The Moose Mountain Hike in Kananaskis Country, AB
The Moose Mountain hike in Kananaskis Country which tops out at 2,437 metres (7,995 feet), offers some of the premier vistas in the area. It’s a popular day hike for those living in the Bragg Creek and Calgary area. From the parking lot the Moose Mountain hike is 13.8 kilometres return with an elevation gain of 473 metres (1,552 feet). Allow 3.5 – 5 hours depending on your speed.
Moose Mountain can be approached by a number of routes. Most hikers do it via the trail that is accessed from a seven kilometre dirt road that takes off from Highway 66 just after the Paddy’s Flat Campground.
September 2019 update – The final part of the trail leading to the summit is now closed.
Route description
The hike starts off on a fire road with the first few kilometres offering only the odd peek-a-boo view. But in roughly three kilometres the landscape opens up and the destination becomes obvious.
It’s a bit of a slog to the top as you switchback 473 metres (1,552 feet) up the mountain in fairly short order.
Fortunately the views just get better and better the higher you go. The landscape also changes, becoming rockier and more desolate the higher you climb. Don’t forget to include warm, wind-proof clothes as you may need everything you’ve got near the summit.
The trail is well-trodden and easy to follow. It’s a popular one so you can expect company.
At the top of Moose Mountain there’s a working Fire Lookout – that is also the home to the fire lookout ranger. He or she is tasked with looking after 5,000 square kilometres of forest. Everyone is asked to respect their privacy though I do understand that on occasion they will give a tour of the lookout.
A lunch stop with a view on Moose Mountain
Sitting and eating lunch on the helicopter landing pad or at one of the picnic tables with a 360 degree view is the reward for the two to three hour hike to the top.
Be sure to bring lots of water as there’s nowhere to top up a water bottle along the way. Some people might like hiking poles on the steep sections as well.
Th summit area is no place to be caught in an electrical storm, with so much exposure and nowhere to hide. If a storm is threatening, either turn back if you’re on your way up or beat a hasty retreat. I have been caught in one too many lightning storms and know it’s not worth taking a chance.
Read: The 10 Hiking Essentials Everyone Should Carry
For the crazies who like trail runs
For the lover of tough adventure runs, Moose Mountain plays host to an annual Moose Mountain Trail run and the Iron Legs 50 Miler. I think I’ll stick with the hiking?
More information
The best time to hike the trail is from May until October.
It is dog-friendly but keep your dog on a leash. Rangers are happy to ticket in this area and fees run upwards of $150.
Finding the Moose Mountain trailhead
Take Highway 66 from Bragg Creek and follow it just west of the Paddy’s Flats Campground. Turn north (right if coming from Bragg Creek) just past Paddy’s Flat onto the Moose Mountain Fire Road. Follow it to the parking lot. The access road to the trailhead is usually closed until mid-May.
The hike is often done as a snowshoe in the spring – appreciating you have to add the time to hike up the access road – which I believe is 7 kilometres on way. It could turn into an epic day in short order. If you hike in May be prepared for lots of snow in some years.
Further reading on hikes in Kananaskis Country
- Mountains and Stunning Views on the Hike to Buller Pass
- Prairie Mountain – A Year Round Day Hike from Calgary
- The Fantastic Hike to the Summit of Ha Ling Peak
- The Cox Hill Hike in Kananaskis Country
- The Fabulous Arethusa Cirque Hike in Kananskis
Click on the photo to bookmark to your Pinterset boards.
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Beautiful views of that rugged scenery. Love the photo of the red flowers, too.
We’ve hiked a few times to a fire look out in the Methow Valley of Washington State (the area recently devasted by fire then flood) and always had a joyous visit with the Ranger “Lightening Bill”. . .the lookout however isn’t quite as fancy as this one appears but the views you showed made me think it is time to go visit Bill again and take in whats left of our scenic vistas.
@Jackie My friend who invited me on the hike has camped overnight with her kids on the heli pad at the invitation of the ranger. That would have been one very cool experience.
I’ve never been to Alberta, but your photos are quite an enticement. My most ambitious hike was in Fiordland National Park in New Zealand on the South Island (the Milford Track). Amazing scenery can quickly make one forget the pain of a slog up hill—assuming one can still breathe and walk. Since I’m a United Stateser, I find it odd that I’ve hiked in New Zealand, but not in the land of our friendly (and apologetic) northern neighbors.
What amazing views on Moose Mountain…well worth the climb!
Is it wrong that I was hoping for a moose picture in this post 🙂 Those panoramas are definitely worth the climb even if the trail is rocky and not as scenic as your other trails. Love that photo of you at the top! I can’t believe how much responsibility those fire lookout rangers have.
Oh my gosh it does look desolate in places, but what a stunning view and the wildflowers on the bottom slopes look beautiful. What a hike though!
[…] you get higher you’ll eventually see Moose Mountain and Prairie Mountain off in the distance as well as nearby Powderface Ridge. Pass the Holey Rock […]