Sawback, Alberta
Top Spots in and near Sawback
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Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Drive the Icefields Parkway
5.0145.45 mi / 6293 ft gainThe Icefields Parkway has been named One of the World's Most Scenic Drives by National Geographic and with all the scenic hikes, stops, and viewpoints, it's easy to see why. Starting at Lake Louise, a friend and I decided to drive up the Icefields Parkway which goes through Banff National Park i...Read more -
Improvement District No. 9, Alberta
Bike the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway is a spectacular highway to ride (you can see the short video here). The shoulders are wide and well paved. Drivers are typically courteous, slowing down and giving you space as they pass, making the ride a great deal more enjoyable. Starting in Jasper you load up your bike,...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Ribbon Falls
3.812.4 mi / 1148.3 ft gainRibbon Creek trail is accessible via Highway 40 at the turn off for Nakiska Mountain Resort. From there take a left at Centennial Drive and then a right onto Ribbon Creek Road. The hike begins at the far end of the Ribbon Creek Trailhead parking lot. There is an old coal mining cart at the start...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Hike Centennial Ridge
9.9 mi / 4592 ft gainThis hike can be done as a full traverse, starting at the Ribbon Creek Trailhead and taking you to Dead Man's Flats, just off of the Trans Canada Highway. Starting at the trailhead in the Ribbon Creek parking lot, go north on Hidden Trail. You will be on this trail for ~ 200 m before you need to ...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Winter Climb Mount Allan
5.08.7 mi / 4429.1 ft gainMount Allan is a 14 km hike that gains 1400 metres of elevation and was one of my favourite hikes when I first moved to Calgary. On a recent snowshoe, a couple I crossed paths with mentioned they had just done Mount Allan in December, so I knew I had to put it on my winter list!The trail begins a...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Memorial Lakes
9.9 mi / 2624.7 ft gainHistory Note: This hike commemorates 13 passengers of three different air crafts that went down in the region in 1986. The first was a passenger plane, and the second two were search and rescue aircraft. There is a plaque at the top of the hike to commemorate the lives that were lost. Take Hwy...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Hike the Prairie View - Jewel Pass Loop
5.09.3 mi / 2050.5 ft gainPark at the Barrier Lake day use area on Hwy. 40. Make your way across the dam heading west. Follow the main trail slightly north west into the trees and begin your ascent. Mostly long switchbacks with some sections getting a bit steeper near the top. As soon as you break through the trees, you'l...Read more -
Kananaskis, Alberta
Hike Alberta's Mount Baldy
4.0Rated as moderate to difficult due to scrambling sections. Estimated round trip is 4-5 hours depending on experience. From highway #1, the trailhead is located 13 kms South on highway 40. You will spot a small stream on your left with a small parking area for a few cars. The trail head is often m...Read more -
Turner Valley, Alberta
Hike to the Top of the Wasootch Ridge
4.08.7 mi / 3280 ft gainThe start to this hike is located about 45 minutes west of Calgary and about the same East of Banff. Off the Trans Canada Highway take the highway 40 exit into Kananaskis and continue until you reach the Wasootch Creek area. There is ample parking, however during spring and summer months it can b...Read more -
Turner Valley, Alberta
Climb Wasootch Tower
Park at Wasootch Creek, Walk 2kms past the practice slabs5.7 Mixed- North RidgeFollowing the drainage on the right side that leads to the base of the esthetic tower. Then hike up the faint forested trail to the beginning of the climb.I found this to be a fun- easy scrambling route with quite a fe...Read more -
Turner Valley, Alberta
Scramble up to Wasootch Peak
Wasootch Peak is for people who's inner scrambler is screaming to push on when they're on Wasootch Ridge. This description will be focusing on the trail to the summit from the main cairn on Wasootch Ridge. For an excellent description on how to get to that cairn, check out Hike to the Top of Waso...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Explore Lake O'Hara
4.8Hidden deep in the Canadian Rockies is Lake O'Hara, a diamond among the rough peaks. Ten minutes drive east of a small town called Field in British Columbia, or sixty minutes west of Banff, Alberta; is a small parking lot where the adventure begins. A $25 return, 30 minute bus ride from there tak...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Hike to the Opabin Prospect
5.02.5 mi / 820 ft gainLocated in Yoho National Park, Lake O'Hara is said to be the crown jewel of the Canadian Rockies (rightly so!). Callum Snape has described a bit of the process on what it takes to gain access to Lake O'Hara at this post here. Once you arrive at Lake O'Hara, either at the lodge or at the neighbori...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Backpack to Alberta's Abbot Pass Hut
3.016.2 mi / 1500 ft gainBuilt in 1922 with the stones from the pass, the Abbot Pass Hut and has served both as a base for mountaineers and as a destination for strong hikers ever since. Sitting at 2,926 meters' elevation, it is second only to the Neil Colgan Hut on the list of highest permanent structures in Canada. The...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Hike the Yuckness Ledges in Yoho National Park
5.5 mi / 0 ft gainThe Lake O’Hara Alpine Circuit is short loop - but it's not for the faint-hearted. We walked Yuckness Ledges, which is a trail under a large cliff with incredible views over Lake O'Hara and the rest of Yoho National Park. The trail starts from the Lake O’Hara outlet bridge across from the Le Rela...Read more -
Field, British Columbia
Scramble the North Summit of Mount Yukness
6.5 mi / 2690.3 ft gainBeginning at Lake O'Hara, head counter-clockwise around the lake - you'll get distracted by the reflections in the water if the water is calm enough, that's ok. You'll want to take the Opabin East route, but Opabin West will work too. Just remember to get on the east side at some point in time!Th...Read more