Photo © Ryan Drescher 2015
In Calgary, we are very lucky to live in such close proximity to something as beautiful and raw as the Rocky Mountains and Kananaskis Provincial Park. There are very few places left in the world that are so wild and untouched, and that number continues to dwindle as our population grows and expands. In this post, I'll be outlining some of the best day hikes within driving distance from the city.
Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2015
The Ptarmigan Cirque
5 km, 3 hours
Elevation Gain: 230m
A short but moderately challenging hike, the Ptarmigan Cirque trail head is located at the highest point of the Highwood Pass, the highest drivable pass in Canada at 7200 feet. The first kilometer is a very steep climb up a well-maintained trail, but it's worth it. Once you crest the top, the cirque goes around a high mountain bowl, and the terrain is stark and beautiful.
In the spring, summer melt makes a small meadow marshland, a creek, and small waterfalls through rocky outcropping. The area itself is flat and ion the summer it is full of alpine flowers. There are plenty of places to sit and enjoy the view overlooking the pass or higher up, overlooking the meadow.
Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2015
If you get to the end of the meadow and you're ready to turn back, you can follow the main trail around. If you're still feeling energetic, you can push forward along a small trail into the upper bowl and from there you can scramble up to the top of Mount. Rae. This section is a long stretch of scree and talus (loose shale slope) that affords a phenomenal view from the top.
Photo ©Ryan Drescher, 2015
Yamnuska
7 km, 4 hours
Elevation Gain: 435+ meters
Photo Credit Paul Jerry (Flickr)
Mount John Laurie, commonly known as Yamnuska, is an advanced hike that takes you up a steep, treed climb to the top of a ridge and eventually to the peak of the mountain located on the fringe of the Rockies. There are a variety of trails that you can follow along the slope, some steeper than others. The ridge butts up against the main peak of Yamnuska. The trails all lead around the backside of the peak, not seen in the photo above. At the back end of the bowl, things get a little bit more technical.
Photo Credit Kevin Lenz
You will have to traverse a scree slope, and at one point there is a small ledge around a small cavity in the slope. This part of the traverse has a mounted chain to help you around. Once on the other side, it's an open, moderate climb to the peak. From the top, the adventurer is afforded a stunning view of both the foothills and prairies rolling out east, as well as a great look west into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Afterwards, the easiest way down is to follow the loop, which takes you around the front of the mountain, down the scree slope face, and back into the woods below.
Photo Credit Kevin Lenz
Larch Valley/Sentinel Pass
Larch Valley - 4.3 km+ in the valley, takes about 4 hours.
Elevation Gain: 535m
Sentinel Pass is an additional 2.5 km, with a gain of 200m.
The Larch Valley trail head is located on Moraine Lake in Banff. It's another one of those trails that is has a really steep first section, but quickly levels out. Its a stunning hike in the fall, especially the two weeks in mid-September when the Larch trees have all changed colour. This, however, will also be the trail's busiest time. It will be packed, because this is one of Banff's premiere attractions, and also it's Banff. If you want to avoid the crowds, it is still a beautiful hike in the summer.
Photo © Ryan Drescher 2016
Once your crest the top of the ascent, you're in the valley. The pathways here are relatively flat, weaving through trees and along small creeks. At the top of the valley, the trail briefly pops out of the larches into a meadow, providing a stunning view of the Valley of 10 Peaks. After that it drops back in to the trees and eventually finds it's way to the Minnestimma Lakes, a series of small reflective pools.
Photo © Ryan Drescher 2016
The Sentinel Pass segment of the hike goes out and beyond the larches. It rises steeply over a couple of kilometers, and leaves you at the top with a stunning view, perched among the spires that give the Sentinel Pass its name. From here, it is recommended you turn back unless you've arranged a ride. You can press further, going down the other side of the pass into Paradise Valley, but you likely won't make it all the way back before dark.
Photo © Ryan Drescher 2016
This area is often frequented by bears, and Parks Canada often requires groups of a certain size before you can hike the trail.
Galatea Lakes
16km, 5 hours
Elevation Gain: 457m
The Galatea Lake or Galatea Creek Trail can be done as a day hike for the adventurous and experienced hiker. The trail winds its way up a beautiful valley along the Galatea Creek. There are multiple crossing across wooden bridges.
Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2012
While the vistas are more or less non-existent here, the creek bed is gorgeous, and the the walk through the woods is quite nice. The last stretch up to the lake has a lot of loose rock, so make sure to wear proper footwear. The large 2013 flood has caused a lot of damage to the trail, and many of the routes have been adjusted or shifted to accommodate.
Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2012
Lilian Lake, most of the way up the trail, is a beautiful spot for lunch and the ideal turn around location. You can also get a back-country permit to camp in the well-maintained campground here that has a shared fire pit. The pristine lake is tucked away, and smooth as glass. From this trail, there a wide range of options. Guinn's pass leads over to Ribbon Lake on the other side of a ridge, a short, steep 1.5 km hike for Lilian Lake will take you to the Galatea Lakes, tucked high up in a mountain bowl. These lakes often have ice and snow around them long into the summer, and they are small, deep, and beautiful.
Grassi Lakes
4km, 2 hours
Elevation Gain: 250m
Photo Credit McKay Savage
This short, easy hike is perfect for a family or a partial day hike. It is very popular and often frequented by sport climbers as well. There are two possible routes you can take, at a fork after the first 100m. The easier route appears to be a fire road, and the other takes you along a slightly more difficult, but still fairly easy, path that passes along a waterfall. At the top of the trail are two beautiful, iridescent lakes. They make a great place for lunch, and above the first lake there is a short scramble to a petroglyph on a boulder for the more adventurous. The entire way up, great views of Ha Ling Peak and the Canmore area can be enjoyed.
Photo © Ryan Drescher, 2012
I hope this collection has proved helpful. Canada has so much open space, so much untouched wilderness just waiting to be explored. Check out some of these hikes or find your own adventure, and enjoy the world we have while you can! Make sure to be respectful of nature and other people, and leave the trails in better condition that you left them. Don't leave behind garbage, or damage the plant life. Watch your step, and be mindful of bears and other wildlife.
For more information on local hikes, check out:
https://www.trailpeak.com/index.jsp?cat=def
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