Best hiking in Kanaskis-Canmore area?

[Ducay]

As the title suggests, Im looking for somewhere to go hiking next weekend.
I could browse the internet for ages, but Id prefer to hear first hand on where you guys prefer. Looking for something in the area from Kananaskis to Canmore (or even Banff). The closer to Canmore the better, but its hardly a must.

I'd say I'm looking for a easy/moderate trail, nothing intense, but not a flat walk to watch trees go by.

Any suggestions? I've done a couple trails around there and wasn't thrilled, so I gave up on blindly taking the internets advice.

[Rathji]

Elbow Lake in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park is nice.
About an hour or little more to the lake itself, where there are firepits and camping pads. Perfect as a `base camp`for a couple day trip since you camp at the lake then do a couple hikes during the day and then return.

Also, while not in Kananaskis, Waterton Provincial Park has some of the most amazing trails for both day hikes and multiday adventures. Awesome waterfalls and there are lots of different hikes for any group type.

http://www.watertonpark.com/activities/hiking_trail.htm

List of a few, Blakiston and Snowshoe (Both originiating from Red Rock Canyon) are the ones i have done and Blakiston is not all that hard (or long) but the falls are just amazing. I dont recall if you can camp at Blakiston, but I know you can at Snowshoe.

[V]

What's intense??

I'd call intense anything that requires gear. Scrambles I'd call moderate.

For something easy and fairly quick you can try the Mount Everest trail in Peter Lougheed Park. It's got a bit of a climb, a nice view at the top, and you can finish the loop in less than an hour. I did it with my grandparents, so it's not too hard.

The climb to the Fire Station at Barrier Lake on HWY 40 is a pretty simple and quick scramble. Probably the easiest one I've done.

A little harder would be Mount Baldy. It's a scramble, but it's one of the shorter ones I've done. I found it pretty enjoyable. It's the first mountain on your left on HWY 40.

Chinaman's Peak is pretty straightforward. Again, it's a scramble, but nothing too technical. You'll get a good sweat on this or any other mountain, but it's a great feeling to hit the top.

Mount Indefatiguable is my favourite, but I hear they've closed the trail down due to grizzlies. I haven't been there in a couple years.

[ShaolinFlame]

If you want a chill stroll for a few hours the waterfall at Nakiska is a nice hike. I believe it is called troll falls, and the entrance is on the side of Nakiska most away from the Lodge. I believe right by the bronze chair??? Nice trail, spectcular falls. Heart mountain is also a nice hike, across from Laforge about 10 to 15 minutes east of Canmore. You can summit (for a whole day) or take half a day to hike up to the top of the waterfall. Lots of bouldering for fun too!

[Flames0910]

Mount Indefatiguable is my favourite, but I hear they've closed the trail down due to grizzlies. I haven't been there in a couple years.

too much snow this time of year. my friends and i wanted to do it a couple weekends back and called some kananaskis number and thats what they told us

[Cowperson]

Grassi Lakes trail is just above Canmore. You can make it eventful by taking a longer, scrabbly, path . . . or easy via the tourist path.

Along the Spray Lakes Trail out of Canmore, a gravel road, you'll come across places like the trail to Chester Lake, a popular pastime in the summer.

There's an interesting but long - about 17.4 km - circumfrence of Upper Kananaskis Lake, which can also be accessed via the Spray Lakes Trail.

I was at Elbow Lake a few weekends ago. A sharp hike of about 1.5 km upwards and then flat around the lake before descending through Elbow Pass. Elbow Lake with an early dusting of snow:



Below, Troll Falls at Nakiska in the Spring. Pretty short walk but then you can continue onward out to Barrier Lake.:



Below, Rawlings Lake is a strenuous 3.5 km above Upper Kananaskis Lake, about 20 minute walk from the Upper K-Lake parking lot, then straight up.



Below, less than an hour from Canmore, the walk to the upper teahouse at Lake Louise. This can be overrun with tourists although probably deserted at this time of year.:



Below, a tough hike, descending from Pickejar Lakes via Lantern Creek Trail, in K-Country. The higher you go, the steeper it gets.



Lots of others too. Go up to Spray Lakes though and then out into the back country. You'll find lots of interesting places back there.

Cowperson

[urban1]

Hiking, scrambling, and climbing are different activities.

Scrambles are moderate? You can do an easy scramble, a moderate scramble, or a very difficult scramble. Same goes for hikes or climbs.

Originally Posted by V

What's intense??

I'd call intense anything that requires gear. Scrambles I'd call moderate.

[Ducay]

Wow, great suggestions guys. Sorry for not clarifying, Im looking for a moderate scramble. Something in the 3-4 hour range.

Im leaning towards the Troll Falls one, how long do you guys figure it would take round-trip to the lake?

[DFO]

Originally Posted by Ducay

Wow, great suggestions guys. Sorry for not clarifying, Im looking for a moderate scramble. Something in the 3-4 hour range.

Im leaning towards the Troll Falls one, how long do you guys figure it would take round-trip to the lake?

I'd go hit up the MEC book shelf. If you are into scrambles (bagging a peak) get the Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies by Kane. Probably limited by snow in some cases now. The blue & yellow Gem Trek maps are also good for various areas. Another good book is Classic Hikes in the Canadian Rockies by Pole.

[V]

Originally Posted by urban1

Hiking, scrambling, and climbing are different activities.

Scrambles are moderate? You can do an easy scramble, a moderate scramble, or a very difficult scramble.

Yeah, but I'd still put it on a moderate scale, considering you don't need gear, and for the most part you don't really need to know what you're doing, well, before there's a lot of snow up there.

[rockstar]

I really enjoyed Chinaman's Peak. We went on a really foggy morning in the spring/early summer and didn't know we were at the top til we almost fell down the other side! But it is quite spectacular at the top.

Heart mountain is good too. Not a lot of scrambling, more of a steep hike.

Yamnuska is a good workout, with some challenging optional scramble routes, and one hell of a scree slide on the way down (it felt like I was skiiing down on the small rocks; you can pick up quite a bit of speed and make a ride out of it).

[V]

Huh, I must've taken the wrong route up Heart Mountain, because I ended up bouldering a whole lot more than the average scramble. It was a blast, although I wasn't thrilled with the big loop I took on the way down. You spend a ton of time in the trees, and I was by myself. Never know when a bear pops out of nowhere in a situation like that.

[dubc80]

I'd recommend Ha Ling Peak (Chinaman's Peak) as well. Its very close to Canmore.

It's pretty easy, and will take about 3 hrs from the parking lot, to the summit, and back down. Its a good one to go on if you're with a group, or with some youngsters or beginners.

The path is well defined, and quite popular. Its pretty hard to get lost. The view at the top is great!

[urban1]

Ha Ling Peak...

Anyone do this last weekend or this week? How much snow/ice is there up top? Or anyone based on their past experience know whats its like this time of year?

Considering it for Sunday.

Originally Posted by dubc80

I'd recommend Ha Ling Peak (Chinaman's Peak) as well. Its very close to Canmore.

It's pretty easy, and will take about 3 hrs from the parking lot, to the summit, and back down. Its a good one to go on if you're with a group, or with some youngsters or beginners.

The path is well defined, and quite popular. Its pretty hard to get lost. The view at the top is great!