Take the right turn there to return directly to the trailhead.

Local Trail Association

Bragg Creek Trails
Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to support
trail development & maintenance.
Donate to earn trail karma!

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week

29 rides
18.5 km average

6 Months

336 rides
16.8 km avg distance

All

5,255 rides
Last: Jun 21, 2026

c1	c2	c3	c4
January	February	March	April
May	June	July	August
September	October	November	December

update trails status or condition

Merlin View Trail Reports

status	date	description
	Jun 8, 2026 @ 8:24pm (America/Edmonton) Jun 8, 2026	A couple super saturated sections on the up to walk, and a few puddles on the way down. Otherwise primo.
	Jun 4, 2026 @ 8:56pm (America/Edmonton) Jun 4, 2026	Down trees in two places on the downhill section of Merlin View. You can toss your bike over the trees and then climb over. Might be challenging...
	May 22, 2026 @ 7:01pm (America/Edmonton) May 22, 2026	Water running down the trail and muddy sections on east/up side just above the bench. Lots of puddles on the west/down side.
	May 12, 2026 @ 4:57pm (America/Edmonton) May 12, 2026
	May 11, 2026 @ 7:26pm (America/Edmonton) May 11, 2026	Trees (there were two) cleared May 11 from the side loop at the top of Merlin. Quick job for the 30 cm folding Silky saw.