This scramble is really more a hike than a scramble but I have included it here because it is a hike to a summit.
Prairie Mountain is relatively close to Calgary and it can be hiked year-round, making it a great training route. It is a popular hike with families, groups, outdoor clubs and trail runners making it busy on the weekends.
In 2023, shortly after I completed my hike to the summit, the trail was closed for construction. The trail was rebuilt with some long switchbacks added as well as places to stop, rest and enjoy views.
I hiked to the summit again in January 2024. I found that the rebuild added a bit of length to the trail but made it a lot nicer. Rather than heading straight up some steep sections, the trail now cuts across them making it easier and more pleasant.
Beta:
- This is an out-and-back trail. It starts and ends on Highway 66 west of Bragg Creek.
- Park along the highway across from the turn off to Elbow Falls.
- Elevation gain: 675 meters
- Distance out and back: 8.4 km (new trail)
- Difficulty: a hike, moderately strenuous
- Gear: consider bringing micro-spikes if there is snow
Permit Required
A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park at the trailhead.
Helpful Apps
- AllTrails
- FATMAP
Trip Report
On April 4, I summited Prairie Mountain, my first peak of 2023. There was still a lot of snow on the ground, as you can see in the photos, however this summit can be reached fairly easily year round. It is basically just a hike, steep in some places, but a lot of people trail run to the summit.
I decided to start with an easy one because it was still early season in the Canadian Rockies and because I wanted to build fitness over the spring for more strenuous adventures in the summer. I planned to tackle bigger and more technical summits as the season progressed.
The trail was covered with packed snow but with micro-spikes, there was no problem. There are typically lots of people hiking it and today was no exception. Most of them were solo, like me.
Although it was minus 10 at the car when I started, it quickly warmed up as the sun rose higher into a clear blue sky. The trees were still covered with snow from the weekend snowfall and the whole forest glittered in the sunlight like a magical winter scene in Narnia.
The trail up through the forest was covered in snow. The summit is in the distance.
Nice views to the west of many more enticing summits.
A high meadow leads to the summit.
It was a nice hike and an enjoyable day. It’s a great training hike because it is close to home (Calgary) and it is accessible year-round. The height gain and distance are enough to make it worthwhile.
Reach the peak!
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