Upper Kananaskis Lake Loop

Sometimes you plan for this and end up doing that. It’s the unpredictable rhythm of life. Like this…we hoped to hike up to Rawson Lake then take in Rawson/Sarrail Ridge overlooking Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, but a “bear in the area” warning meant that objective was off limits. What to do? Hmmm, instead, we take in a old friend, a trail we’ve hiked many times, cause it sure is nice, the Upper Kananaskis Lake Loop. It’s an easy trek with little in the way of ups and downs, although fairly long, passing through some amazing scenery. No need to make it a plan-b for you, do it because it’s there.

There are many possible starting points to this adventure. If you follow in our footsteps you’ll begin at the Upper Kananaskis Lake Day Use Area, off Kananaskis Lakes Trail, off Highway #40, south of the Number #1 an hour or so west of Calgary and then do it in a clock-wise fashion. Ready to take in nature at its finest?

On the trail now, starting at the far SW corner of the parking lot, any signs of civilization are soon left behind. The route tends to be within view of the lake most of the time and every so often there’s a spur trail that will allow you to head down to the shore. If you do, take in the many tree stumps riming the lake – it’s a man-made reservoir and these are remains of the forest that once stood here. Expect to see lots of people fishing or paddling the lake too. And take in those colours – the water is a stunning blue/green.

From the parking lot, spectacular Upper Kananaskis Lake.

Cross a couple creeks, some mere trickles others flowing big and loud. There’s bridges over the latter. That spray of mist coming off the falls on Sarrail Creek is refreshing on a hot day.

Not far away come to the Rawson Lake turnoff. That’s where were planned to go but signs and tape warn us no to. Mr Bear wants no company this day it seems. We’ll try again later.

Pass the occasional avalanche chute coming in off Mount Sarrail above to the south. Here, on the cooler/wetter north facing slopes, the trees grow big and tall. The understory is lush with growth with lots of moss, mushrooms and a ton of bunchberries seen along this stretch. Other times there’s Strawberry plants down there on the forest floor, but we came too early as they were still in flower stage. If you’ve not had a wild one, you’re missing a flavour treat. Are they yummy!

At times one can see Mount Lyautey to the west.

At one point view a gushing spring emerging from the rocks, just above lake level not far off the trail. This is the outfall from Hidden Lake which empties underground. We’ll pay that lake a visit shorty – it’s hard to find given the dense vegetation surrounding it – so hence the name. Take the left fork at the next junction to get close to it, then bushwhack a bit to reach its shore. Note the jumble of dead trees at its north end. The lake is sometimes a mud flat and other times, full to the brim and overflowing.

Back on the Loop Trail, it leaves the lake behind for a time then rises and falls a bit here. Come to Upper Kananaskis River, all silt-laden and a dull blue/grey. Cross over, take in a new section of trail bypassing one that was washed away some years back. At one point take the side trail dropping down and doubling back to take in some of the step-falls on the river. They’re particularly impressive when the river’s in full flow come spring melt.

Looks like there’s a change of plans.

Continue on past a stump graveyard, and soon on reach the walk-in only Point Backcountry Campground. We’ve been meaning to spent a weekend here but as yet it’s only been talk. One day. It’s markedly dryer on the north side of the lake. And rockier. Looks at those amazing side bays – here the colour really pops.

Come to a massive slide zone barren of vegetation. This here mess of rock dislodged from the slabs high up there on Mount Indefatigable to your left many thousands of years ago and came tumbling down to where they lay today. The amount of material is huge and it must have shaken the ground. If you look you may see climbers high up there where this rock used to be.

Come to a junction. Both take you to the same place, but the right most fork is more pleasant. At a high-point,take in Upper K Lake in all its glory. Those colours! Those amazing mountains that rim the lake! Little islands of green! Now there’s a mental image you won’t soon forget.

Drop down into the forest. Here the trail rises and falls, rises and falls. Join up with the road spoken of earlier and continue east.

Memories of the El Camino Trail (aka Camino de Santiago or the Way of Saint James) come flooding back as we hike. We’ve kept mementos (lots of them) from that adventure, a 120km pilgrimage walk in Spain, on our packs and they sway and jingle and jangle as we walk. It was an amazing time and we’ll be posting about our Spanish trip in the coming months and continuing on over the winter. We saw a lot and photographed a lot, and there’s a ton of content in the pipeline.

Our minds back in Canada – this is our first hike since returning.

Just past the Mount Indefatigable Trail (bear city up there) come to the North Interlakes Day Use Area, a second possible starting point for this loop adventure. The trail continues on to the right just before the parking lot.

Rise up, trend left (don’t trip here) then drop down again to lake level. Here the trail is back to its easy going self. Pass a burned out area – nature’s wasting no time in repairing the damage. Rise and fall again.

A small stream gurgles away.

Where the trail bends left head out on a spit of land (sometimes there’s a trail) to the end to view the remains of an old chimney made of rocks and an old steel drum. We’re told it was connected to a cabin that once stood in this spot in the 1920s-1930s era. That’s odd as the land here is a narrow shelf and really not all that suitable in size or slope for a building. Where would it fit? Anyway, it’s interesting and in a most scenic spot. Seems anglers still use it to grill their fresh catch as we saw signs of recent use. Suspect most people access the chimney by boat.

Bushwhack back to the main trail. Soon on some to an earthen dam (built 1930s-1940s period) and soon after you’re back where you started. And now breath. Wasn’t that amazing? Now you know why we so like this hike so much. Hope you do too.

Postscript: due to some health issues with Connie (we’ll speak of it at some point), we’ve not been hiking a lot since our return from Spain. And as such there will not be many reports forthcoming. For a time anyway. As soon as she’s back in shape, we’ll continue where we left off. It’s only a bump in the road and both are eager to hit the trail more.

From the area…
James Walker Creek – spectacular!
Three Valley Lakes – stunning!
South End of Lawson – jaw dropping!
Kananaskis Fire Lookout – gorgeous!

If you wish more information about this trail, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: July, 2018.
Location: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Kananaskis.
Distance: 18km or thereabouts.
Height gain maximum: >100m.
Height gain cumulative: >100m.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate.
Technical bits: bears are common…and they don’t like you.
Reference: Kananaskis Trail Guide by Gillean Daffern.

Bunchberry.

Is that water I hear?

Coming to Sarrail Creek.

There’s a bear in the area!

Old stumps litter the shoreline – Mt Indefatigable in back.

The bridge over Rawson Creek.

The going is easy.

Deep down in the forest understory.

A couple on the shore.

A view to the heavens.

Mount Lyautey towers over the lake.

Paddling the lake is a popular activity.

Puffballs underfoot.

The spring by the lake.

Treehenge at Hidden Lake.

Lots of flowers but no Strawberries.

The Upper Kananaskis River just above the falls.

Looking upstream.

Just one of the step falls.

Everything’s better with wine.

A new pack for 2018.

Near the Point backcountry campsite.

The lake’s a wonderful blue/green.

The slide zone.

All that rock came from up there (Mt Indefatigable).

We started back there centre.

Memories of the El Camino.

Back in the trees.

Such stunning beauty.

On the east shore.

A few small islands dot the lake.

Stump city!

The trail is rarely far from the lake.

New growth in a burned area.

The Upper Kananaskis Lake Chimney.

We think it dates back to the 1930s.

Across an earthen damn.

A curious fellow.

Upper Kananaskis Lake Loop – Star=start.