The Piper Pass hike in Kananaskis Country's Elbow-Sheep Wildland Provincial Park is fantastic. It exceeded all expectations in that it was easier and more beautiful than I thought it would be - and it was devoid of people. It's one of a number of hikes you can do from the Elbow Pass Day-Use area and I think it's the prettiest of the lot. You can do it as a long day hike from Highway 40…
Alberta's Kananaskis Country offers an incredible diversity of hiking experiences that are almost on par with what you'll find in the Rocky Mountain national parks - specifically Banff, Jasper, Yoho, and Kootenay. Many of the trails are busier than they used to be - probably because so many people have discovered the joys of hiking thanks to COVID. But you can still lose the masses if you choose a hike that's a little longer. The…
If you love a good waterfall hike, then put the Ribbon Falls hike in Kananaskis Country on your must do list. John and I chose to do it in late May - as many of Alberta's mountain hikes are still snowbound. It was a great choice from a couple of perspectives. First, it's a good warm-up to get in shape for harder hikes with more elevation gain. All told its about a 20.8 km return…
The Mount Lorette Ponds in Alberta's Bow Valley Provincial Park haven't always been in existence. At one point they were an oxbow (a u-shaped bend) on the Kananaskis River but were cut off when Highway 40 was upgraded. Instead of letting the ponds die, someone recognized their potential and tapped into a groundwater source that replenishes the ponds several times a year. Now they are a scenic spot for nature viewing, fishing, picnicking and even…
I think many of us get into a routine when it comes to going to the mountains. For me that means heading to either Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country south of Highway 40 or the Bragg Creek area. However, I have been on the lookout for a new early season mountain hike and discovered Mount Burke - thanks once again to @mcc617 (Don McCready) on Instagram. He posted a photo on March 19th along the…
The Foran Grade and Windy Point hike is a great choice for anyone who lives in the Calgary area and is eager for a hike that delivers great mountain views starting early in the season. I wouldn't do this hike in the summer when there are more interesting choices, but I'd come back again in the fall to catch the vibrant colours. The effort to reward ratio on this hike is high. The Foran Grade…
The Horton Hill hike, just an hour's drive from Calgary in Kananaskis Country isn't going to be the kind of hike most people are looking for. There is no trailhead, signage, or even a formal trail, though there is the odd piece of fluorescent flagging tape around. But it is surprisingly easy to find your way to the top, if you have any sense of direction and you just head up. Horton Hill is the…
The popular Baldy Pass trail is one of the closest trails to Calgary in the mountains, so it's popular from that standpoint alone. It's a short and easy hike, though it will be moderate for those who don't hike often. Most people will be able to knock off the 7.4 km return hike in two - three hours. With only 422 m of elevation gain, it's also a great choice for families. I have done…
The Rawson Lake hike in Alberta's Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is one of a few that you can do year-round, no matter what the weather throws at you. You can knock it off in half a day - whether you hike it in summer or snowshoe it in winter. It's family-friendly if your kids are regular hikers and are 8 years of age or older. If you want to do a full day of hiking,…
The Headwall Lakes hike in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is a wonderful choice if you want a wilder, slightly more challenging hike than nearby Chester Lake. While the trailhead shares the same parking lot as the Chester Lake hike, the two hikes feel completely different. On the Headwall Lakes hike you won't see many people, perhaps 10% of what you'd see on a typical day on the Chester Lake hike. The trail to Headwall Lakes…