Jan 25th: Grooming took place on Saturday night with 1-3 cm's(depending on elevation) of new snow that fell Saturday afternoon/evening. Light flurries continued until grooming wrapped up just before midnight with trace amounts of snow on top the fresh grooming. Daytime temperatures were above freezing for much of last week, leaving the trails icy as temperatures dropped. Expect trails to be quite firm, with some ice content at the surface, and less icy conditions on more recent grooming and at higher elevations where there was less of a melt and a little more recent snow.
With very little snow in January, and just trace amounts over the last 10 days (a little more at higher elevations), most of the "snow bombs" are now groomed into the base, along with tree debris from recent high winds, though some trails will have debris on the surface, and there is a possibility of downed trees. The current cold spell has enabled the first grooming across the marsh at the bottom of Lodgepole, though tracks have not yet been set across the marsh.
With the abundant December snow, there is a decent base for this time of year in PLPP, especially at higher elevations, but some early season hazards exist at lower elevations, including a few uneven surfaces, and possible slush or ice- the ground is warmer than normal for this time of year.
Be aware that snowshoe trails crossing over creeks and wet areas could have some open water and thin ice, with risk of breaking through, until we see colder temperatures.
Always come prepared for a variety of conditions, that can change suddenly throughout the day. You may want to consider bringing hiking poles, micro spikes, toques, gloves and multiple layers.
Annual Road Closures:
Highway #40: Closed Dec 1 - Jun 14, from Kananaskis Lakes Trail to Highwood House Junction.
Closures:
Notes:
Warnings:
Snow Depths:
Highwood Pass: 115 cm
Aster Lake: 170 cm (Jan 13)
Burstall Pass: 151 cm
Mud Lake: 111 cm
| Trail Name | Permitted Activities (Legend) | Length | Status | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amos Groomed: Jan 19 Track Set: Jan 19 |
Skiing
|
2.4 km | Open | |
| Blueberry Hill Groomed: Jan 21 Track Set: Jan 21 |
Skiing
|
3.5 km | Open | |
|
Boulton Creek
Groomed and Trackset from Elk Pass to Fox Creek on Jan 23th, and from Fox Creek to Boulton Bridge on Jan 15th. Track is shallow in sun affected areas. Groomed: Jan 23 Track Set: Jan 23 |
Skiing
|
2.2 km one-way | Open | |
| Braille Groomed: Jan 20 Track Set: Jan 20 |
Skiing
|
2.2 km | Open | |
| Canyon Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
1.7 km one-way | Open | |
| Chester Lake |
Skiing
|
4.6 km one-way | Open | |
| Chester Lake Snowshoe |
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
3.4 km one-way | Open | |
|
Come Along
The ice or slush south of the Group Camp was covered over with snow, but could reappear. Groomed: Jan 24 Track Set: Jan 24 |
Skiing
|
2.1 km | Open | |
|
Elk Pass
The portion of Elk Pass Trail between Boulton Creek and Fox Creek was partially snowmobile groomed on Friday night to accommodate grooming and tracksetting of Fox Creek and the south End on Boulton Creek. Groomed: Jan 23 Track Set: Jan 21 |
Skiing
|
5.6 km | Open | |
|
Elk Pass Snowshoe
The Elk Pass Snowshoe Trail starts at the south end of Elk Pass Day Use and parking lot. |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
5.8 km | Open | |
| Elkwood Loop Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
4.1 km | Open | |
| Fox Creek Groomed: Jan 23 Track Set: Jan 23 |
Skiing
|
1.6 km | Open | |
| Frost Heave Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
2.5 km | Open | |
| Frozen Toad Loop Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Snowshoeing
|
8.1 km | Open | |
| Graupel Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
5.6 km | Open | |
|
High Rockies
Note: Between Nov. 1 and May 1 the trail is closed through the Buller Slide Path due to Highway Avalanche Control. |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
63.0 km Goat Creek to Peninsula Day Use | Open | |
| Hogarth Lakes Loop Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
3.9 km | Open | |
| Hydroline Groomed: Jan 21 Track Set: Jan 21 |
Skiing
|
3.8 km | Open | |
|
Lodgepole
The northernmost section across the marsh close to Pocaterra Hut was snowcat groomed and partially trackset (not trackset across the marsh) in the early hours of Jan 20th. Groomed: Jan 20 Track Set: Jan 20 |
Skiing
|
4.2 km | Open | |
|
Lookout
Always use extra caution on Lookout, especially the steeper South side. Groomed: Jan 18 Track Set: Jan 18 |
Skiing
|
4.9 km | Open | |
| Lower Lake Group Camp Groomed: Jan 24 Track Set: Jan 24 |
Skiing
|
1.3 km | Open | |
| Lower Lake Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
3.9 km one-way | Open | |
| Lynx Groomed: Jan 23 Track Set: Jan 23 |
Skiing
|
1.8 km | Open | |
| Marsh Loop Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
1.3 km | Open | |
|
Meadow
Trackset from Elkwood to the Visitor Centre on Jan 19th. The remainder was trackset on Jan 20th. Groomed: Jan 20 Track Set: Jan 20 |
Skiing
|
4.0 km | Open | |
|
Moraine
Tracks may be shallow in sun affected areas. Groomed: Jan 15 Track Set: Jan 15 |
Skiing
|
3.1 km | Open | |
|
Packers
Much improved, with just a few uneven surfaces remaining, and ice or slush is possible as some unfrozen marshy ground exists. Groomed: Jan 24 Track Set: Jan 24 |
Skiing
|
3.1 km | Open | |
| Patterson Groomed: Jan 21 Track Set: Jan 21 |
Skiing
|
0.9 km | Open | |
| Penstock Loop Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
4.5 km | Open | |
|
Pocaterra
Trackset from Packers to Lookout on Jan 25th, and from the Hut to Packers in the early hours of the 24th. Groomed: Jan 25 Track Set: Jan 25 |
Skiing
|
9.7 km one-way | Open | |
|
Pocaterra Training Grid
Six sets of tracks set. Groomed: Jan 23 Track Set: Jan 23 |
Skiing
|
Open | ||
| Rolly Road Groomed: Jan 23 Track Set: Jan 23 |
Skiing
|
1.7 km | Open | |
|
Rolly Road Training Grid
Six sets of tracks set. Groomed: Jan 16 Track Set: Jan 16 |
Skiing
|
Open | ||
| Sawmill Loop Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
5.1 km | Open | |
| Sinclair Groomed: Jan 20 Track Set: Jan 20 |
Skiing
|
1.3 km | Open | |
| Snowdrift Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
8.3 km | Open | |
| South Sawmill Loop |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
2.8 km | Open | |
| Spruce Road Groomed: Jan 20 Track Set: Jan 20 |
Skiing
|
0.8 km | Open | |
| Tailwater Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Snowshoeing
|
1.9 km | Open | |
| Torpor Loop |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
6.1 km | Open | |
| Tyrwhitt Groomed: Jan 18 Track Set: Jan 18 |
Skiing
|
5.4 km | Open | |
| Upper Lake Connector Groomed: Jan 21 Track Set: Jan 21 |
Skiing
|
0.9 km | Open | |
|
Wheeler
Use Caution at the North Amos junction as grooming prep has begun for the upcoming Ski For Light race; a section of track was erased. Groomed: Jan 19 Track Set: Jan 19 |
Skiing
|
4.7 km | Open | |
| Whiskey Jack Groomed: Jan 25 Track Set: Jan 25 |
Skiing
|
4.0 km | Open | |
| William Watson Lodge Access Groomed: Jan 20 Track Set: Jan 20 |
Skiing
|
0.6 km one-way | Open | |
| William Watson Lodge Connector |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
0.7 km | Open | |
| Wintour Snowshoe |
Fat Biking
Hiking (Winter)
Snowshoeing
|
5.1km/10.2km return | Open | |
| Woolley Groomed: Jan 19 Track Set: Jan 19 |
Skiing
|
2.1 km | Open |
