May 16th: Expect the trails to be wet, muddy and snow covered from the recent weather system. Check the forecast before heading out.
At lowest elevations, trails are mainly bare with patches of snow, ice and mud. At high elevations trails are mainly snow covered, deep in places, with some bare and mud patches. Removal of downed trees from winter blow down is underway, and will continue over the next month or so as snow melts. The paved bike trail is a mix of pavement and ice and snow patches, with needles and other tree debris throughout. Summer to winter sign changeover is complete. Lower Kananaskis Lake is ice free; Upper Lake is now mainly ice free, but the NE bay by the boat lunch is still ice covered. Be bear aware!
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.
People seeking alpine objectives should keep in mind that spring avalanches are a potential hazard. Pay close attention to freezing levels, solar radiation and new precipitation (either as rain or snow) at this time of year as avalanche danger has lots of variables.
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: 127 cm
Aster Lake: 190 cm (Last reported May 16th)
Burstall Pass: 169 cm
Mud Lake: 74 cm
| Trail Name | Permitted Activities (Legend) | Length | Status | Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1982 Canadian Mount Everest Expedition Interpretive
May 11th: Patches of Snow & Ice. |
Hiking
|
2.1 km | Open | |
|
Bill Benson
May 12th: Sign changeover complete. Snow free and blown clean of needles and debris. |
Hiking
|
0.7 km one-way | Open | |
|
Black Prince Cirque Interpretive
Apr 28th: Snow covered. Note: The Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge is NOT accessed from this trail. |
Hiking
|
4.2 km | Open | |
|
Boulton Creek Interpretive
Apr 28th: A mix of snow, ice and bare ground. Sign changeover complete. |
Hiking
|
4.9 km | Open | |
|
Burstall Pass
May 14th: Mainly or fully snow covered, deep in places. Note: Bikes permitted on first 3.5 km of trail ONLY. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
7.4 km one-way | Open | |
|
Chester Lake
Closed: Closed May 1 - Jun 29 to allow area to dry and prevent damage to trail. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
4.6 km one-way | Closed | |
|
Elbow Lake
Warning: No vehicle access via HWY 40, Dec 1 - Jun 14. Tombstone Backcountry and Equestrian Backcountry Campground: Closed Dec 1 - May 14. Elbow Lake Backcountry Campground: Closed Dec 1 - Jun 14. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
Horseback Riding
|
1.4 km one-way | Warning | |
|
Elk Pass
May 18th: Mainly snow covered, with some bare patches over first 2 kms; over a metre of snow at higher elevations. Sign changeover complete. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
5.6 km | Open | |
|
High Rockies
May 13th: Ranges from mainly snow free (with some snow and ice patches) at the north end to deep snow in some areas. Some sections have been cleared of downed trees (Lower Lake to Black Prince, which is a mix of bare, snow and ice) and this will continue as trail melts out. Note: Hiker-cyclist camping allowed at select day use areas only from Jun 1 - Sep 20. See details. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
63.0 km Goat Creek to Peninsula Day Use; 80.0 km Goat Creek to Elk Pass | Open | |
|
Highwood Meadows
Apr 28th: Snowbound. Warning: No vehicle access to trailhead, Dec 1 - Jun 14. |
Hiking
|
0.6 km one-way | Warning | |
|
Kananaskis Canyon Interpretive
Closed: Stream crossings washed away by penstock/dam construction. Trail is impassable and is closed indefinitely. |
Hiking
|
0.8 km | Closed | |
|
Lookout
May 1st: Deep snow. Clear of downed trees, sign changeover complete. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
1.7 km | Open | |
|
Lower Lake
Apr 28th: Mainly bare with some ice and snow patches. Downed trees removed. Sign changeover complete. |
Hiking
|
3.5 km one-way | Open | |
|
Lower Lake Interpretive
May 12th: Mainly snow and ice covered. Sign changeover complete. Downed trees removed. Snow and ice patches. |
Hiking
|
0.5 km one-way | Open | |
|
Marl Lake Interpretive
Apr 28th: Majority is snow free but with many patches of snow and ice. Downed trees removed. Sign changeover complete. |
Hiking
|
1.5 km for loop | Open | |
|
Maude-Lawson
Apr 28th: Deep snow. Note: This trail has been redirected just west of Forks for access to Turbine Canyon. Turbine Canyon Backcountry Campground: Closed Dec 1 - Jun 24. |
Hiking
|
7.5 km | Open | |
|
Peninsula
May 13th: Snow free. Downed trees removed. Day use gate still closed. |
Hiking
|
0.4 km | Open | |
|
Peter Lougheed Paved
Apr 28th: A mix of bare pavement, ice and snow, with needles and other tree debris throughout. Sign changeover complete. Pavement has been plowed from Elkwood parking to the amphitheatre for construction, as well as campground roads. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
12.1 km one-way | Open | |
|
Pocaterra
May 1st: Mainly bare at low elevations; mainly snow covered at high elevations. Sign changeover complete. Note: This is not the undesignated Pocaterra Ridge or Cirque route. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
9.9 km one-way | Open | |
|
Ptarmigan Cirque Interpretive
Apr 28th: Snowbound. Warning: No vehicle access to trailhead, Dec 1 - Jun 14. |
Hiking
|
4.5 km | Warning | |
|
Rawson Lake
May 14th: Deep snow and slippery conditions; cleared of downed trees. |
Hiking
|
3.9 km one-way | Open | |
|
Rock Glacier Interpretive
Apr 28th: Snowbound. Warning: No vehicle access to trailhead, Dec 1 - Jun 14. |
Hiking
|
0.15 km one-way | Warning | |
|
Rockwall Interpretive
May 12th: Snow free. Downed trees removed. Blown clean of needles and debris. |
Hiking
|
0.5 km | Open | |
|
Spruce Road
Apr 28th: Patches of snow and ice. Sign changeover complete. |
Hiking
|
0.8 km | Open | |
|
Three Isle Lake
Apr 28th: Deep snow. Note: Bikes only permitted to Invincible Creek, 3.8 km from trailhead Forks Backcountry Campground: Closed Dec 1 - Jun 14. Three Isle Lake Backcountry Campground: Closed Dec 1 - Jun 24. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
10.2 km | Open | |
|
Upper Lake
May 11th: A mix of bare ground, ice, and snow which can be deep in places. Downed trees removed between N Interlakes and Upper Lake on the NE shore. Point Campground is mainly snow free Aster Lake Backcountry Campground: Closed Dec 1 - Jul 2.
|
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
15.7 km | Open | |
|
Whiskey Jack
May 1st: Snow patches a low elevations and mainly snow covered at high elevations. Cleared of downed trees. Sign changeover complete. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
3.9 km one-way | Open | |
|
William Watson Lodge Access
Apr 28th: Sign changeover in complete. |
Biking/Cycling
E-bikes
Hiking
|
0.6 km one-way | Open |
