Turner Valley, Alberta
Top Spots in and near Turner Valley
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Turner Valley, Alberta
Hike Junction Creek to Junction Falls
4.09.2 miJunction creek is a tributary that flows into the larger Sheep River near Eden, Alberta with many cool and uncrowded waterfalls. Once you start at the trailhead there is a river crossing of the Sheep River. This can deter a lot of people as the water can be fast and quite cold. When we went it w...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Hike to Bragg Creek Ice Cave
4.04.3 mi / 5879.3 ft gainAlso known as Moose Mountain Ice Cave, Canyon Creek Ice Cave and Ing Mine.The cave is located on the west side of Moose Ridge andhas a huge entrance, it is approximately1,600 ft. in depth. Take Highway 22 past Bragg Creek, continue on the 66 towards Moose Mountain. Turn off at Canyon Creek Road...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Prairie Mountain and Elbow Falls
4.422 km west of Bragg Creek, turn off Highway 66 at the Elbow Falls Parking Lot. Park on the North side of the road on the shoulder at the winter closure gates. The trail is well-defined and heads straight up (North) from the highway.The trail begins with some steep switchbacks, but then levels out...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Hike Iyarhe Ipan
3.02.5 mi / 1476.4 ft gainIyarhe Ipan means "mountain point" in Stoney, and while it's far from the highest peak you'll ever climb, it certainly is worth it. Iyarhe Ipan was the fix for the scrambling itch I've had all winter.Before Highway 66 opens in the summer, you'll have to park your car at Elbow Falls parking lot an...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Winter Hike Up Vent's Ridge
Whether it was the unseasonably warm weather; the forested, uneven, foot-wide, root-covered trail; limestone cliffs towering above me; the view of Myosotis Peak from the ridge; or exploring along Powderface Creek on the descent, this trail was an absolute blast.If you do this hike in February lik...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Rock Climb at White Buddha
4.01.9 mi / 492.1 ft gainTo reach White Buddha, park at the Powerface Creek parking lot. Between December and May, Route 66 is closed at Elbow Falls, so you may need to park at the gate and walk in, about 0.3 miles (500 m). The trailhead is well marked from the parking lot.The first section of the trail is mellow, though...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Hike White Buddha via Powderface Trail
3.02.5 mi / 1148.3 ft gainFollow Hwy. 66 until you come upon the Powderface Staging Area. This is the trailhead. If you are coming between December & May, park at the Elbow Falls Day use area and walk along the road approximately 100 meters. This trail is easy to find and is quite wide. Follow the Powderface Creek Tra...Read more -
Longview, Alberta
Backpack to Pickle Jar Lakes
4.05 mi / 1328.7 ft gainPark in the Lantern Creek Recreation Area across the street from the trailhead. Highway #40 is closed at the Upper Lakes and Highwood House Junction from Dec 1st to June 14th for wildlife preservation, so you will have to plan your trip here accordingly. Once you cross the street you will see the...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Hike Nihahi Ridge
4.58.1 mi / 2624.7 ft gainThis year on the summer solstice, I was invited to go up Nihahi Ridge to celebrate. It's in one of my personal most underrated areas of the Rockies just west of Bragg Creek, and it's a popular objective, but less so during the evening. The trail begins once you park your car at the Little Elbow p...Read more -
Longview, Alberta
Carnarvon Lake Trail
12.9 mi / 2221 ft gainI first heard about Carnarvon Lake (mistakenly called Carnivore Lake) in 2015 at my sister's wedding in Rhode Island - which is actually the last place I figured I'd get a recommendation. I spent a good amount of time trying to find any mention of Carnivore Lake on the internet, and asked anyone ...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Cross-Country Ski and Scramble to Oldforgetmenot for Sunrise
9.9 mi / 2395 ft gainI think it's because I tend to watch football on Sundays that I've started doing more sunrise hikes --- can't say I regret it either! Oldforgetmenot is a perfect objective to take in a sunrise on: elevation gain isn't too intense, distance isn't too trying, and there are quite a few stretches tha...Read more -
Bragg Creek, Alberta
Scramble Mount Glasgow
3.014.3 mi / 4265.1 ft gainAs with most hikes in the Bragg Creek/Little Elbow area, the trail begins at the Little Elbow campground. To make the hike a tiny bit shorter, most people bike for the first 4 km on the Big Elbow trail to South Glasgow Creek. If you're not using a GPS trail, you'll know you're at the creek once y...Read more -
Turner Valley, Alberta
Mist Mountain Scramble
4.5This is a pretty big objective, but doesn't feature any technical climbing, so anyone who keeps a clear head and can put one foot in front of the other can do it.Mist Mountain is located in Highwood Pass - whose highway is only open between June and December, so scheduling Mist Mountain as a big ...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Hike to Little Arethusa
2.8 mi / 2034.1 ft gainUnfortunately, pictures of larches in autumn never actually do them justice. It's worth it to go out and experience them for yourself. This hike is pretty scenic for the short distance it is, but my favourite part is that you get to be up close and personal with the larches as the forest is bathe...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Snowshoe Mount Tyrwhitt
1.05.6 mi / 2132.5 ft gainDescribing snowshoeing trails is always a bit difficult, but luckily the way up Mount Tyrwhitt gets used heavily by people going to Pocaterra Cirque - first thing to remember is to take the first fork off the main trail to the left after you cross the bridge.Even if the trail is snow covered and ...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Hike Pocaterra Ridge
4.09 mi / 650 ft gainDuring the fall I find the biggest treat is the changing of the larch trees and the beautiful contrast they provide against the landscape with their intense golden yellow colors. One of the best places to experience this is Pocaterra Ridge, located in the Highwood Pass of the Kananaskis region in...Read more