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A hike through the forest ending with a 360-degree view and a view over both Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes.


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Map Key

2.9

Miles

4.6

KM

Point to Point

6,917' 2,108 m

High

6,070' 1,850 m

Low

932' 284 m

Up

101' 31 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

24%

Max Grade (13°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Historical Significance · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

Family Friendly The trail follows the access road, so it is wide and flat.

The trailhead is the access road to the fire tower. The road is gated to cars, so when parking, do not block the gate. The road is intended for emergency vehicles.

Need to Know

Bear spray and bells need to be carried, especially if bear sightings have been made. The tower-keeper has a vault toilet at the top, but otherwise there are no facilities. Please park to the side of the turnoff and leave space for vehicles to pass through. Several rangers mentioned that to us in advance.

Description

The trail starts with a short downhill to cross the bridge at Pocaterra Creek. At about 0.4 miles it joins Pocaterra Trail, a mixed hiking/mountain biking trail. Follow the trail to the left and begin a relatively gentle upward climb. Traveling in late summer and early fall, there are sure to be bears in the woods getting ready for winter, so bring bear spray and make some noise on the trail. Our group sounded like a circus parade, so we had no animal sightings but fresh scat and paw prints were all along the trail.

After another 1.5 miles another trail (Whiskey Jack) joins from the right. It also is a mixed-use trail that leads to several campgrounds about 4.5 miles west near Lower Kananasakis Lake. Once again, stay to the left. In about 0.4 miles the trail comes to its last junction with the Tyrwhitt Trail heading left and the Firetower Trail to the right.

There is no problem following the correct trail if you simply follow the fire road. Continuing from the junction, the trail gets significantly steeper and the forest closes around you. Stop periodically as you ascend this portion for views through the trees or back along the trail to see the mountains and valleys to the north and west. The forest clears at about 1.7 miles from the Tyrwhitt Trail junction and views open up in all directions.

The firetower is directly ahead, a relatively short building for a firetower, but with a 360-degree sweeping view across the Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes, the continental divide to the south, and peaks to the east. The tower is manned full-time in the summer and Joe the tower-keeper invited us and a mountain biking couple to see the operation and take photos from the tower. He has a small hothouse garden, elegant outhouse, and picnic table for visitors. According to Joe, the lightning storms can be awesome, the wind ferocious, the visibility zero. But not the day we were there. We stayed and photographed for an hour, had lunch, and reversed course down the trail.

Flora & Fauna

Certainly be prepared for bear encounters on this hike. We made enough noise that we didn't see other animal wildlife. Flowers line the trail and the entire mountaintop was covered with an assortment of flowers.

Contacts

Shared By:

Greg Vassmer

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#16470

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  4.0 from 1 vote
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Trail Rankings

#86

in Alberta

#16,470

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290 Since Aug 26, 2019
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Photos

With a little elevation the view gets great!
Sep 5, 2019 near Black D…, AB
Pocaterra creek near the start of the trail
Sep 5, 2019 near Black D…, AB
Mountains, many mountains... Mt. Fox, 9.754 ft., (right, summit is just out of the photo) on the Great Divide, Mt. Aosta, 9,823 ft. (center right), begins the chain of mountains that extends (to the left) down the Elk River valley.
Aug 17, 2024 near Black D…, AB
Mt. Sarrail, 10,400 ft. (left), Mt. Lyautey, 9,990 ft. (center left), Mt. Putnik, 9,645 ft. (center right), and Mt. Indefatigable, 8,760 ft. (right), rise above Upper Kananaskis Lake below. Lower Kananaskis Lake (right) is below Mt. Indefatigable.
Aug 17, 2024 near Black D…, AB
Kananaskis Fire Lookout, a modern, working fire lookout.
Aug 17, 2024 near Black D…, AB
Mountains ahead as Whiskey Jack Trail reaches a 3-way trail junction with a picnic table.
Aug 17, 2024 near Black D…, AB

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