The Year Round Prairie Mountain Hike near Bragg Creek
The Prairie Mountain hike, accessed near Bragg Creek in Kananaskis Country Alberta, is one of the top year-round hikes if you live in the Calgary area. Nothing beats it for the workout and the views – especially during the winter months. And you don’t have to worry about avalanche danger if you stick to the main trail.
The Prairie Mountain hike is similar to Vancouver’s Grouse Grind but offers better views. However there is no sky tram at the top to whisk you down to a Starbucks at the bottom. You have to hike down – but you can get a coffee 12 minutes later at a locally owned cafe in Bragg Creek.
The hike climbs 726 metres (2381 feet) in only 3.8 kilometres one way. It’s the middle section through the trees that is take your breath away steep. But once you pop out of the trees, not only are you rewarded with expansive mountain views, but the grade moderates all the way to the top.
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A year round day hike close to Bragg Creek and Calgary
The Prairie Mountain hike is one of the few that you can literally hike 365 days of the year. Obviously you have to use some common sense on your choice of days in the winter months but if you’re properly attired and prepared then it should be quite doable. If there’s a major winter storm with awful visibility, give it a pass.
Never forget the 10 essentials and starting when the snow falls I’d also HIGHLY recommend carrying “icers” especially for the descent along with a pair of hiking poles. Take a thermos of something hot to warm you up along with a few energy bars.
Shop: The Canadian-made icers made by Hillsound are the ones I swear by. Click here to purchase.
Finding the Prairie Mountain trailhead
The trailhead is just 45 minutes from downtown Calgary via Highway 66 near Bragg Creek. It’s roughly 22 kilometres from Bragg Creek to reach the parking area beside Elbow Falls.
There is a parking lot that holds about 15 cars on the south side of the highway, just past the entrance to the Elbow Falls parking lot. It’s free. If it’s full park along the shoulder of the highway.
The trailhead itself is across the highway from Elbow Falls, just before the winter gates. To get on the trail, cross the highway, then cross Prairie Creek and look for the trail going up. The Prairie Mountain trail climbs immediately.
People that park on the shoulder often start up right from the highway. It’s doable but often very muddy. It joins the main trail after about 10 minutes of solid uphill hiking.
There is another trail that follows the Elbow River Valley, paralleling Highway 66. You do not want that one. There are no trail signs once you’ve begun your climb.
Details about the Prairie Mountain hike
Strong hikers should allow three hours to do the 7.6 kilometre return Prairie Mountain hike. Slower hikers could take upwards of five hours to go up and come down.
It’s a quick descent in the winter as the snow makes it easy to descend but it’s rocky and more difficult the rest of the year. Poles come in very handy and icers/cleats if there is any ice.
The Prairie Mountain hike is a popular one and in all likelihood you’ll meet many people going up and coming down. I’ve never seen so much as bear scat but they can be around. I’ve seen deer and I’ve heard of people seeing cougars.
Further reading about hikes near Bragg Creek
- The Fullerton Loop Hike in Kananaskis Country
- The Moose Mountain Hike in Kananaskis Country, AB
- The Fabulous Forget-Me-Not Ridge Hike
- The Nihahi Ridge Hike in Kananaskis Country
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Hi Leigh, what a spectacular trail. It’s great that you still find an unexplored trail in your backyard. I love the view from the trees but I also like the expansiveness once you pop out of the trees. I can’t believe that your dog was not impressed, I think the view from the top is just breathtaking. Thanks for taking me on another beautiful hike. Lovely photos.
@Marisol Interestingly an old friend here in Calgary who has lived here for 10+ years just heard about the trail sometime this fall. Kind of a treat to discover something so close that is so beautiful.
Beautiful shots as always, Leigh. Yikes, sitting in Scottsdale where the temps have hovered at high 80’s and 90’s this week, your parka is a jarring reminder that up north – winter isn’t far away!
@Jackie It was cold and blowy on top but we were dressed for it so it was fine. And really it was such a great day and just wonderful to be outdoors. Besides I have Costa Rica to look forward to in just over 48 hours.
Hi Leigh, Love those views! You wouldn’t get me up there in the snow…I know, I’m a wuss! 🙂 Enjoy Costa Rica! From a down filled jacket to a bathing suit in 48 hours…bliss!
@Nancie It was a lot of fun actually and I felt very alive at the end of the day!!
What an amazing shade of blue! Wow, makes you just want to stay there — except for the snow — and just drink it all in.
Except for that piece in the middle, it sounds like a hike even I could do even now.
I really must get out to Calgary.
@Marcia We’ll just bundle you up in some down and you won’t mind the snow at all!! I was in awe at how beautiful it was at the top and now want to explore a lot more of this area.
We’re having a heat wave in SoCal this week so it’s a bit refreshing to see all that snow. Those are some spectacular views and such a great hike so close to your home. I hope to see more pictures of Prairie Mountain as the seasons change. I can’t get over how blue those skies are. Fabulous pictures,Leigh. Have a safe flight to Costa Rica and best wishes to your son.
@Mary I can definitely see hiking Prairie Mountain on a regular basis. I do like my workouts. Alberta is known for its blue skies and cinematographers come from around the world to film here.
Absolutely breathtaking views!
@Lauren What a treat to find this hike so close to home. It will likely become a regular one for me.
That’s wonderful that there is this good of a hike close to you. The views are indeed spectacular. I remember taking the tram to the top of Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain and being amazed that people had walked up. (And then I took the tram back down.)
@Michele When I lived in Vancouver I’d do the Grouse Grind regularly. I think the fastest I ever did it in was 52 minutes. This was that much harder as we had to hike down on our own – no trams but that’s what I liked about it too.
Gorgeous views! I miss those kind of hiking. We’re slowly preparing our young sons, and I hope in a few years they will join us. Before they get too bored of theirp parents and ditch us 😉
@Melanie We had a few years in there where we didn’t do much hiking but as adults my kids have definitely embraced it. Those years will pass faster than you figure.
Oh gosh you have no idea how much I love hiking (or driving if that’s the case) to high vantage points that offer beautiful vistas like this!! Of course I love that you included the pics of your dog, Leigh!! What is his or her name?? 🙂
@Mike My dog is a mutt from the island of St. Maartens – Torrie. She was rescued at 3 months & is by far the smartest dog we’ve ever had. She hates the heat but at almost 10 she still manages to do well climbing the hills & mountains. It was a fantastic hike that we’ll end up doing a lot.
Heya Leigh! It’s 2019 and your blog is still endearing. We love your write up, photos and qwerky comments! Gonna scale it this weekend. Keep up the good work in sharing the beauty of Alberta with the world.
@Kevin Thank you – I keep trying.
Amazing photos , nice views of the mountains really beautiful ,
I invite you visit the huayhuash mountain range cordillera blanca areas for trekking climbing cultural tours hiking walking holiday vacation in peru the best season is from may to september
I have done the Cordillera Blanca on my own and absolutely loved the scenery. The Huayhuash perhaps one day.
Hi Leigh, I just did Prairie Mountain for the first time yesterday. Like you, I can’t believe I’d never done this hike before–what an amazing view! Being an early spring (until winter blasts us again?), the trail only had about 10 minutes of icy patches for which cleats are highly recommended and a couple of soft spots when it warmed up in the afternoon, otherwise it was dry and even dusty on the first steep ascent.
I found your directions to the trailhead confusing compared to how we approached the trail. It sounds like the winter gate was still open when you did it? Anyway, in my experience, the trailhead is AFTER the winter gate (we parked on the shoulder of the highway before the gate and before the Elbow Falls parking lot, along with dozens of others). You identify the trail as going up on the “left” of the photo. We went up to the RIGHT of Prairie Creek as shown in the photo. Just wanted to note this in case other readers are looking for the trailhead based on the information in this blog post.
@Grace If you’re driving the hwy with Elbow Falls on your right, then I would say parking is definitely before the winter gate.
It’s a great hike isn’t it – and one I plan to do again tomorrow. Thanks for your thoughts.
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