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.

Friends Welcome

One of my goals in creating this blog is to create a resource for those that want to explore hiking in Alberta. Often I find myself on a trail that is supposed to be well marked only to be asking whether the trail goes left or right. Trail signs in some cases have been damaged through neglect or abuse. Please, if you have been on a hike that you enjoyed, send a couple of pictures, a description of the trail, and if you have it, the saved track from your GPS to hikealberta@gmail.com.

Directions for Use

Each hike profiled will likely have directions on how to get to where it starts, a description of the hike, a Google Earth Profile, and the Motion Based Profile. Click on the title "Google Earth" or "Motion Based" to be directed to the link. The advantage of Google Earth is the quality of the images and data. At the Motion Based Link you can download the GPS track and waypoints to your GPS and you will be able to follow it on your hike. Just use "Download to GPS" Naturally, any information obtained through this blog is used at your own risk.

Hike Alberta