Hiking in Calgary & the Alberta Rocky Mountains
CANADA

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September 2 - December 11, 2009

 

What to Bring on Full Day Hikes 

 

Transportation & Meeting Points Year Round

 

Cancelling and Making Changes to Full Day Hikes

 

 

 

Level of Difficulty Scale

All Level (AL)
3-4 hours.; 400 metre or less elevation gain; official trails

Moderate (MOD) 
4-6 hours.; 400-600 metre elevation gain; official and unofficial trails 

Intermediate (INT)
4-8 hours; 600-800 metre elevation gain; unofficial trails  

Advanced (ADV)
 8-10 hours; 800-1000 metre elevation gain, unofficial trails 8-10 hours; 800-1000 metre elevation gain, unofficial trails  

 

Sunday, May 16 –8:00 am - Meet at Brentwood LRT (or, upon request, at Allen Bill Meet Place , Hwy. 66): Powderface Ridge (MOD) - Elbow Falls Trail (Hwy 66), Kananaskis 

Distance: 10 km + 640 m elevation gain + 183 m elevation loss: 5 hours hiking. 

Description: You’ll enjoy panoramic views that include the city of Calgary and the Opal Range .

 

 

Saturday, August 8- 8:00 - Meet at Brentwood LRT: Galatea Lakes Wildflowers (MOD/INT) - Hwy 40, Kananaskis 

Distance:  14 km + 450-600 m elevation gain: 6 hours hiking  

Description:  Starting from the Kananaskis River we’ll travel through spruce forest and along avalanche slopes on our way to Lillian Lake . The optional intermediate climb to Galatea Lake is spectacular!!

 

Friday, August 21 – 9:30 - Meet at Buller Mountain Day Use, Kananaskis: South Buller Pass (MOD/INT) Smith Dorrien – Spray Trail (HWY 742), Kananaskis 

Distance: 12 km + 400 or 600 metres elevation gain: 5-6 hours hiking  

Description: A meandering trail leads to a waterfall, unique rock outcrops, rugged cliff bands and an open alpine valley. A steep rocky slope leads to Buller Pass where spectacular views of Ribbon Lake and Mount Assiniboine are achieved.  

 

Saturday, August 29 – 8:00 am - Meet at Brentwood LRT: Moose Mountain Views (MOD/INT) – Elbow Falls Trail (HWY 66), Kananaskis   

Distance:  15 km + 570 - 670 metres elevation gain: Final 100 metres optional

Description: Views attained prior to this assent. This fire lookout hike starts out on a wide forested trail. The summit offers an unequalled view looking 120 km in all directions.   

 

Tuesday, June 23 –8:00 am - Meet at Sandy Cross Conservation Area: Sandy Cross Conservation Area (AL) – Hwy. 22x, just southwest of Calgary city limits. Meeting place details given upon registration.

Distance:  10 km + 200 meters elevation gain: 3-4 hours hiking

Description: The Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area is a 4800 acre natural area located just south west of the city of Calgary . You'll enjoy a rolling foothills hike with Rocky Mountain Views. The Conservation Area is dedicated to protecting habitat and providing space for native species of wildlife.  More than 300 plant species thrive in the conservation area and an abundance of wildlife found at various times of the year.

 

All Level Hikes

 

Sunday, November 8 – MEET PLACE AND TIME CHANGE! 8:30 am at Petro Can, Hwy. 1/22
 Mount Yamnuska & Cochrane Café (AL/MOD), Hwy. 1A near Canmore

Distance: 8 km + 400 meters elevation gain: 3-4 hours hiking  

Description: Mount John Laurie is more usually known as Yamanuska, a Stoney name that means Wall of Stone. We’ll hike up on good trails to the base of the wall of stone. This is a good spring warm-up hike! After the hike we’ll head to Cochrane to replenish lost calories.

 

Saturday, November 14 –  MEET PLACE AND TIME CHANGE! 8:30 am at Allen Bill Meet Place, Hwy. 66, Elbow Falls Trail
 Nihahi Ridge (AL/MOD)-Hwy 66, Elbow Falls Trail, Kananaskis

Distance: 10 km + 500 meters elevation gain: 4 hours hiking time
Description: This scenic trail takes you to breathtaking views of the front ranges, the Elbow River Valley and the city of Calgary . From the beaten path we’ll head up a scree slope and into the trees where we’ll walk at the base of the ridge until we ascend to the ridge-top trail.

 

     

  Moderate & Moderate/Intermediate Hikes


Thursday, September 10- 8:00 am- Meet at Petro Can Station: Surprise Larch Hike (MOD) - Kananaskis 

Distance:  5-6 hours hiking  

Description:  It’s a surprise!  

 

Sunday, September 13 - 8:00 am - Meet at Brentwood LRT: Buller Pass Larch (MOD/INT)-Smith Dorrien (HWY 742), Kananaskis 

Distance: 12 km + 400 or 600 metres elevation gain: 5-6 hours hiking  

Description: A meandering trail leads to a waterfall, unique rock outcrops, rugged cliff bands and an open alpine valley. A steep rocky slope leads to Buller Pass where spectacular views of Ribbon Lake and Mount Assiniboine are achieved.

 

Saturday, September 19 - MEET PLACE CHANGE!  9:30 am - Meet at Burstall Pass Parking Lot, Smith Dorrien – Spray Trail (HWY 742), Kananaskis: Burstall Pass Larch Hike (MOD)

Distance: 16 km + 475 metres elevation gain: 5-6 hours hiking 

Description: We’ll visit the Burstall Lakes , get a glimpse of Robertson Glacier and climb past larch forests to a spectacular alpine pass. 

  

Sunday, September 27 - 8:00 am- Meet at Anderson LRT: Picklejar Lakes (MOD) - Hwy 40, Highwood Pass , Kananaskis

Distance: 10 km + 450 meters elevation gain: 4-5 hours hiking

Description: “The fishing is so good it’s like catching fish in a pickle jar”. You ascend along grassy slopes through larch tree forests. Once over the pass you find the first lake, which then leads us to three more lakes that make up the pickle jar lakes family.   

 

Saturday, October 17 – MEET PLACE AND TIME CHANGE! 8:30 am- Meet at Allen Bill trailhead, Hwy. 66

Distance: 12 km + 500 m elevation gain: 5 hours hiking time.

Description: A single-track trail climbs through the trees to a fantastic viewpoint. An optional climb to the fire lookout rewards you with panoramic views. The descent follows the fire road through the tress back to Barrier Dam.  

 

Friday, October 30–8:00 am - Meet at Allen Bill Pond: Powderface Ridge (MOD) - Elbow Falls Trail (Hwy 66), Kananaskis

Distance: 10 km + 640 m elevation gain + 183 m elevation loss: 5 hours hiking. 

Description: You’ll enjoy panoramic views that include the city of Calgary and the Opal Range.

 

 

Snowshoe Outings

 

Level of difficulty: 
AL= 3-4 trail hours   MOD= 4-5 trail hours 

 

**Please note that the routing may change based on snow conditions. The location with the best snow will be chosen**

 Su

Saturday, December 5 - 8:00 am - Meet at Brentwood LRT: Chester Lake Snowshoe (MOD), Smith Dorrian Road (Spray Lakes), Kananaskis Distance: 10 km + 350 meters elevation gain: 4-5 trail hours 

Description: Snow conditions vary at this time of year so please be prepared to do a combination of hiking and snowshoeing. Snowshoeing takes no technical ability and is as easy as walking but much more fun!  Learn more about snowshoeing here! 

 

Friday, December 11- 8:00 am - Meet at Petro Can Station: Burstall Lakes Snowshoe (AL/MOD), Smith Dorrian Road (Spray Lakes), Kananaskis 
Distance: Approximately 10 km + 300 meters: 3-4 trail hours 

Description: Snow conditions vary at this time of year so please be prepared to do a combination of hiking and snowshoeing. Snowshoeing takes no technical ability and is as easy as walking but much more fun!  Learn more about snowshoeing here! 

 

 

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