Elk Pass Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Elk Pass Trail intersects with a few other paths and the powerline. Watch for small signs for Elk Pass to continue on Elk Pass Trail. And stay off the powerline.

Elk Pass Trail is found at the Elk Pass Day Use Area in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Alberta. A large trailhead sign marks the start of Elk Pass Trail.

Elk Pass Trail immediately enters the beautiful conifer forest and stays in the forest for its entire length. It also begins to climb gradually for its entire length. Initially the trail is quite wide, but ends as a singletrack path.

Hiking along, one soon hears a creek off to the left, although it can't be seen in the dense forest. This is Fox Creek. The creek becomes louder and at the 1.2 mile mark the trail emerges from the forest, into the open grassy area that surrounds the creek. The trail then crosses the creek and follows it upstream. Still climbing gradually, the trail crosses the creek a few more times. Small grassy open areas begin to show up more often.

After a total of 3.3 miles, Elk Pass Trail (in Alberta) ends at West Elk Pass that marks the Alberta/British Columbia border. There is a major trail junction here and large trail sign. Although this is the end of Elk Pass Trail, other trails starting here take one into British Columbia. They lead to Upper and Lower Elk Lakes. Additionally, there is a trail to Frozen Lake.

Beautiful, thick conifer forest with dense undergrowth. The few open areas are grassy. Summer wildflowers. Bears live here.