Canadian Rockies Hiking Blog
Last Tango on Stoney Squaw
Some of the most popular short-hike destinations in the Bow Valley have experienced name changes over the past 40 years or may do so soon.
Cutting trail in Kootenay Park—1940
As Kootenay National Park celebrates its centennial year, it seems an appropriate time to republish Ron Ede's account of a long-ago summer working on the park's trails. I first read "Cutting trail in Kootenay Park—1940" in the "The Valley Echo Special Supplement" in...
Limping from Ya Ha Tinda to Panther River
We've all had times when the best laid and ambitious plans have to be abandoned. That was the case this August when avid backpacker and faithful blog contributor Gavin Fitch set off from Ya Ha Tinda Ranch with three friends. Despite the problems they encountered,...
Castleguard Meadows: The Gilroy Report
We've had quite a bit of interest in the Castleguard Meadows over the past few years. Several contributors have provided descriptions of this overgrown, difficult 35-km route. In May, Christian Gilroy sent another account of a 5-day in-and-out trip that he completed...
Hiking Kootenay Park 50 years ago
Kootenay National Park is celebrating its centennial with a "Kootenay Then and Now: Recreate the Photo" contest. Since we began our fieldwork on the Mountain Parks' first comprehensive trail guide 50 years ago, I thought it would be appropriate to reminisce by...
Reopening the back door to Mt Assiniboine
Cut off by a collapsed suspension bridge in 2016 and devastation from the 2017 Verdant Creek Wildfire, the Simpson River-Surprise Creek-Ferro Pass route into Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park has been restored thanks to a new bridge and trail clearing up the charred...
Mountain elevations and trail distances
Dr. Gerard Lachapelle from the University of Calgary refines elevations of peaks in the Canadian Rockies, elevating some and downgrading others. Two of the biggest problems in creating the first trail guide to the Mountain Parks was the accurate measurement of trail...
Virtual backpacking in the age of coronavirus
We're still wondering whether there will be much backcountry travel in the Mountain Parks during this coronavirus summer. But you can still make dozens of virtual treks in the Canadian Rockies on the YouTube channel while you're waiting. These lengthy video...
COVID-19 update for the Mountain Parks
Hiking and backcountry access in the Canadian Rockies during COVID-19 Updated July 28, 2020 Parks Canada began lifting COVID-19 restrictions and closures in the National Parks on Monday, June 1. Most trails and day use areas are now open throughout the Mountain...