Eagle Hill

The trail up Eagle Hill, in the foothills of Kananaskis, is a pleasant romp in the woods leading to a nice little viewpoint. From there take in surrounding ridges and mountains, the reward coming at a reasonable price. All it takes is some hiking boots, a little time, a little determination and you’re in. There’s a couple alternative starts to this adventure but in terms of effort and outcome they’re not all that different. Here, we go up and over to get started.

The fun begins at Sibbald Lake off Highway #68 west of Calgary. At the day use area, head north towards the gated road to get started. Now beside the lake, in a few minutes a grassed over road soon appears on your left and that’s the way to go. The trail then splits a couple times (and is signed) and while there’s a number of options here, for a good workout take the route heading up steeply. Your body will thank you (later).

Top out at a cutline, bend right and almost immediately start descending. The official Eagle Hill Trail circles around this little ridge, but here it’s being tackled head on and while shorter, there will be more huffing and puffing. At another cutline, turn left, then bend left again leaving it behind and not long after join up with the main trail.

Heading westerly, there’s an extended flat stretch. Mud is not unheard of along here and while the route is mostly in the trees, it’s all good. At a signed junction, the trail from Deer Ridge (that treed bump to the south) comes in from the left. A sign here saying Eagle Ridge should read hill, but it points the right way and just keep going west up the valley.

Once in a while at a meadow, Eagle Hill can be seen off in the distance…and it looks so far away! Most of the time, however, you’ll keep company with the trees.

The path is well defined and graded, and after a leisurely mostly flat walk, rises up a bit, before dropping back down to a little stream (still frozen solid on our visit). Now it’s a final push to the summit with most of the day’s elevation soon to be gained. But it’s never that steep and recall it’s good for you anyway (that’s what they keep telling us).

The trees thin and with that the views (finally) open up. The majestic Rockies are seen far off in the distance and appear an impenetrable wall. There’s this broad flat area below, then boom, they rise out of nowhere. To the south it’s Seventy Buck Hill marked by a series of cutblocks. We climbed to its summit once and vow to never do it again – at least by our route. Here: Seventy Buck Viewpoint. Hint: it was HELL.

A faint trail soon comes in from that direction (this: Eagle Hill via Seventy Buck Valley) and heads down – ignore it. There’s still more up to do, with your destination’s half open summit pretty much always in view from here on.

At a hitching post (a reminder that equestrian riders use this trail*) the grade steepens briefly before topping out shorty after. You’ve arrived! The summit’s fairly flat and open on the south side.

Someone put in a picnic table since our last visit here (a couple years back) but with the wind blowing hard, we took refuge in the trees. It was still spring and the legendary gusts the area is known for were not only strong enough to knock you down, but with them came with a deep bone chilling cold. This is Alberta in May!

While we didn’t see many folks on the way in, up here for a time it was a busy place. But we had wine (graciously donated by family – thanks Bean), so it didn’t matter anyway. Chateau de la Gardine 2005 was some fine stuff and contrasts greatly with the yesterday’s vintage dollar store wanna-be grape juice we usually carry. In hindsight, we should have kept this nectar for a more epic outing (not that Eagle Hill is bad) but hey, you live but once.

Something is spotted under a log and it’s a geocache as it turns out. Southern Comfort? That’s an interesting surprise and since it’s half empty that tells us someone’s been partaking of a little nip here and there. “Thanks for the condom!” Just what is going on up here?

The best views are had to the east and south (trees block other angles) and among the rolling hills and ridges, we can see a couple places familiar to us. There’s Deer Ridge, Cox Hill and Hunchback Hills. Tallest of all and in back, it’s Moose Mountain, a Kananaskis classic and on everyone’s to-do list.

Good times, good company, good food, good God – in relax mode the wine goes to your head! So there we were, later, staggering down the trail and swearing like truck drivers. And if you believe that…

Anyway, it’s one last look around before heading down. Nothing like being atop a hill.

Heading back, we see some odd markings on a tree: SLS=Spray Lakes Sawmills, maybe? Further logging in the area? The trail will be safe as it’s popular and official but the valley off to the side might look a little different next time we visit. The loggers and hikers seem to tolerate each other in K-Country, about the best possible outcome I guess.

Retracing steps, it’s an easy trek back to the car and here there’s time to doddle, daydream, bird watch (or plant ID) and get lost in the moment. Still, the kilometres will pass quickly and with one last up and one last down, it’s done.

Normally one can see anglers at Sibbald Lake but there was none this day. The water was lower than we’ve ever seen it and almost totally weed choked, so I guess the fishing types went somewhere else. Footnote: on a more recent visit, levels were still oddly low.

So ends another good time in the Big K and the hardest part is getting back in the car to go home.

*We’ve visited the hill many times but only on this outing (on the return leg) have we ever seen people on horseback. We’ve passed the occasional bike rider too, but mostly it’s hikers taking it in.

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.

An alternative approach…
Eagle Hill via Seventy Buck Valley – Just as much fun!

Some easy stuff…
Missinglink Mountain – Strange name and good times.
Lesueur Ridge – A trail that’s not well known.
Hummingbird Plume Lookout – Up to a fabulous viewpoint.

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

Date of adventure: May, 2021.
Location: Sibbald Area of Kananaskis, AB
Distance: 14km there and back.
Height gain maximum: 320m.
Height gain cumulative: 380m
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate and may differ slightly from other trip reports (including our own).
Technical stuff and notes: Extreme exposure, rockfall, marauding vikings…oh wait, that’s a different hike.
Reference: Kananaskis Trail Guides by Gillean Daffern.

This burly tree.

This is an alternative up & over start.

Don’t go this way.

Easy hiking here.

The back side of Deer Ridge.

Prairie Crocus is the first to bloom in spring.

Eagle eye Connie spots Eagle Hill.

It’s pleasant hiking in the trees.

The sheltered creek was still frozen.

Wolf Lichen is seen in abundance.

Now climbing, but gently.

Off in the distance, the awe inspiring Rockies.

For hitching up your ride.

A gift that we thoroughly enjoyed.

It’s vintage!

Keeping a liquor theme – found in the geocache.

What goes on up here?

Into the trees to keep from the wind.

Moose Mountain off in the distance.

Lots of rolling hills.

Staggering down.

Cutblocks on Seventy Buck.

Connie’s not far behind.

SLS=Spray Lakes Sawmills?

The first time we’ve seen horses on the trail.

It should say Eagle Hill.

Dropping down just before the end.

Sibbald Lake was pretty low.

Eagle Hill, the up and over start.