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…
As a Calgary resident, I often hear people say that summer is such a nice time to be in the city that they don't want to leave. I don't mind some city time - more to stay on top of my garden than anything - but what I really love to do is get into the mountains. Even with COVID in our midst, I feel like I'm leading a close to normal life while I'm…
If you're looking for a long day hike or a backpacking trip in the mountains, within a few hours drive of Calgary, check out Three Isle Lake in Kananaskis Country. It's a great choice as it also offers several options to continue beyond the lake - including the difficult but reportedly fabulous Northover Traverse along with the easy hike to South Kananaskis Pass and Beatty Lake. Fortunately the hike up to the lake is worthwhile…
If you live in the Calgary - Banff corridor chances are pretty good that you already know how fantastic the hiking is along the Kananaskis Trail (Highway 40). But out of town visitors largely have no idea that the hiking here is on par with much that is available in nearby Banff National Park. Most of the hikes on the Kananaskis Trail don't see anywhere near the number of people you see in the national…