If you want a short hike that delivers superlative mountain scenery in short order do the popular Ptarmigan Cirque hike in Kananaskis Country. It’s a 4.5 km loop (if you include the interpretive trail) with a family-friendly 214 metres of elevation gain. There is the option to hike a section of the scramblers trail that heads for Mt. Rae. Note that the Ptarmigan Cirque hike is only open when the road over Highwood Pass is open which is from June 15th until December 1st every year. Check Kananaskis trail reports before you go as the Ptarmigan Cirque trail does get closed if there is bear activity. Also be sure to purchase a Kananaskis Conservation Pass.
Ptarmigan Cirque hike summary
- The Ptarmigan Cirque hike is an easy to moderate hike with only 214 metres of elevation gain over its 4.5 km length. It’s a good one for families – age five and up.
- The trailhead for the hike is near the parking lot at the top of Highwood Pass. Check trail reports for Peter Lougheed Provincial Park before you go as the Ptarmigan Cirque trail does get closed if there is bear activity. Carry a can of bear spray and know how to use it.
- You will need to cross the highway to start the climb up to the cirque.
- The hike typically takes 1.5 – 2.5 hours.
- This is a fantastic hike to take out of town guests as it’s a short hike to reach the high alpine and all the beauty associated with that ecosystem.
- Note that this part of Highway 40 is closed every year from December 1st through till June 15th.
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The perfect hike for out-of-town guests new to the mountains
For a short outing, the Ptarmigan Cirque hike delivers a tremendous variety of scenery – including coniferous forests, high alpine meadows, mountains and waterfalls. It’s the perfect hike to take your out of town guests who want a taste of the mountains without spending a full day in them. And it’s a great one for families too.
The hike though short is classified as a moderate hike by some because of the elevation gain though I think it’s an easy one. Most of the vertical gain occurs in the first kilometre. After that you reach the meadows and the grade moderates to one where you won’t hear your heart pounding in your ears.
Ptarmigan Cirque hike description
Round trip distance: 4.5 km loop
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Elevation gain: 214 m (702 feet)
Highpoint: 2420 m (7938 feet)
Time needed: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
Map: Gem Trek – Kananaskis Lakes
Dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash
The trail is a snap to follow. When you reach a T-junction go straight and hike the loop in a clockwise direction. (See the map below.) Make your way through wildflower studded meadows – noting glacier lilies, alpine forget-me-nots and Indian paintbrush to name a few flowers.
In short order you reach a sign with a hiker on it. It’s worthwhile to continue on this scramblers trail to an obvious high point where you’ll want to pull out a picnic lunch. If you were to continue on the trail you would access Mt. Rae.
Retrace your steps to the main trail, being careful on the descent through the scree that you don’t go over on your ankle. Once back on the main trail it’s lovely hiking – first across a creek above a pretty waterfall and then through patches of scree and meadows – all the while enjoying views across to Grizzly Ridge, Pocaterra Ridge and Mt. Tyrwhitt.
You get the best view of the cirque on the descent
Hike the short Interpretive Trail
If you didn’t do the interpretive trail at the start of the hike do it at the end. It’s only 0.1 km long each way on a boardwalk. Read the educational signs to learn about sub-alpine meadows and the growth rates of trees at altitude.
The most scenic short hike in Kananaskis Country
The Ptarmigan trail is the most scenic, short trail I’ve hiked to date in Kananaskis Country. Even though its short, go prepared as the weather changes quickly in the high alpine.
Take a warm coat even if you start out on a hot day. Don’t forget the bear spray either. Grizzlies frequent this area. In fact we saw a mother grizzly and her three cubs just off the highway, several kilometres to the north, both driving to the pass and on the way home.
Dogs are allowed on this trail but KEEP them on a leash or you risk a significant fine. Don’t expect a warning. The park ranger makes a daily trip to this area and won’t hesitate to write you a ticket.
Ptarmigan Cirque trailhead location
From Calgary drive west on Highway 1 to reach the exit for Highway 40. Drive south on Highway 40 for approximately 67 kilometres to the top of Highwood Pass – the highest public road in Canada.
Park at the Highwood Meadows Day Use Area parking lot on the west side of Hwy 40. (There are washrooms here.) Start right from the parking lot on the Highwood Meadows Interpretive Trail boardwalk. In short order look for a trailhead sign for Ptarmigan Cirque. It will take you across the highway.
A few things to take on the Ptarmigan Cirque trail
I like something comfortable to sit on at lunch time and swear by my almost weightless seat cushion.
The older I get the more I like using hiking poles. Invest in a good pair that are collapsible, preferably made of carbon because of their weightless quality.
No matter how the day starts I always carry rain gear. And I find a ball cap or brim hat with a chin strap invaluable in the rain or on a hot, in your face sunny day.
I always pack a buff as it’s a multi-purpose piece of cloth – good for covering your face or head yet it takes up almost no room.
A pocket wildflower guide comes in handy on this hike.
Location map
Other hikes you can do from Highwood Pass – and they are all exceptional include:
- Piper Pass Hike – A Gorgeous Trail in Kananaskis (nearby off Highway 40)
- The Pocaterra Ridge Hike in Kananaskis Country
- The Fabulous Arethusa Cirque Hike in Kananaskis
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