Since coming to Alberta, mainly with the idea of spending more time outside in the wild, I have been putting in the extra effort to go on as many hikes as I can. With the price of gas and the mountains still being at least an hour’s drive away from home, I’ve tried to make every excursion totally worth it. With a good amount of online research before each hike, I’d say I’ve done a pretty good job with this and no hike thus far has really disappointed me. However, some were better than others and I’d like to share the experiences with you. Here we go:
5) Fullerton Loop
I avoided Fullerton Loop for quite a while. On paper, it seems like a very basic route- about 6.5 kilometers through the woods with not much elevation. It is popular for people who either can’t hike very difficult terrain and/or don’t hike very much at all, due to its gentle nature. But, it is popular still and I had to figure out why.
When I finally got around to trying it after work one day I found the answer. Fullerton Loop contains a smorgasbord of scenery that appeals to the nature lover. It’s got woods with tall trees, meadows, streams, alpine plants, prairie plants, all sorts of wildlife, hills, and a great view of the mountains in Elbow Valley. The cherry on top is the fact that it’s easy. Not overly easy, you still feel like you are exercising, but easy enough to actually enjoy the scenery for what it is with little to no distractions. You won’t be huffing and puffing and stopping every hundred meters to catch your breath, but rather to smell the flowers (figuratively and literally).
4) Consolation Lakes Trail
The Consolation Lakes are situated on the outer rim of the Valley of Ten Peaks, within which the famous Morraine Lake is situated. As of late, Morraine Lake has become infamous for its fierce crowds that tend to spoil any sense of being alone in nature. However, the trail to the Consolation Lakes that begins near the Morraine Lake parking lot can lead you away from all of the riff-raff.
Most tourists tend to avoid this trail due to its length (a mere 4.2 kilometers, but still a lot for someone wearing skinny jeans and Jordans) and simply a lack of knowledge as to where it leads. But if you do decide to embark on this journey, as I did with a group of friends, you will be met by a spectacular walk through the old-growth woods and to an alpine lake that is surrounded by meadows and a cascade of fallen boulders.
Consolation Lakes clearly ticks off the beauty box, but it also satisfies the adventurous soul too, with the boulders surrounding the lake being quite a bit of fun to climb between and hop around on. Those factors, mixed with its ease of use and lack of crowds (something increasingly rare in Banff National Park these days), make the Consolation Lakes trail number four on my list.
3) Prairie Mountain
If I recall correctly, Prairie Mountain was the first mountain peak I reached since arriving in Alberta earlier this year. For that, it holds a special place in my heart, but it also has many other merits. This unofficial, yet extremely popular Kananaskis trail is very easy to access, is straightforward and uncomplicated to navigate (especially considering it has no signage), and gives a perfect little slice of what Kananaskis has to offer.
This steep yet short trail is the perfect length for anybody wanting to hike a mountain and see a variety of unique landscapes, all from one viewpoint. Mountain ranges to one side and the seemingly endless ocean of grass on the other that makes up the Canadian prairies. Prairie Mountain actually gets its name from the bald surface at its peak that somewhat resembles a prairie…on a mountain. This is great because there is nothing to obstruct your view from up top. I arrived just as the flowers for that season were just starting to bloom, which added to the serenity.
I’ll recommend this trail to anyone visiting the province who is short on time yet still wants to get that “Alberta mountain climbing experience”. Prairie Mountain is also an amazing trail to exercise on given its difficulty over such a short distance.
2) Burstall Pass
As I mentioned in a previous blog, the Burstall Pass Trail was one that I had anticipated for a long time to be my ultimate hike of the season. I waited until what I thought would be the best time to see the alpine flower bloom, that being early August. This mountainous pass deep in the heart of Kananaskis Country would also contain many more things to get excited about. I mean, who doesn’t love a mountain pass?
A somewhat tough but fun hike to do, this trail took me through a beautiful old-growth forest, an expansive glacial flood plain (in which you will get your feet wet, but hey, the cool water felt refreshing), and up to wide-open alpine meadows.
Now, unfortunately, the alpine flowers were simply not there, at least in the capacity that I was hoping for. I was apparently a little too late in the season to be arriving. There were still some sights to be salvaged, however. Patches of vibrant red and green Indian Paintbrushes could be found, with vast quantities of Anemonies interspersed between. I had a great time wandering around the grassy mountain pass and found it to be one of the most picturesque places I’ve ever had lunch in.
The length of the trail (about 16 kilometers in total) mixed with its mild level of difficulty hit the sweet spot for me. I didn’t feel like a slacker that day, but I also felt like I totally earned my beer afterward.
1) Horseshoe Canyon
Not the famous Horshoe Canyon in Arizona, this other ancient canyon is situated in the Badlands near Drumheller. I was taken aback by the unique beauty of its landscape. The Badlands are just not something an outsider would expect to see in Canada.
Horseshoe Canyon was not even something I originally expected to be much of a trail, but rather a pitstop on the way to Drumheller one very hot afternoon. But, as I descended into the canyon, I realized that it contained a web of trails that you can wander along endlessly. You only want to walk a couple of hundred meters and back? Easy. Do you want to meander along further and end up clocking several more kilometers? Totally doable.
Created over millions of years by wind and water, this canyon appears to be a large gash in the middle of the prairies. The many layers of earth uncovered within reveal the extremely colorful and photogenic minerals that make up the soil beneath your feet. The Badlands in general are a wonder of geology and nature to anyone who even has a passing interest in such subjects.
The Horseshoe Canyon area truly gives you a sense of freedom to explore and to make the experience your own. I found it easy to break away from the crowds and go through some of the cacti-laden side canyons without getting lost. Is that cool-looking butte over there looking very climbable? Well, there was nothing stopping me from climbing it besides my own will.
Just after I think I’d seen it all, Horseshoe Canyon came around to surprise me more than anything I’ve encountered yet this year.
