Contents

Introduction 2

Maps&GPS 4

HighRockiesNorthMap 5

HighRockiesCentreMap 6

HighRockiesSouthMap 7

GoatCreektoSprayLakesWest 8

SprayLakesWesttoSparrowhawk 10

SparrowhawktoBullerCreek 13

BullerCreektoChesterLake 16

ChesterLaketoCanyon 18

CanyontoBoultonCreek 21

BoultonCreektoElkPass 23

CampingalongtheHighRockiesTrail 25

DistancesfromAccessPointstoHRT 26

The High Rockies Trail

2

Introduction

The High Rockies Trail, which connects Goat Creek at the Banff Park boundary to Elk Pass on the Alberta B.C. boundary, is the westernmost section of the TheGreat(TransCanada)TrailinAlberta. The project’s proponent, Alberta TrailNet, envisions the trail becoming a world-class destination trail through Kananaskis Country, with shuttle busses transporting trail users between trailheads — this may take a while! Contrary to its name, most of the trail keeps to the valley bot-toms, hardly “the Jewell in the Trans Canada Trail Crown” as touted.

Trail under construction in mossy forest.

A mixture of old and new trails, the High Rockies Trail heads south from Goat Creek along existing trails west of the Spray/Smith-Dorrien Highway (742). It passes Goat Pond, crosses Three Sisters Dam and heads down to Driftwood day-use area where it crosses to the east side of the highway for the remainder of the way to Lower kananaskis Lake.

Between Driftwood and the start of the Buller avalanche slopes the

trail winds through predominantly mossy forest. The plan was to route the trail 200–500 m uphill from the highway to catch the best views through open areas, but you don’t get much in the way of views until the trail breaks out across the scree slopes of Mount Buller. Now follows the most scenic section of the High Rockies Trail heading around Mount Buller to Chester Lake trailhead. Short con-nectors have been built to access existing day-use areas along the highway.

From Chester Lake trailhead the HRT makes use of the old Sawmill ski trails, now designated as snowshoe trails, although the new bridges are wide enough for grooming and tracksetting in the future. This section is not particularly good for

3

hiking. Trail runners and mountain bik-ers will probably make use of it. One ad-vantage is that there are several possible loops for those who only have one vehi-cle and don’t want to walk back the way they came. The rest of the way to Lower Kananaskis Lake is mostly through trees with a surprising amount of height gain as a result of the designer’s efforts to find interesting creek crossings and maxi-mise the limited views. The suspension bridge, the showpiece of the trail, is on this section between Black Prince and the Lower Lake.

After reaching Lower Kananaskis Lake the trail passes through Canyon campground then turns south along the power line, crossing the park road to Elkwood and on past the end of Marl Lake using existing paved trails. The

On the way to Buller CreekThe pointed peak is Eon Mountain

final section heads south on a paved trailto Boulton Trading Post, a potential supply point for through hikers or bikers. It then follows dirt trails along Boul-ton Creek and up Fox Creek to Elk Pass on the power line where a kiosk will be erected. In winter much of the route is on groomed ski trails that are closed to fat bikes. The number of snowshoers attempting to through hike (snowshoe) the HRT in winter is likely to be very small, and they will have to snowshoe the ski trails. A group of students from BC has erected a carved cedar log portal on their side of the border welcoming visitors to the Elk Valley.

The section between Goat Creek trailhead and the bridge over Buller Creek was completed summer 2015 to a very high standard. The next four phases be-tween Buller and Lower Kananaskis Lake were built in 2016. The approximately 80 km-long trail was finished before Canada’s 150th celebration in 2017.

The trail caters to hikers, trail runners and mountain bikers. It remains to be seen how much the trail will be used in winter by snowshoers, skiers, winter walkers and fat-tire bikers. Note that bicycles are not allowed on any of the trails east of the HRT. The section north of Buller Creek is closed in winter because it crosses avalanche slopes. Also be aware of steep banks on some bridge approach-es that may sluff-off heavy wet snow in early spring. Take a look at the avalanche forecast before you go.

4

Maps & GPS

There are three maps showing distances along the trail and connections to park-ing areas. Depending on your operating system and browser, the map will either be downloaded to your computer, or displayed on the screen—in which case right click on it (control click on a Mac) and select save or download. When printed on 11” x 17” paper the map scale is 1:50,000

• View/downloadHighRockiesTrailMap–North

• View/downloadHighRockiesTrailMap–Centre

• View/downloadHighRockiesTrailMap–South

• Download“asbuilt”HighRockiesTrailGPStrack81.9km

The High Rockies Trail lines on the maps follow GPS track logs of the actual as constructed trail. Distances in kilometers are to the nearest 100 m. Approach dis-tances in metres are to the nearest 10 m. Dashed red lines are access routes onto the trail.

Trails that are in the KananaskisCountryTrailGuides are shown in purple along with the volume and trail number. For example V3–#80 is Vol 3 trail number 80.

You can view more DetailedMaps (Vols. 1 & 3) showing trails described in the guidebooks.

5

620 000615 000610 000

5655000 5 5

5 4

5 2

5 1

5 0

4 9

1 00 9 1 1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 2 0 2 1

4 7

4 6

4 5

4 4

4 3

4 2

4 1

4 0

3 9

5 6

5 7

5 8

5650000

5645000

5640000

GoatPond

SprayLakes

Reservoir SpurlingCreek spring

SprayLakes

Reservoir

Old GoatGlacier

Forbes Creek

Spencer Creek

Sparrowhawk Creek

V3–#76

V3–#77

V3–#78

V3–#79

V3–#80V3–#81

V3–#83

V3–#85 V3–#86

V3–#87

V1–#79

V3–#84

V3–#82

sleddogtrail

sleddogtrail

snowshoetrail

dog sledstaging

area

880 m

2.2 km

7.5 km

1.6 km

350 m

750 m

600 m

4.1 km

2.5 km

MountLawrence

Grassi

Ha Ling

EEOR

Miner’sPeak

high watertrail

860 m

620

m

6.1 km

3.8 km

2.9 km

GoatCreek

Driftwood

Sparrowhawk

SprayLakes

P

P

P

Ship’sProw

EHAGAY N

AK

OD

A

THREESISTERS

PASS

The

Three

Sisters

TheOrphan

Rimwall

BOULDERPASS

GO

AT RA

NG

E

WEST WINDPASS

“LittleLougheed”

RED RIDGE

RedPeak

grotto

winter access4.7 km from

Buller day use

This 4.7 km section is closedNov 1 to May 1 due to use of explosivesfor avalanche control on highway 742

new start to #87

Spray LakesWest

campground

Red Basin Creek

to Buller Mountain day use area

6

3 6

3 5

3 3

3 4

3 2

3 0

2 9

2 7

2 6

2 5

2 4

2 3

2 2

2 1

2 0

3 7

3 8

3 9

1 51 4 1 6 1 7 1 8 1 9 20 2 1 2 2 2 3 2 4 2 5 2 6

620 000 625 000615 0005640000

5635000

5630000

5625000

5620000

SprayLakes

Reservoir

RummelLake

HeadwallLakes

ChesterLake

Buller Creek

6.2 km

7.4 km

BullerMountain

Chester Lake

Sawmill

BurstallPass

V1–#77

V1–#91

V1–#88

V1–#87

V1–#90

V1–#83

V1–#92

V1–#94

V1–#95

V1–#96

V1–#96A

V1–#97

V1–#93

MountEngadine

Lodge

7.5 km

5.9 km

2 km

6.7 km

4.7

km o

n h

ighw

ay t

o w

inte

r acc

ess

550 m

Rumm

el Creek

RummelRidge

TheTower

to Spray Lakes day use area

viewpoint

Engadine Creek

to Black Princeday use area

This 4.7 km section is closedNov 1 to May 1 due to use of explosivesfor avalanche control on highway 742

7

3 6

3 5

3 3

3 4

3 2

3 0

2 9

2 7

2 6

2 5

2 4

2 3

2 2

2 1

2 0

3 7

3 8

3 9

372 7 2 8 2 9 3 1 3 2 3 3 3 4 3 5 3 6

5620000

5615000

5610000

5605000

625000 630 000 635 000

LowerKananaskis

Lake

UpperKananaskis

Lake

MarlLake

Fox Creek

Boulton Creek

Blackshale Ck.

500 m540 m

700 m

800 m

2.3 km

3.8 km 1.2 km

6.2 km

8.4 km

1.5 km

4.8 km

3.7 km

Canyon Discovery(Info)

Centre

suspensionbridge

Elkwood

Boulton

ElkPass

Boulton CreekTrading Post

ElkPass

West ElkPass

BlackPrinceV1–#99

V1–#58

V1–#55

to Sawmillday use

area

BC

AB

8

Goat Creek to Spray Lakes West

A rather pleasant forest section with good views on an old road used for com-mercial dog sled touring in winter. Note that the High Rockies Trail does not start at Goat Creek parking lot; it comes up Goat Creek from Banff as part of The Great Trail. So you must first walk the Goat Creek trail 880 m to the Banff Park bound-ary kiosk where you turn left onto the High Rockies Trail.

GoatCreektoGoatPondDam–6.1km

A winding trail descends to a pond where spring waters idle a bit before shooting through a pipe into Goat Creek. It’s grassy bank is a very pleasant spot, still waters reflecting Ha Ling Peak and Mount Lawrence Grassi. Just be-yond the old wooden spillway, the trail turns right and descends to Goat Creek. Follow the creek upstream to the bridge.

After the Goat Creek crossing the trail climbs, then levels off and me-anders on old road beneath the Goat Range, passing an array of cliffs and buttresses. Across the valley rises the massif of Ehagay Nakoda, comprised of Ha Ling Peak and the many summits of

Mount Lawrence Grassi. After crossing the powerline reach the west end of Goat dam below an old quarry. From here it is 860 m across the dam to a parking area.

GoatPondDamtoSprayLakesWest–3.8kmContinue along the undulating old road. The powerline comes in and follows the road most of the way. Just after passing tongues of stones brought down by the 2013 flood, a side road to left leads to Goat Pond at a sandy shoreline with stumps. Your view here is of Third Sister.

Enter the flat damp bit where the trail has been built up. There is a section of boardwalk and bridges over a myriad of tiny creeks issuing from the low gap in the Goat Range to the west. A major bridge over a bigger side creek leads into an improved section of road.

Climb to a quarry then descend a long hill offering a first view of Mount Sparrowhawk. Road and power line then part company, the road to left descend-ing farther around a bend and along a straight to a locked gate. Continue ahead to Spray Lakes West campground road.

For the next section of the High Rockies trail turn left and cross Three Sisters Dam. The former picnic area to the right has been converted to a parking area. In winter the area at the west end of the dam is used as a staging area for sled dog tours, but there is still room to park on the dam.)

9

Heading north toward the east end of Mount Rundle

10

Spray Lakes West to Sparrowhawk

Initially, the trail runs along the east side of Spray Lakes Reservoir to Driftwood day-use with some good views down the reservoir. It then crosses Highway 742 and traverses the mossy spruce forest uphill of the highway.

SprayLakesWesttoDriftwoodday-usearea–3.5kmWalk 620 m across Three Sisters Dam. Turn right on Highway 742, then immedi-ately right onto an access road leading to some picnic tables with views of Spray Lakes Reservoir.

The trail continues from the far end of the access road and traverses a nar-row strip of land between the highway and Spray Lakes Reservoir with occa-sional views of the water. Watch out for speeding trucks spitting gravel onto the trail. On moving inland into the trees keep right at a split; left is the high water bypass. A stony area precedes your arrival at Driftwood day-use area at the boat launch access road.

Note: There is potential for avalanches from slopes above the road. Avoid this section when forecast avalanche Danger Level is High.</p-red>

Driftwoodday-useareatoWestWindtrail–2.5kmCross the two legs of the boat launch road to an interpretive sign. Keep right and follow the trail out to the bank top above the reservoir. Pass numerous picnic tables, the main trail eventually turning left and up a hill to gain Highway 742 next to the access road. Cross the highway and climb into the forest.

The trail winds uphill then settles into a very pleasant undulating traverse, en route crossing a stone avalanche and a bridge over a creek. It ends with a series of S-bends constructed for bikers. On reaching West Wind Pass trail turn right. (Left uphill leads to WestWindPass.)

11

WestWindtrailtoSpencerCreek–4.1km

Typical trail between Driftwood and Sparrowhawk

The route follows West Wind Pass trail downhill for 50 m, then only 50 m from the high-way turns left and crosses the dry bed of an unnamed creek on a causeway. On the far side keep left. (Trail to right is an-other way down to the high-way south of the culvert.)

Start winding and climb-ing. On gaining the top of a steep bank look down on Spurling Creek spring, the source of the shortest named creek in the Canadian Rock-ies. Continue uphill and along to a bridged crossing of a creek with a slabby bed.

The trail winds in and out of two more creeks; the second is bridged and signals the start of a long easy uphill. Cross an open rocky area and a few metres later a wide stony creek bed off the west face of Mount Lougheed. Then follows a long and tedious straight through mossy spruce forest below Little Lougheed. Shortly after crossing a spring creek, the trail descends to the bank top of a steep-sided draw where you meet a game trail. Down below is the birthplace of the photogenic creek met with on the Spencer Creek trail. Here the trail turns right and, intertwining with the game trail, winds down the bank top, at the last sweeping right and back left to cross the spring creek on a bridge. A few metres on is a 4-way junction with SpencerCreek to left and right. Go straight.

SpencerCreektoForbesCreek–1.1kmCross Spencer Creek on a bridge. The trail wanders uphill then more steeply de-scends to Forbes Creek. Cross on a bridge. From the far side it is possible to walk upstream to a rock step with grotto and seasonal waterfall.

12

ForbesCreekGrotto–160mFrom the south bank of Forbes Creek follow flagging along the creek, crossing to the north bank about halfway along. Arrive in the creekbed below a vertical 50 ft high step. Scramble, paddle and rock-hop into the grotto where a seasonal water-fall courses down its moss-covered walls.

Forbes Creek Grotto

ForbesCreektoSparrowhawkTarnstrail–1.1kmLeaving the bridge, the trail turns sharp right and starts climbing and undulating below Read’s Ridge all the way to the 4-way intersection with Sparrowhawk Tarns trail. Go straight. (Turn right to descend to Sparrow-hawk day-use area in 750 m, turn left for SparrowhawkTarns.

13

Sparrowhawk to Buller Creek

The trail between Sparrowhawk and Buller creeks contains one glorious section across rocky avalanche slopes with spectacular views across the lake to Mount Nestor and to the peaks of the Divide to the south. The last section to Buller Creek will be closed in winter conditions because of avalanche hazard.

SparrowhawktoRedBasinCreek–1.6km

Use caution in Spring when the snow on the steep slope above the approach to the bridge is saturated.

Traverse the steep bank and cross the bridge over Sparrowhawk Creek above a waterfall. The trail then undulates slightly and winds slightly through the usual mossy spruce forest. About 70 m after the bridge a small cairn indicates

Typical section of trail between Sparrowhawk and Red Basin Creek

14

RedBasinCreektoavalanchebypass–2.3kmCross Red Basin Creek on a bridge above a waterfall. Up left is the ridge route to Red Basin and bouldering area. Traverse the lower west slopes of Buller Moun-tain, ultimately descending a long downhill to a T-junction with the old highway close to Highway 742.

Turn left and walk the flat old road that edges closer to the highway. Sev-enty metres before reaching the highway, turn left up another old road. In winter continue through to the highway and follow its marginally safer line to Buller Mountain day-use area. The High Rockies Trail turns left up another section of old road.

AvalanchebypasstoBullerCreek–5.2km

Note: This section of trail is closed Nov 1 to May 1 because of avalanche danger.

Keeping left, plod up a long uphill to the wide avalanche slope below the northwest slopes of Mount Buller. Look across the reservoir to Mount Nestor and behind you to Rimwall, Windtower, and mounts Lougheed and Sparrow-hawk. Continue climbing through a belt of trees onto the first scree slope with its unique cairns built by the contractor having fun. A downhill section through trees, the crossing of a stony creaked and the corresponding uphill climb leads to a second scree slope giving a spectacular view of the reservoir’s south end, and of Eon Mountain, the pointy peak near Mount Assiniboine.

Round the end of Buller Mountain close to the highway in trees. The trail then swings away and climbs relentlessly below the crags of Buller’s southwest outlier to a high point in a swath of black-burnt timber. From here is all downhill to a Y-junction with Buller Pass trail.

Go straight and cross the bridge over Buller Creek. (Trail to the left leads to BullerPass. Carry straight on for another half a kilometre to a junction where the High Rockies Trail turns left. The trail ahead leads to the highway and the Buller Mountain day-use area parking in about 0.5 km.

the latest recommended route up RedRidge. See the next page for more details. In 1.8 km come to a staggered 4-way junction above Red Basin Creek. Go straight. (A good trail to the right reaches Highway 742 and Spray Lakes day-use area in 600 m. Faint trail to left heads up the creek a way and was the original route onto Red Ridge.)

15

On the way to Buller Creek

RedRidgeThe building of the High RockiesTrail opens up a new start that goes directly up RedRidge. From Sparrowhawk Day use head up to the HRT and turn right, crossing the bridge over Sparrowhawk Creek. Continue on the HRT for about 70 m. Look for an open area above the trail and head directly up its steep slope. Keep trending right as you follow a ridge, transferring continually to higher ridges as they appear. Just don’t be tempted to traverse right. There are good, though intermittent, sections of game trail. The higher you get, the better de-fined the ridge becomes.

16

Buller Creek to Chester Lake

This is one of the more appealing sections of the High Rockies Trail for hikers, with views transitioning from the head of Spray Lakes Reservoir to the British Military group of mountains — Smuts, Birdwood, Sir Douglas and Tent Ridge, etc. Best hiked from north to south.

The first two sections are undulating forest walks taking in viewpoints and crossings of Engadine and Rummel creeks to Rummel Lake trail. Then follows a long stint through forest high above the road. The final stretch to Chester Lake parking uses the Chester Lake ski trail. BullerPasstrailtoEngadineBurn3.1km

Sir Douglas, Birdwood, Commonwealth

The trail leaves Buller Pass trail about 550 m from Buller Mountain parking. If com-ing from the north it follows Buller Pass trail for about 550 m from the bridge over Buller Creek.

Turn south onto the High Rockies Trail. A twisty up-hill climb through spruce forest on the west flank of Mount Engadine ends at high points where the trail crosses four fingers of burnt black

forest allowing views of Spray Lakes Reservoir and Tent Ridge. Note the mag-nificent spruce just before the first burn.

17

Descend across steep slopes to another burn. A short distance on, cross the Engadine Burn access route to Engadine cirque and RummelRidge.

EngadineBurntoRummelLaketraillowerjunction2.8kmOn the bank top above Engadine Creek valley first visit the viewpoint for Tent Ridge, then head down left to Engadine Creek bridge. Climb up the other side of the valley, at the top wending left across to the Rummel Creek drainage at a gentle gradient featuring banked corners for bikers coming the other way. Look down on the forested valley of Rummel Creek.

Descend and cross Rummel Creek on a bridge. A long climb up the far side ends on a ridge top open to the west. There join Rummel Lake trail at the up-per T-junction. Go right. (Trail to left heads to RummelLake.) Going downhill, enjoy new views of Mount Birdwood and Commonwealth Peak. In another 330 m reach the lower T-junction with its clear view of Spray Lakes Reservoir and Tent Ridge. Bear left. (Right is Rummel Lake trail down to Hwy. 742, 2 km distant.)

RummelLaketrailtoChesterLakeskitrail5.4kmThe trail continues through once-logged forest dipping into and out of a seasonal creek, then then back in once logged forest, climbing past old skid trails to a flat, perhaps once a sawmill site. This signals a much longer uphill to the trail’s high point. No view.

The trail then undulates, the ground stony underfoot. Part-way down a hill the side slope steepens. This is the best part, big gaps in the trees allowing views not only of Smuts and Birdwood again, but also the great peaks of Robertson, French and Sir Douglas as you progress. Highway 742 looks incredibly far down at the foot of Commonwealth Ridge. Have we really climbed this high?

Gradually the side slope lessens and the trail wends left to the bridge over Three Lakes Valley creek. After climbing out of the valley, the route joins a log-ging road, then follows a very long straight to a T-junction with the Chester Lake ski trail return loop.

ChesterLakeskitrailtoChesterLakeparking1.3kmTurn right down the road — a view ahead of the north outlier of Mount French. At the next T-junction with the upward leg of ChesterLake trail turn right and make the final steeper descent to the scenic Chester Lake parking lot.

18

Chester Lake to Canyon

The High Rockies Trail from Chester to Sawmill follows snowshoe trails along old logging roads. With the exception of a short section close to Sawmill the trail is wide enough for skiing.

Beyond Sawmill the trail climbs gradually through spruce forest to a spectac-ularly located bridge, then seesaws across the west flank of Mount Kent, en route crossing more interesting creeks. It then descends to the Black Prince access with little in the way of views.

From here a forest trail generally climbs to Blackshale Creek, then descends fairly steeply to the highway opposite Pocaterra Dam road. While there are sever-al pleasant viewpoints, the biggest attraction by far is the 240 ft-long suspension bridge across Blackshale Creek.

ToGraupelnorthjunction1.4kmFrom the southeast side of the parking lot, follow Frost Heave snowshoe trail through a gate and down to a side creek crossing. Turn left up a hill into an S-bend below magnificent Engleman spruce, then meanders along to a major T-junction with a map sitting atop a 9 ft-high post. Turn right on Graupel snowshoe trail. (Left is Frost Heave leading to Snowdrift trail which is also the route to HeadwallLakes.

ToGraupelmiddlejunction2kmWind uphill and into a very long mostly flat straight. A downhill deposits you on the flood-strewn cobbles of Headwall Creek which you cross on a wide bridge. Easy slightly uphill going leads to a T-junction. Turn sharp left. (Graupel turns right down a hill and is the best option if you are skiing.)

19

ToGraupelsouthjunction2.3kmNow deviating from Graupel, the High Rockies Trail climbs up the logging road, at the top turning back to the right—the big bend shown on the map — and re-sumes its southeasterly direction on flat road. At road’s end, a trail connects with another logging road at Y-junction. Go straight.

The new logging road, while following a relatively straight line, is very bumpy initially, the hills gradually ironing out to flat as you approach another Y-junction. Go right on a narrow trail descending to a lower logging road that is Graupel com-ing back in from the right after dipsy-doodling by Hwy. 742.) Go straight.

ToSawmilltrailhead1.7kmNow shared with Graupel, the trail descends slightly, then on flat ground crosses James Walker Creek en route to the gate near Sawmill trailhead. Go left into the parking lot. If heading south on the High Rockies Trail, go straight through a pic-nic area and cross the Sawmill access road. SawmillparkingtoBlackPrinceaccess6.2kmFrom the Sawmill access road the trail climbs gradually through spruce to a T-junction with an old logging road. Turn right, then shortly left up another logging road that climbs a long hill. At the top it veers right into a meadow with a view of Mount Murray.

On trail make a long climb to a deeply incised creek. In fact from the bridge the downstream view is positively vertigo-inducing. The trail designer’s excite-ment at having discovered such an incredible crossing place explains why the

Mount Murray & Cegnfs.

trail is uphill in both directions.

A long downhill leads to a second creek and bridge. More undulating downhill leads to a third side creek with mossy banks and farther down a fourth creek crossing on stones be-tween a welter of slabs. Eventually arrive at a T-junction. Go straight to continue on the High Rockies Trail. To the right a 500 m-long side trail heads down the hillside to the high-way and the Black Prince day-use area access road.

20

BlackPrinceaccesstoBlackshaleCreek2.3kmThe trail undulates above the highway, crossing the odd small creek. After cross-ing an alder filled cutline, the trail drops to the bank top above the highway. It then follows the cutline a way before peeling off to the left to climb most of the way to Blackshale Creek.

Ahead is the suspension bridge! For anyone who gets wobbly looking down 100 ft, the bridge can be avoided by turning right and descending the 500 m-long access trail to the highway, then regaining all the height lost by climbing 540 m up the far bank.

BlackshaleCreektoHwy.7423.8kmStraight off the bridge, keep straight at the T-junction. (Right is the access trail to the highway.) Descend steeply at times, then more gradually down to the bank top above the highway. A stint above grassy banks gives views across to mounts Warspite and Invincible and ahead to the rock peaks of the Opal Range, Elpoca Mountain predominant.

Then it’s back into trees, the trail undulating across boggy ground and cross-ing a footbridge. After three more brief visits to the bank top, the last disclosing a view of Lower Kananaskis Lake, begin the long descent through fir forest to the highway near the TransAlta canal that diverts Kent Creek into Lower Kananans-kis Lake.

Hwy.742toCanyonaccessroad720mCross the highway and follow the dam road through a gate. At a Y-junction keep right. (Left is Penstock snowshoe trail) and cross Pocaterra Dam built in 1956 to hold back the waters of Lower Kanananskis Lake. At the far end, descend left, cross the penstock via the bridge, then climb right up onto the Canyon day-use area access road.

For Canyon day-use parking turn right uphill, following the road around to the right past the biffy into the parking lot. For Canyon campground and the next section of the High Rockies Trail turn left down the hill and continue into the campground.

21

Canyon to Boulton Creek

This section of the High Rockies Trail is paved all the way to Boulton Creek. Tough on summer hikers. In winter the route is almost all on groomed ski trails. While there is already conflict between skiers and snowshoers on Elk Pass trail, there is not much to appeal to snowshoers between Canyon and Boulton Creek. CanyontoElkwoodparking3.7kmFrom the end of Pocaterra Dam follow Canyon Road downhill into Canyon Campground. Pass A Loop on the right, then B Loop on the left. The road bends right and climbs through C Loop to the turn-around at road’s end. En route, op-posite site #34, the connector trail from Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre comes in from the left. You are now on Lodgepole bike trail.

Follow the paved trail that after crossing Canyon Road swings right into the forest. Higher up, at a T-junction with grassy, boggy Lodgepole ski trail it bends back left onto the power line right-of-way. From this vantage point there are views back to the Opal Range somewhat spoiled by the power lines. Mounts Blane, Brock and Wintour are predominant.

Marl Pond with Elpoca & Gap Mountains

As you cross over the height of land, the great wall of mounts Sarrail and Foch rises up ahead. Descend, at the bottom turning left into the forest. Keep left at a T-junction. (Right is the access to William Watson Lodge and Lower Lake trail.) Shortly cross Kanan-askis Lakes Road to Elkwood parking lot. Ahead is Wheeler bike trail and the continuation of the High Rockies Trail.

22

Opals from height of land.ElkwoodparkingtoBoultonCreek4.8kmFrom Elkwood parking follow the Wheeler bike (and ski) trail past the amphi-theatre. On entering Elkwood Campground, cross a campground road, then the main campground access road. The paved bike trail then turns sharp left along a bench, running parallel with the campground road past a picnic table.

The trail bears right down a hill and bridges the outlet from Marl Lake. After the next little uphill, it’s worth taking a side trail to left for an unobstructed view of Marl Ponds. Shortly after, the trail winds up right onto a bench top above Elk-wood Fen. A second picnic table gives better views of mounts Sarrail, Foch and The Turret. To their right you can see Warrior Mountain.

Leaving the bench, the trail climbs to the junction with Amos ski trail, then meanders on toward Boulton Creek campground access road. The High Rock-ies Trail turns right off Wheeler and descends alongside the campground access road, then crosses it. and runs topside of the upper Boulton Creek parking lot from where you can access the parking lots and Boulton Creek Trading Post at a Trans-Canada trail sign. Otherwise, continue on the paved bike trail. At a 4-way turn right down a paved hill. Turn next left onto Boulton Creek Interpretive Trail, which is not paved.

23

Boulton Creek to Elk Pass

The High Rockies Trail follows Boulton Creek Interpretive Trail, a couple of soft ski trails, then various re-workings of the old cutline access road to Elk Pass on the powerline. Strangely, this is not a good section for views.

The trail leads to a T-junction at the old ranger cabin. Keep straight. (Down right is Boulton Bridge parking.) A winding section of Boulton Creek Interpre-tive Trail along the bank top above Boulton Creek merges into Moraine ski trail. Just after interpretive post #7 keep straight at a T-junction and descend into Boulton Creek valley. At the next T-junction with Boulton Creek ski trail turn left up Fox Creek.

Fox Creek.

FoxCreek1.5kmInitially you follow a narrow trail a through a dim forest hung with lichens. After crossing Boulton Creek, then Fox Creek, the trail widens as it runs creek-side and ends with a climb onto Elk Pass trail. Turn left. (Right leads over the hill to Elk Pass parking.)

Elk Pass trail to West Elk Pass junction 3.0 kmIn 500 m the access road crosses Fox Creek to a T-junction on the far side. Keep straight on. (The trail zooming up the hill to left is Hydroline ski and snowshoe trail.)

24

Follow the wide trail rebuilt and re-routed after the 2013 flood. After two creek crossings, the second over the main west fork carrying the water, you are back on the original narrower trail. Enjoy walking the narrow valley of the tiny south fork between a grassy draw and a steep bank.

At a T-junction with Patterson ski trail, go straight. In winter, skiers will loop to the right. Shortly after you rejoin the ski trail, Bluberry Hill trail turns off to the right at a picnic table. Continue to a junction with sign “Elk Lakes.” The narrow trail crossing the draw to right is the historic West Elk Pass trail where you have a choice of heading down to ElkLakes or directly down to the ElkLakesProvincialParkentrance close to the Alpine Club of Canada cabin.

Check out the TrailMap showing the trails described in the Kananaskis Country Trail Guides.

ToElkPass1.3kmBikers and skiers must follow the High Rockies Trail up a moderately steep climb to Elk Pass at the powerline right-of-way. The trail bears right to a gate marking the Alberta/BC border. This is the end of the High Rockies Trail, all 82 km of it from Goat Creek. From here, the powerline access road descends to Elk Lakes a short distance from the ACC cabin.

Elk Pass at the powerline.

25

Camping along the High Rockies Trail

Camping for thru travellers is difficult, especially for backpackers. There are only four established campgrounds that don’t require reservations and, at present, wilderness camping is either not allowed or not practical anywhere along the High Rockies Trail.

For those who are sure of their itinerary, there are more reservation-requiredcampgrounds in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. See https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/peter-lougheed-pp/information-facilities/#nav-map for in-formation.

Goingfromsouth(BCborder)tonorth:In Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. There are three established campgrounds where people can camp on a first-come first-served basis. Dates are for 2018.

• The best campground is Mount Sarrail Walk-in Tenting Campground – 44 campsites – Jun 22 - Sep 3

• A little farther off your route is Interlakes Campground – 44 unserviced sites May 16 to Oct 8.

• At the north end of the park, about 15 km north of Sarrail Campground is Canyon Campground – 50 unserviced sites – Jun 15 to Sep 3.

• From Canyon, the next campground is Spray Lakes West, about 54 km away. There are 50 unserviced sites – May 16 to Sep 16.

The problem for thru travellers is that all these campgrounds can be accessed road, and the chance of getting a campsite are slim in July and August. However, they all have on-site managers/caretakers. If you talk nicely they might find you a spot to pitch a tent for a late night leave early visit.

RandomCampingNorth of Peter Lougheed Provoncial Park, where random camping is not allowed (don’t even try), the next land use type to the north is Spray Valley Provincial Park. Wilderness camping is not allowed and there are no established camp-grounds. There are a few location in the Sawmill/ Chester area where you might

26

pitch a tent late at night and leave early, but getting water is a problem. Another possibility is Buller Mountain parking area where water is available. Again a late night leave early visit. It’s about 20 km from here to Spray Lakes West.

This take you to just north of Buller Mountain Public Recreation Area (PRA) where the land use changes to Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park where wil-derness camping is allowed with some constraints. However, realistically the constraints of no camping within 1 km of a Provincial Park, PRA or road means that currently it would be very difficult to camp in this area. The lake is within 1 km on the west side, and the uphill terrain to the east generally lacks easily-found camping spots with water.

I would advise anyone who wants to do the trail in the next year or two to use bivy sacs or small tents, and stoves (no fires) and keep a very low profile — camp late, leave early, leave no trace. It’s what I would do!

You can consult the KananaskisCountryRandomBackcountryCamping page if you want to wade through the regulations and management plan.

Distances from Access Points to HRT

Distancefrom:(PRA = Provincial Recreation Area)Goat Creek PRA 880 mGoat Pond Parking 860 mSpencer Creek from hwy. 350 mSparrowhawk PRA 750 mSpray Lakes PRA 600 mBuller Mountain PRA 550 mRummel Lake trailhead 2 kmBlack Prince PRA 800 mHwy. to Suspension Bridge west 500 mHwy. to Suspension Bridge east 540 m PLPP Info Centre 700 m