The Rimwall

Hike Name: The Rimwall
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 7.5 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,700 m

Elevation Gain: 1134 m (Total. We had to down climb and re-gain elevation at one point.)

Area: Kananaskis (Spray Reservoir)

Crew: Rachel, Mark, Stephen, Eric, Travis

Time to Summit: 3 hours

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Spurling Creek

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), turn off towards the Nordic Center and continue on this road past the Goat Creek Parking lot and along the Spray Reservoir. Pull over on either side of the road. 

Additional Info:
We hiked too close to Wind Pass on the main trail so after we broke off of the main trail, we ended up on some cliff bands. We made it through some of them, but eventually had to downclimb a bit to the bottom of a cliff. Once we got around the cliff to a passable section, the path up was obvious. We didn't see anyone on this hike, its always awesome to have an entire mountain to yourselves!

Everyone on the summit of the Rimwall and the Three Sisters in the background

Looking back at the Spray Reservoir

Admiring the sheer drop!

Grizzly Peak

Hike Name: Grizzly Peak
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 7 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,545 m

Elevation Gain: 900 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Julia and Mom

Time to Summit: 2:15

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Ripple Creek (Unmarked). The creek between Grizzly Creek and Hood Creek.

Getting There:

From the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), head south on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) and continue past the Fortress gas station. In about 4 km you will see Grizzly Creek. The next one is Ripple Creek, the trailhead. Trail goes up on the left side of the creek, it is hard to miss and marked with a cairn.

Additional Info:
Beautiful sunny day. It was my mom's first hike of the season. We got great views from the summit.

 Julia and Mom on the summit of Grizzly Peak

Me looking into the valley. Kananaskis Lakes in the background.

Heart Mountain and Grant MacEwan Peak ii

Trip #2:
Crew: Steph
Date: April 17, 2016
Time to Summit: 
1:35 (to Heart Mountain)
2:15 (to Grant MacEwan Peak)


Click here for the Heart Mountain and Grant MacEwan Peak page.

 Looking back towards Heart Mountain (right) with Mount McGillivray on the left and the Canmore mountains in the background

Steph just after the summit of Heart Mountain

Squaw's Tit

Hike Name: Squaw's Tit
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 9.2 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,543 m

Elevation Gain: 1219 m

Area: Bow Valley (Canmore)

Crew: Ben

Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Harvie Heights

Getting There:

Head west from Calgary on the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1). Take the exit in Harvie Heights. Continue up into the community until you find an entrance to the trail system.

Additional Info:
Interesting name for a mountain.. Pretty politically incorrect but a really fun hike regardless. There is decent exposure, I was a bit nervous up on the ridge but Ben coaxed me along! We had a fun day. Near the end of our hike, Ben jumped in the stream.. I'll remind you that it's April in Canada... Crazy. We ventured up the stream and found a nice waterfall, then bushwhacked back to the main trail.

Me on the ridge after we finished the scree and started on the ridgewalk

Ben on the ridge

Gap Peak

Hike Name: Gap Peak
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 9.6 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,517 m

Elevation Gain: 1197 m

Area: Bow Valley (Exshaw)

Crew: Rachel

Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)

Lisa's Mom Rating: No

Trailhead: Bay Mag Plant Parking Area


Getting There:

Head west on Highway 1A. Pass through Exshaw and look for a sign for Grotto Mountain Pond. About 400m past this is the Bay Mag Cement Plant parking area.

Additional Info:
Follow Bob Spirko's directions. Once parked at the Bay Mag Plant, head straight across the gravel bed and into the trees. It is quite a bushwhack but if you're lucky you'll come across some flags to follow. Once above the trees, aim for the first cliff band, then follow the base of it to your right. Once the first cliff band is bypassed, you will bypass the second cliff band on the left. Go up the scree field, then ridge-walk to the summit.

 Bypassing the second cliffband on the climber's left

Opal South Peak

Hike Name: Opal South Peak
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 7.2 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,608 m

Elevation Gain: 1018 m

Area: Kananaskis Valley

Crew: Steph, Julia, Christine

Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Fortress Gas Station 


Getting There:

Head South on Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40) until you reach the Fortress Gas Station. Pull into the gas station, and park at the North end of the lot.

Additional Info:
Head up the creek and you will find a trail quickly. After a few minutes, you will arrive at a power line road. Turn north (left) and you will come across a trail on your right, just after a creek bed that is marked with cairns and flagging.


We saw a few spring avalanches across the valley on Lawson. The avalanche risk was high in Kananaskis. But Opal was bare and we were never beneath any cornices or snow packs.


You can also go North from the peak and walk the Opal ridge. Alternatively, you could ascend on the Opal North Peak, and ridge walk South.

 Looking North along Opal ridge

Looking South. You can see the Upper Kananaskis Lake from here

Grotto Mountain

Hike Name: Grotto Mountain
Activity: Hiking/Scrambling

Distance: 8.7 km (RT)

Altitude: 2,725 m

Elevation Gain: 1373 m

Area: Bow Valley (Canmore)

Crew: Mark

Time to Summit: Unknown (blog created post-hike)

Lisa's Mom Rating: Yes

Trailhead: Alpine Club  of Canada, Canmore lower parking lot. 
 Getting There:

Heading West from Calgary on the Trans-Canada (Hwy 1), take the Canmore exit onto the 1A and head back East on the 1A. You will shortly see a sign that says "Indian Flats Road" that goes towards the Alpine Club of Canada (ACC). Turn left off of the 1A onto Indian Flats Road, and continue to the ACC lower parking lot.

Additional Info:
There are two routes up this mountain, we took the ACC route. It is very steep and you gain a lot of elevation, so be ready for a big day!

Mark on the ridge

 Me on the ridge