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Lineham Ridge Hike, Waterton Lakes National Park
I like to mark the end of summer by getting away over the Labour Day weekend. Most years we’ve done a hiking or backpacking trip and this year was no exception. Our destination was Waterton Lakes National Park, about three hours south of Calgary on the border with Montana. Waterton adjoins Glacier National Park so the hiking options between the two parks are extraordinary. On the first day we knocked off the Lineham Ridge hike.
Over two nights and three days in Waterton we also knocked off the Crypt Lake hike and the Carthew Summit/Alderson Lake trail. All were outstanding in their own way but the Lineham Ridge hike was extraordinary for the brilliant red rocks.
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Lineham Ridge hike details
The hike started off with a bang of beauty. Within minutes of leaving the trailhead you can’t miss the Rowe Creek stream bed. It dazzles you with its brilliant red argillite – a fine grained sedimentary rock.
For the next 3.9 kilometres it’s a hike on a moderate grade through country that feels to me like a grizzly might pop out the woods at any second. That’s the one problem with Waterton Lakes National Park. It does have a large grizzly population and there have been incidents over the years.
It might be best if you didn’t read The Bear’s Embrace before you visit Waterton.
Fortunately the only bear we saw over the three days was a small black bear just off the road by the Prince of Wales Hotel. But I did see bear scat just up from where the photo below was taken. It got the adrenaline going so I broke out in song which should be enough to scare any wild animal away.
The option to go to Lower Rowe Lakes
At the 3.9 km mark you reach a junction and a trail to Lower Rowe Lakes. We figured we’d see the lake well enough from the summit so didn’t bother to hike it. Instead we continued up to the beautiful Rowe Basin, 1.3 km ahead.
The climbing starts in earnest from Rowe Basin
From Rowe Basin you begin climbing in earnest. Its a total of 540 m (1770 feet) from here to the top of the ridge. Fortunately it’s also glorious hiking. There are wildflowers about, and even some big horned sheep next to the cliffs. They refused to pose properly for photos.
If you want to visit the Upper Rowe Lakes look out for the spur trail as it takes off just above Rowe Basin.
Hiking Lineham Ridge is delightful once you’re out of the berry bushes. It’s a hike that offers superlative views for the better part of three hours and those views to the south are of the equally beautiful Glacier National Park.
Useful information for the Lineham Ridge hike
The trail starts at the Rowe Lakes Trailhead, 10.5 km up the Akamina Parkway. Parking can get tight. (Note that the road reopened in 2021.)
The round trip hike is 17.2 km (10.7 miles). It’s another 2.4 km if you make the side trip to the Upper Rowe Lakes.
The elevation gain is 960 m (3150 feet) but 1,120 m (3675 feet) if you hike to the lakes.
The round-trip hike takes 5.5 to 6.5 hours. Add another hour at least for the lakes.
Further reading on hikes in southern Alberta
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Lovely way to spend the long weekend! That red rock is really amazing. I’ve never seen this before. Is it unique to the area? This really looks like a beautiful area.
@Debbie Now I feel in shape after three solid days of hiking. I wish that feeling would stay with me.
That’s quite a bit of bear scat. It was actually at Waterton Lakes NP that I saw a bear — from a safe distance. I think my singing might scare away bears, too. 😉 Waterton is a gorgeous park and I wish I would have been able to spend more time and do a hike like this. We passed through too quickly after a visit to Glacier.
That’s quite a bit of bear scat. It was actually at Waterton Lakes NP that I saw a bear — from a safe distance. I think my singing might scare away bears, too. 😉 Waterton is a gorgeous park and I wish I would have been able to spend more time and do a hike like this. We passed through too quickly after a visit to Glacier.
@Cathy We could hike quite nicely together in Waterton – you and I both singing away. I feel the same way about Glacier. I passed through there years ago and I’d love t go do some exploring.
I knew Canada was famous for its outdoor life, but I never thought it would be so varied.
Spectacular views! That red argillite is so unique. I can almost feel the wind at the top of that summit. I love how you took pictures of the mountains with the hikers beneath to get a sense of how huge it is. Glacier NP is one of those on my wish list to visit..hopefully soon.
What a beautiful outing. You can tell that fall is in the air from the photos – and great ones, they are! This is one hike I’d like to tackle sometime.
@Jackie There are loads of hikes in Waterton – two others we did were fantastic – Crypt Lake and Carthew-Alderson. There are also easy but scenic lake-shore hikes too.
I’m really beginning to think that this hiking thing is like a drug. Your pics always leave me wanting more, more, more!
@Deej Thanks for that nice comment Deej. I do love hiking but every so often I need a break to get caught up at home – especially at this time of year when you try to take advantage of every wonderful fall day.
@Mary It was really cold at the top of the summit – that’s why we came down and tucked ourselves behind some rocks to enjoy lunch. That red argillite is absolutely brilliant. I’ve never seen a stream bed quite like it.
@Mette There is so much to see from coast to coast – and I’ve barely scratched the surface.
The trails and the mountains just looked gorgeous and inspiring. The best photo for me is the one with the horses and the backdrop was the lush greens of the mountains.
🙂
@Wends Thanks for that lovely comment. It’s a great trail – though just one of three that we did that was outstanding in Waterton Lakes NP.
Is there no end to beautiful hikes in Western Canada, one more gorgeous than the next? 🙂
The colours you encounter along the way here are really extraordinary.
@Sophie There is no end. I have such a long list of hikes I want to do and with the colours changing some will be even more beautiful than ever.
Love Lineham Ridge, one of my favorite hikes in Waterton. You’re making me homesick with all your Waterton posts.
@Laurel And you’re making me jealous with all of your exotic posts!!
Another gorgeous hike, Leigh. You’re right about the superlative views, how do you get back to regular life after this? Well, I guess you find another superlative hike. You really make me want to get from behind this desk and hike!!!
@Marcia – It seems I hike in waves; I hike a huge amount so that I’m so exhausted and behind on everything so then I stay home, work hard, get caught up and then do it all over again. I can rest when I’m dead.
Love those views. Looks like a great way to spend a long weekend.
@Jennifer Waterton Lakes NP has some several awesome hikes. Now I want to check out more of Glacier NP in Montana on the border.
I should try the Lineham next year. I thought it would be too scary, but did Crypt Lake last week . Lower Rowe Lake is very pretty for a picnic or a rest, and there are marmots on the rocks.
@Anne Lineham was windy but defintely not scary and if you did Crypt you’d have no problem. Just make lots of noise to scare off any bears. (I saw none.)