Mesa Butte (The Grind)

It’s a hike short and sweet, taking in a little bump in the Kananaskis Foothills. While there’s roughly 80 stories of height gain, it’s really nothing more than a little stroll in the woods. Even the slowest hikers (so us) can be in and out in the blink of an eye and this makes it a great choice if time is short or your ambition’s in the toilet. You know that feeling, when you want to do something, but not too much of something? Our destination’s Mesa Butte and while there’s plenty of ways up, here’s one of the shortest, the Mesa “Grind” Trail. In name it sounds worse than it is.

That it’s easy, convenient to Calgary, accessible all year and scenic means it’s (naturally) a popular choice. While we only saw a few folks this cool fall day, come a summer weekend expect it to be busy. We’ve been up a couple times, each by a different approach and if you scroll down there’s links to these posts for your enjoyment.

This hill is sometimes called Square Butte and interestingly, there’s second Mesa Butte a bit to the southwest (link further below) that most people call Death’s Head. Now we’re confused.

The Mesa Grind trailhead is west of Millarville on #549 and maybe some four clicks into K-Country. Not far past the Mesa Butte Recreation area campground (down and on your left), look for a gated well road to your right and park. If you plan on shootin’-up the place, a sign reminds us that’s a no-no here. We can’t have any fun.

Head up the road and soon after it bends right go left into the trees. The trail is marked with red diamonds, but even if you miss them, there’s little doubt the direction you need to go. In summary: if you’re heading uphill, you’re on the right track. Enter a cutblock.

After a few minutes link up with a trail coming in from the left (yet another alternate start to Mesa Butte) and turn right. Not long afterwards, come to a four way junction, where you then turn left. Since the start, the grade’s been pretty easy going, but from here on expect steeper sections, first in the trees and later on grassy slopes. Once the woods thin, the summit comes into view and after a couple good pushes, you’re at the top. Already!

The top of Mesa Butte is flat and grassy, except on the heavily treed north side, and while a minor hill the views are pretty impressive and far reaching. Now comes the reward. You can see Calgary off in the distance and similarly plains to the east. That little knob to the southeast is Jack’s Hill and if you visit one day and find the geocache (if it’s still there), prepare for a little surprise. To the south and west, it’s vast swaths of forest and rolling hills and well off in the distance to your right, the majestic Rockies. Roughly in line with the trail in, so a southwest-ish line, the other Mesa Butte (Death’s Head) is the next good sized bump off in that distance. Behind, it’s Volcano Ridge and it’s on our to-do list.

There’s a picnic table up here atop this “lofty” summit, nicely sheltered in the trees and it’s new since our last visit a few years back. They must have brought it up in pieces. Even on the short hikes we bring something yummy for lunch (there’s a strict no protein bar rule) and so the table gets put to good use. Can you say charcuterie board? Then we raise a toast as we always do, and to anything and everything it’s a loud, boisterous “Salud!”

Wander about and snap some photos, then rake time to breathe and daydream. Look for dust stirred up from passing vehicles on the highway down there. Watch for other hikers. There’s a geocache up here and so search it out. Find any reason to not leave.

Once your batteries are recharged, retrace your steps back to your ride. Now there’s an hour or two burned, maybe even less for you. We doodle something bad and our meal stops are always leisurely affairs so our time on the trail is often longer than usual. Will the last one off the hill turn out the lights? That’s us!

Scroll down for a couple useful links showing the other approaches to Mesa Butte we’ve done.

Till the next trip report, due out soon, we bid you farewell.

They’re saying…

”I love the beautiful pictures that are shared in Facebook. I highly recommend this site to anyone who feels like they can enjoy new adventures through Chris and Connie.” Lori Miller.

Alternate routes…
Mesa Butte.
Mesa Butte via Curley Sand Ridge.

Easy stuff in the area…
Sinnott Hill.
Death’s Head – aka the other Mesa Butte.

If you wish more information about this route or if you love to chat don’t hesitate to contact us!

Date of adventure: October, 2019.
Location: Kananaskis west of Millarville.
Distance: 4km there and back.
Height gain maximum: 270m.
Height gain cumulative: 270m
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports.
Reference: Kananaskis Trail Guides by Gillean Daffern.

The Mesa Butte (Grind Route) begins here.

Leaving the well road behind.

Through a cutblock.

This is just one way up Mesa Butte.

Breaking out of the trees, the summit awaits.

Centre, Jack’s Hill.

A couple steep pushes & you’re done.

Almost there.

Calgary’s sort of visible on the horizon.

The table’s a new addition.

Just a pretty forest view.

Fellow hikers.

Best friends…

Rolling hills in every direction.

Mesa Butte’s geocache.

Death’s Head centre, left.

Heading down now.

Connie follows.

It’s a short trail, but by no means a bad one.

Almost done here.

Short and Sweet.