Carnarvon Lake has been making the rounds on social media as one of the best hikes in Kananaskis. You can't hike this ridge with a french poodle jumping all over nor 20 naive citizens in jeans, fake Gucci coats and tennis shoes with loud portable speakers. Although Kananaskis Country is in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and the mountains arent quite as big as in Banff and Jasper, the views are just as breathtaking, and were confident that youll want to come back again and again. Distance (return) : 17.9kmElevation: 782mTime: 7-9hFamily friendly: NoWhere to park: Park just before or after the bridge crossing on the Smith-Dorrien (hwy 742) nearby Mt. Thank you for sharing! went clockwise ,crux is snowbound. however, that the Highwood Pass area, as well as the highway leading from Highwood Pass to Kananaskis Village, is closed during the winter from December 1st to June 15th due to animal migrations. Awesome day out and up Windtower. This trail would be best between June and October, though Ive seen photos in the winter, and the images are gorgeous. I'd definitely recommend bringing clothes to cover all exposed skin and goggles would have been super useful! After you make your way across the flooded sections of trails, you reach more forest. K-Country is one of the most underrated places to visit in Alberta. This hike can be done in 4-5 hours round trip. This is a spectacular hike recommended for adventurous and fit hikers. Highly recommend. It's really unbelievable to have summer kind of weather & we could summit the beautiful Tent Ridge Horseshoe in mid-october. Most hikes in Kananaskis are in and outs so this one is no different in that sense. 927 meters of elevation gain with 6.7 meters in and out. Snowshoes weren't necessary as of today but we were rocking microspikes and gaiters. When you reach the end of the first forest section, you come to the alluvial fan of the Robertson Glacier. I would suggest taking this loop trail clockwise. At about 4 km, youll find yourself in the clearing and start getting views. The path is very clear with some fallen trees to climb over 2013 - 2022 Play Outside Guide. Best dog-friendly Kananaskis winter hike: Chester Lake Trail. This includes parking at the Canmore Nordic Center or Grassi Lakes. Literally right across the valley from Wasootch Ridge is Porcupine Ridge. This very popular hiking trail is an easy hike for beginners and families. After all, Calgary is just around the corner, and with more and more people getting out into nature, hiking in the Kananaskis is growing in popularity. To return, go down the same way you came up. Its best to download a map to your GPS and study reviews, but take a left well before West Wind Pass. Hopefully, this helped you determine which of these Kananaskis hikes and Kananaskis trails are for you. We completed this hike in 4 hours on a fantastic summer evening and were rewarded with an epic sunset from the peak. This was a difficult hike! Its been an absolute privilege growing up near the Canadian Rockies. Hiked Thursday October 13th. Ptarmigan Cirque begins at Highwood Pass, the highest paved pass in Canada. Its actually one of the best places in Alberta to see fall colours. The best easy trails in Kananaskis. Up in the mountains of Kananaskis Country, among the imposing limestone peaks, there's something inherently powerful about being near water. The trail has officially been decommissioned as it's a high activity area for bears. According to popular legend, and the testimony of John Palliser, an early explorer of the region, the name Kananaskis is taken from the Cree word meaning meeting of the waters. This hike takes you to three lakes: Lillian Lake, Lower Galatea Lake, and Upper Galatea Lake. To make it a full day, consider scrambling up the much larger and more challenging Mount Sparrowhawk (1,342 m gain/ 9.2 km). This beautiful loop trail is just an hours drive fromCanmorein the Spray Valley. You need to continue along the ridge and hike to your left to the top of Rimwall. Only thing is some hazy towards Kananaskis lakes , but other than that its priceless view. This is a great year-round family hike near Canmore. Thats it! The views from the ridge were insanely stunning! Distance (return) : 9.3kmElevation: 320mTime: 1.5-3hFamily friendly: YesWhere to Park: Chester Lake Parking Lot (41 km past the Nordic Centre in Canmore). The ridge walk was pretty spectacular minus the wind. However, the Cree peoples never actually inhabited this region, and this is not the correct etymology. No scrambling involved. Couple of inches of snow on lower elevations, knee deep when you break the tree line. Flowing Water Trail, Bow Valley Provincial Park (2.4 km, minimal elevation gain), 2. Wind gusts + dirt weren't so nice. Enjoy views of Wind Tower and Rimwall on the ascent, and panoramic views from the pass. Hope that you found a few more hikes to tackle this summer. Heart Creek Trail Distance: 4.7 km out & back Elevation: 300 m Heart Creek Parking Lot The Heart Creek Trail is an enormously popular and easy Kananaskis hike. The helmet is more necessary on a busy day as it would its easy for clumsy hiking groups above to dislodge rocks. Because up until now, its been pretty simple and effortless (besides the distance). Thanks so much! Be safe. So, yes? We did take the small scramble route on the way up but opted for the easier way down. You have about 10-15 more minutes until you hit the peak. This loop follows a easy and short trail to the location of an old sawmill camp. Of course, the views from 3,140 meters are pretty great too! Keep an eye out for the trails down to the three Burstall Lakes as you move along the trail. 30 more minutes from there to the summit. There were a few spots with slushy snow, but it was a dry trail for the most part. Bow Valley Canyoning offers epic guided adventures that will take you through the most spectacular creeks and canyons around. Wintour as well. Theres only enough space for 4-5 people in the hot springs at once, and quite honestly, they are more like lukewarm springs, which in the Canadian Rockies is not exactly ideal. That being said, the hiking season in Kananaskis *officially* starts in Mid May (for us, anyway), as this is when the ski season ends, and our brains immediately switch to hiking. Kananaskis Country encompasses five provincial parks, four wildland provincial parks, one ecological reserve, and several provincial recreation areas. After parking, youll mosy along the powerlines for a few hundred meters before the workout begins. So check in advance before heading out on the trail. We spent some time enjoying the summit and taking pictures. 1. Its not too tricky, and the most advanced section comes on a large rock slab that can be bypassed by heading to the left. This is an easy to moderate choice and one of the best hikes in Kananaskis near Canmore with amazing views of the valley. Busy trail of hikers enjoying a long summer spell minus the mossies. In May, youll be able to get out on lower elevation Kananaskis hikes like thePrairie View Trail in Kananaskiswithout the risk of snow. Black Prince Cirque, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (4.5 km, 150 m elevation gain), 6. If youd like to explore further, carry on to Edworthy Falls or Rae Glacier. Mount Lipsett hike details. Otherwise, there is nothing challenging, little bit of scrambling, nothing really sketchy. If the bugs arent bad, its the perfect spot to enjoy lunch before heading back down. This hike is best done with a group since you are in grizzly country. The summit push was a little slick on the ridge, but nothing being on all fours wont help with. Black Prince Cirque is a less strenuous option to West Wind Pass (and a good choice when the winter gate is closed and you cant access Ptarmigan Cirque). In early summer, there are tons of wildflowers too! Great article. This is a hike for all levels of hikers with varied terrain and amazing views of the turquoise lake and surrounding peaks. If youre coming from Calgary or somewhere east of the Rockies and are looking at getting your first taste of a hike on the edge of the prairies then this is the one. Once you get above the final bit treeline, youll find a steep wide open scree section waiting for you. With a lot of incline in the first kilometer youll already be seeing amazing views after the first half hour. He has a passion for all things in the Canadian Rockies and loves to spend his time snowboarding, scrambling, camping, biking, and trail running. We hung out in the wind shelter for about 15 mins before we called it a day and mostly ran down. slick comig down. 20L feels like the ideal size for quick hikes and scrambles. It isn't a city park. Burstall Pass is a classic hike in Kananaskis Country and off Smith Dorrien Trail. The trail is 15.4 km and has an elevation gain of 850 meters. Distance: 5.6 km return / 3.4 miles returnElevation: 875 m / 2870 ft. elevation gainType: Out and backLength: 3.5 5.5 hours returnDifficulty: HardRating: 4 out of 5 stars. Once you are past the chains, you only have 50 meters or so until you lay your eyes on Carnarvon Lake for the first time. Nice fall hike, was very cold and windy at the top though. I'm loving everyone', For a delicious treat, try souffl pancakes at Fu, This morning, we got a sneak peek at @fitsetc, ANNOUNCEMENT & COUPON CODE We're excit. We made it to hikers summit due to poor weather condition. I mean, that sums up a lot of the hiking trails in Kananaskis but this one is a challenge, especially on your knees. There are several routes up to the peak of Mist Mountain with many varying degrees of difficulty. Whether you're getting ready to hike, bike, trail run, or explore other outdoor activities, AllTrails has 511 scenic trails in the Kananaskis Improvement area. Its steep and unforgiving. A bit too close for comfort so decided to do another hike. There are several trails starting from the parking lot, so make sure to head up through the woods in a southeast direction. However, the Kananaskis is a big area and there are a couple of different points of entry. Continue along the shoreline for 400 meters until you reach the bright blue Caribbean water. Distance (loop) : 3.7 kmElevation: 60mTime: 1-2hFamily friendly: YesWhere to Park: Stoney Trailhead Parking Lot. The route to Lower Galatea Lake and Guinns Pass is the same so make sure to take the left path at the junction.This is also a great option for a first-time backpacking trip in the Canadian Rockies at the Lillian Lake Backcountry Campground where you can spend the weekend with great hikes over to Ribbon Lake or up to Galatea Lakes.The easiest option to return is to go back the same way, however, there is a path that continues around Lower Galatea Lake, which can be easy to miss as it goes through the trees. It could be dirt, pebbles, but everything under your feet would try to make you slip. Accept Read More. From here you can get great views of Mount Lougheed. The view was inspiring for us as we could see our home way down below. You can do the entire traverse for a super long day and those with two cars. Have done it twice, once mid afternoon and the other being a sunrise. Its challenging and not for the faint of heart when it comes to heights. Never hike in the canyon if there is a chance of heavy rain as the rushing water can bring rocks and debris along with it, making it extremely dangerous. Make sure to bring directions or download a map before starting the journey. It takes around a half-hour to reach a sub-alpine meadow filled with wildflowers. The hike moves past several marshy lakes and streams before a steep ascent up to an alpine meadow and then finishes on a high mountain pass with grand glaciated mountain views. We receive compensation if you make a purchase, but it won't cost you anything extra. Its doable but the drive will be much quicker and comfortable to the trailhead and back into town if you have a vehicle that doesnt mind potholes. It is extremely steep, slippery and the ground is not stable. Great idea to propose so many hikes in different categories! Adventure sports, activities, and non-supervised activities come with inherent risks, please take necessary precautions. A popular itinerary is to start later in the day and set camp at Lillian Lake and then wander up the next day to Upper and Lower Galatea Lakes and the nearby Guinns Pass. However, if youre asking due to COVID, the answer is still yes, but as part of Albertas response to the COVID-19 pandemic, public access to the outdoor spaces is open, BUT the permanent outdoor shelters within Kananaskis are closed to public access. We climbed late in the afternoon and saw multiple tracks from ill-prepared hikers sliding down the trail. (20.0km / 184m), Difficulty: ModerateDistance : 21.1kmElevation: 1115mTime: 2-3 daysWhere to park: Galatea Parking Lot. Follow the path until you reach the waterfall. Perfect weather, just a hint of wind at the top and clear blue skies all around. Youll eventually get spit out into a big beautiful valley next to Mount Elpoca on your left and Tombstone Mountain and Mount Schlee right in front of you. It is a typical in and out hike. The Best Kananaskis Hikes (Our Favorite Trails! However, its easy to get off trail if you stop paying attention especially on the way down. The route from the saddle up to the top of Smutwood Peak looks long and steep, but its easier and shorter than it seems. This is not to say that you cannot hike in the winter in Kananaskis, because there are plenty of fun trails. After traveling the world for six years, he settled down in the beautiful Bow Valley with Natasha. The main difference here is the beginning. So much beauty in Kananaskis! Flowing Water Trail, Bow Valley Provincial Park (2.4 km, minimal elevation gain) 2. Looks like the perfect summer adventure list! 3. The trail was a bit confusing right before the saddle and we went up the steep slippery route. Nothing technical. Indefatigable Hike. West Wind Pass is a very popular Kananaskis hike for those looking for a quick journey out. These are all day hikes and can be done if youre driving from Calgary, Canmore, or anywhere else thats a few hours away from Kananaskis. Your email address will not be published. There are few views, and its exceptionally dull until about the 8km section. Be careful though as bears have been spotted in this area quite frequently (this was the reason we didnt go.). Smutwood Peak Length: 17.9km (11.1 miles) Duration: 5 - 9 hours Elevation Gain: 961m Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult, mainly towards the summit. At just under an hour up, it can quickly be done at sunrise or sunset. In fact, it's one of the best short hikes in Kananaskis. Elbow Lake, Peter Lougheed Provincial Park (2.6 km return, 150 m elevation gain. Lots of leg burn and cardio. Turn right at the "Winter Gate" onto highway 742 and follow this for roughly 12.5 km, turning left at the "Upper Lake" sign. Difficulty: Moderate. This nifty clip from Peak Design secures a camera to my backpack strap for easy reach. http://Instagram.com/leilarosette. We knew this going in, so we decided to take out mountain bikes till we could no further. Boy, was I wrong about my perceptions of this beautiful Alberta larch hike. The trail is a bit of a mixed bag, though. Take some photos and keep moving youre almost to the viewpoint, which is about at 5.4 km. The first part of the hike is easy going on an old fire road, but becomes more interesting as you approach Warspite Lake. Even Though this hike can be done in a day, it can also e turned into an easy backpacking trip. Definitely need cleats or spikes and poles. However, this is changing rapidly as this area is gaining a lot of popularity due to the growing population around it. Once it opens up, you can continue along Pocaterra Cirque, which only takes you 430 m up and is easier than trying to summit the ridgeline. August is the best time to scrambleas most snow has melted off the mountain peaks. For the perfect day trip, stop at Elbow Falls on the way home, then get an ice cream in Bragg Creek. The trail was in good shape. It can be easy to get turned around when heading up Rimwall. We hiked this trail on Canada Day weekend (July 1st). The bouncy suspension bridge goes over Blackshale Creek, giving stunning views of the surroundings. Such a great hike with a little scramble and beautiful views. Find me on the trails, on the water, or road tripping around our beautiful province of Alberta - often with my kids in tow. Welcome to Red White Adventures, a digital nomad travel blog. Descent was challenging as the path isnt always easy to see and is fine gravel or scree for a lot of it. It was an absolute blast though and if you want more information on this hike then we got you covered. No more digging in the backpack! Difficulty: HardDistance : 44kmElevation: 2127mTime: 4-5 daysWhere to park: North Interlakes Day Use Area. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. The scramble can be avoided, and the trail is wide enough for the first 5km with no exposure. This was a simple hike with out-of-this-world views of the Kananaskis mountains in all directions. All Rights Reserved. Troll Falls is a very family friendly hike. Almost every hike in Kananaskis that we mentioned has an alternative shorter route so dont pass up on a hike if it seems too long. Start the hike on the gravel path to the left of the creek, lots of narrow steep switchbacks in your future but views are awesome at every height. This is easily avoided by staying on the grass. Look for Tree Rock and pikas living among the rocks. It starts off steep initially, and as you get on the ridge, you walk the ridge most of the way until the summit, with stunning views the entire time. Dont try and work your way around it; just take it slow and ask for help from a partner if you need some foot placements. Once you come out of the forest, which takes twenty to thirty minutes, youll be treated to some fantastic views of Barrier Lake to the North and Nakiska to the South. Theres an overgrown trail here, where you must cross a few creeks. Elbow Lake is one of the most beautiful short hikes in Kananaskis that follows a well-maintained trail to the beautiful Elbow Lake. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Its a steep climb but easy enough for most people to handle without too much of a struggle. No crampons were needed. However, there is a chance to make it a loop trail, but this can be tricky as the path is not well marked. We just did Rawson Lake with the kids and they had a blast.
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