Bowness to Valley Ridge

Hike Alberta has been moved, view the new and improved post for this hikes, several others and use the other features of the site at hikealberta.com

Name: Bowness to Valley Ridge
Hike Distance: 1.9 km one-way
Time required: 1-1.5 hours return
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation Gained: 38 metres
Total Climb: 106 metres
Dog Friendly: Yes
Bikes: Permitted but not recommended (numerous stairs)
Location: For this walk you are best to park near the intersection of 48 Avenue NW and 33 Avenue NW. Walk to the North of the George Wood Learning Centre and the trail starts at Waypoint #101. The other option is to start in Valley Ridge on Valley Springs Road NW.

The total walk is 3.8 kilometres return. It is my favourite along the Bow in Calgary.

Go to Everytrail to check out the Google Earth view of this path and download the GPS track.

This walk is nice because the trail, especially the section from the Stony Trail overpass to Valley Ridge, feels like you have left town. Very beautiful and peaceful.

Please submit your feedback and let me know your thoughts on the hike. If you have the gps data for other hikes in Alberta please send it along with a couple pictures to hikealberta@gmail.com.

 

Prairie Mountain

Hike Alberta has been moved, view the new and improved post for this hikes, several others and use the other features of the site at hikealberta.com

Name: Prairie Mountain
Hike Distance: 7.6 km return
Time required: 1.5-2.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate-Difficult
Elevation Gained: 726 metres
Dog Friendly: Yes
Bikes: Permitted
Horses: Permitted
Location: The trailhead is located on Highway 66, just south of the Elbow Falls winter gates and on the east (northeast) side of Prairie Creek.

Prairie Mountain is my favourite hike along highway 66. It is approximately 3.8 kilometres one way with a gain of altitude of 726 metres. Depending on the conditions it takes between 1.5 and 2.5 hours but this can vary greatly depending on whether your are used to steep inclines. For the most part the unmarked path is easy to follow. From the highway the incline is steep before it eases for a short period and finishes with switchbacks to the top of the mountain. The final section leads you to a summit with excellent views of the surrounding mountain region.

Waypoint 16 is where the trail starts at the Northeast side of the highway at the east side of the bridge. The parking lot is about 200 metres to the west of this point. There a several paths that climb the ridge above the highway to waypoint 17 but they all seem to end up at the same place where the trail continues to the top . Waypoint 19 is at the treeline and the access point to the summit. I do not think you could get to the top without going to this point.

This photo is taken at waypoint 17. It is a shot with an overview of the Elbow Falls recreational area. Beautiful spot, this is a wheelchair accessible area with lots of picnic tables. A great spot to have a meal or relax after climbing prairie mountain.

This photo was taken a waypoint 18 facing back towards highway 66.

This is the view of the backside of Prairie Mountain. Well worth the effort.

Here is the Google Earth profile of this hike.

Google Earth
Motion Based
Please submit your feedback and let me know your thoughts on the hike. If you have the gps data for other hikes in Alberta please send it along with a couple pictures to hikealberta@gmail.com.

 

Fullerton Loop

Hike Alberta has been moved, view the new and improved post for this hikes, several others and use the other features of the site at hikealberta.com

Name: Fullerton Loop
Hike Distance: 7 km return
Time required: 1.5-2.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Elevation Gained: 190 metres
Total Climb: 364 metres
Dog Friendly: Yes
Location: This trail is west of Bragg Creek along highway 66. The parking area is 9.7 kilometres west of the intersection of highways 22 and 66. It starts at the far east end of the parking area at Bill Allen Pond.

Bill Allen Pond just finished a major construction overhaul that is almost complete. The pond is improved and there is a great picnic area. Some of the maps indicate that the Fullerton Loop trail starts about 1.5 km along the Elbow Trail but as far as I am concerned it starts in the parking area at Bill Allen Pond. This is one of those elusive trails I have seen estimates of its length as being from 2.8 to 7.0 kilometres and several variations as to its altitude gain. According to my gps track the is 7 kilometres, the elevation gain is 190 metres and I would estimate that it will take most people between 1.5 hours and 2.5 hours to complete. Here is the topographical view of the hike.

The GPS data starts at the parking lot. If you look at the google map waypoint 11 is the parking lot, waypoint 15 is the intersection of the Fullerton Loop and the trail to West Bragg Creek. Keep to the left but it is clearly signed. At waypoint 14 is the junction there is a set of crude stairs cut into the hillside. If you go left you will do the steep section first. I suggest that you keep to the right unless the conditions are slippery. I find it easier to climb a slippery section than trying to get down it and I would only go left at the junction if you are concerned about traction. Taking the trail to the right leads to a long gradual ascent through the forest to the half-way point of the loop where you can view Moose Mountain and the group of mountains surrounding Banded Peak. The return trip skirts the edge of a steep hillside overlooking the Ranger Station and the Elbow Valley.

I took this picture at waypoint 12 about three hundred metres after walking under the highway bridge.

This picture is an example of the stunning views on the way back to the junction at waypoint 14.

Here are the Motion Based and Google Earth profiles. Click on the words “Motion Based” to download the gps track.

Google Earth
Motion Based

Please submit your feedback and let me know your thoughts on the hike. If you have the gps data for other hikes in Alberta please send it along with a couple pictures to hikealberta@gmail.com.

 

View from the Top of Nihani Ridge