The Chester Lake snowshoe in Kananaskis Country’s Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is one of the prettiest snowshoeing adventures you can do in Alberta. It’s also one of the most popular ones, so unless it’s a cloudy weekday, expect some company. It’s also a place where you’ll find cross-country skiers though they use a different route up.

It’s a full day trip to do the Chester Lake snowshoe from Calgary as the drive is a solid 90-minutes to two hours each way with part of it on the Smith Dorrien Road – which doesn’t get the same attention as highways.

If you want to splurge, I highly recommend a stay at nearby Mount Engadine Lodge so you can roll out of bed and be on snowshoes within minutes. Or stay in Canmore and knock an hour off your travel time.

Check out other ideas on where to snowshoe in Kananaskis Country in this blog – Snowshoeing in Kananaskis – 9 Trails to Explore.

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Chester Lake snowshoe summary

Distance: 9.0 km return

Elevation gain: 315 m or 1,033 feet.

Time needed: Allow 3 – 4 hours. 

Level of difficulty: I’d rate the Chester Lake snowshoe as easy but moderate for families or people who rarely get out. Kids 8 and older who snowshoe regularly should be able to do it.

Permit: You’ll need a Kananaskis Trail conservation pass to do this snowshoe outing. Buy a pass for $90 good for a year (for two cars at the same address) if you’re planning to visit Kananaskis Country more than six times in a year. Otherwise it’s $15 per visit.

Dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash.

Map: Gem Trek Kananaskis Lakes or Organic Maps if you prefer an app that works offline.

Finding the Chester Lake trailhead

Most people drive to the Chester Lake trailhead via Highway 40 from the Trans-Canada Highway – and not up the Spray Lakes Road from Canmore. There is a large parking lot at the trailhead, located on the east side of Smith Dorrien-Spray Lakes Road.

The trailhead is about 20 kilometres north of the turnoff from Highway 40 or 40 kilometres from Canmore. From Calgary, allow 90-minutes to two hours for the drive, depending on weather conditions. 

This can be a gnarly drive in winter. 

If you’re reluctant to make the drive without knowing what you’re getting into check out the Kananaskis trail report online. Usually Chester Lake is one of the first places to get really good snow – but it’s the drive there that can put me off.

Location map of the Chester Lake snowshoe

  

What to do before you begin the Chester Lake snowshoe

Trail reports: Check trail reports before you head out! Even though you’re not cross-country skiing to Chester Lake, you could visit the Skier Roger website for skier provided information on snow conditions. Also, get timely information at the Kananaskis Visitor Information Centre on Highway 40.

Go prepared: This part of Alberta has almost no cell service. Be sure to let someone know where you’re going and when you should be back.

Carry: Take the 10 essentials along with hand warmers and something hot to drink.

Don’t forget: The sun rises around 8:45 AM and sets by around 4:30 PM by the third week of December. Plan the timing of your snowshoe outing accordingly.

What to wear: Dress in layers and take extra clothes. You might find this post – What to Wear in Canada in Winter on a -20C Day very helpful. 

Chester Lake snowshoe description

The trail to Chester Lake begins at the left hand corner of the parking lot. It climbs steeply for the first few kilometres through an evergreen forest that doesn’t offer many views. Once you reach the large meadow, the aerobic workout is behind you.

From the meadow, the Chester Lake snowshoe is just a gentle climb through the trees to another smaller meadow before reaching Chester Lake itself. Along the way there is one small creek crossing which gets covered in snow early in the season. The mountains absolutely sparkle in this area on a bluebird day.

Do make the side trip, even though it’s a steep one – to Elephant Rocks, about a half a kilometre away. Giant-sized boulders have been dropped helter- skelter and the views from there are magnificent. Really the mountain views once you clear the trees are top-notch, especially on one of Alberta’s bluebird winter days.

In total the trail climbs a not too difficult 355 metres. Some people go up the snowshoe trail to Chester Lake and return via the cross-country ski trail, just for the variety – but if you do that, don’t go near the skier’s tracks.

If you want to see what Chester Lake looks like as a summer hike read The Chester Lake Hike in Alberta (+ Three Lakes Valley).

Where can you rent snowshoes?

There are several places to rent snowshoes whether you are coming from Calgary, Banff, or Canmore. Do a Google search to find the closest location to you.

One of the places we’ve used on numerous occasions with out of town guests is Sports Rent on 16th Ave NW in Calgary. For as little as $15 (2023-2024 price) you can get a pair of good quality snowshoes – and if it’s convenient for you, you can pick up the day before after 4 PM for the same price.

If you plan to snowshoe a lot, it’s worth the investment in a pair of snowshoes as they typically last for a decade or more.

Check out MEC for their snowshoe selection or online at Amazon. I personally love my Atlas snowshoes as they aren’t too big and they have a good claw for icier conditions. They are also easy to put on and take off.

Where can you stay near Chester Lake?

If you want to be spoiled, spend a night or two up at Mount Engadine Lodge, literally a few minute’s drive from the Chester Lake trailhead. It sure beats driving 90 minutes – 2 hours one way from Calgary first thing in the morning. They also offer a delicious afternoon tea.

Another choice would be in Kananaskis Village at either the Kananaskis Wilderness hostel or the Kananaskis Mountain Hotel – where the Kananaskis Nordic spa is located.

Where else can you snowshoe in Alberta and BC?

For more ideas on easy snowshoeing trails in the Rockies pick up a copy of A Beginner’s Guide to Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies.

• Where to Go Snowshoeing in Banff National Park
• Snowshoeing in Jasper National Park
• A Snowshoeing Adventure at Fortress Mountain
• West Bragg Creek Snowshoe Trails
• Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in Fernie
• What to Do in Kootenay National Park in Winter

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