Black Prince Cirque Interpretive Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

After exiting Highway 40 to Upper & Lower Kananaskis Lakes, turn right at signs for Smith-Dorrien/Spray Lakes. Continue along the unpaved road until the sign for the Black Prince Day Use area.

Parking and restrooms are at the Black Prince Day Use parking lot at the base of the trail.

This is an interpretive trail, and informational pamphlets may be saved or printed out from the Alberta Parks website beforehand for use with the interpretive posts.

The trail starts at the parking lot and is well-signed, remaining level as it heads into the forest before steadily climbing on a wide, open trail. Soon after the trail once again levels out, cross over Smith-Dorrien Creek at the bridge and continue into the forest. The trail forks, and most people stick to the right-hand path on the way up, following the interpretive posts.

The trail arrives at Warpite Lake, a seasonably variable cirque lake. Since the lake is seasonably variable, it may not be possible to circumnavigate, though there is a lightly-marked singletrack trail along the north shore of the lake leading to the opposite shore, a large meadow, and the Mount Warspite Trail.

To return, you can backtrack through the woods or head southward towards the rock formations. The southern branch of the loop weaves between these large rocks before heading back into the forest and reconnecting to the trail at the fork.

Kananaskis is bear country so stay aware, travel in small groups, and/or carry bear spray. Large animals such as elk, moose, and deer may be seen, along with smaller creatures like red squirrels and ptarmigans.