Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Alberta Parks

Trails

Select roads, campgrounds, day-use areas, trails, and areas of Kananaskis Country will be temporarily closed before, during, and after the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit in June. Check for closures before you go.

A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park your vehicle in Kananaskis and the Bow Valley.
    • Hiking opportunities range from barrier-free trails to high alpine backcounty adventures. Some trails provide access to Banff National Park and Elk Lakes Provincial Park in B.C. 
    • Bicyclists can enjoy more than 12 kms of paved trails. Mountain bikers will find a number of challenging trails open for their use.
    • Elbow Lake Trail provides access to trails in Elbow and Sheep valleys. It is the only trail in the park that is open to equestrian users.
    • In winter, there are more than 85 kms of groomed cross-country ski trails in the Kananaskis Lakes area, as well as 30 kms in the Smith-Dorrien Trails System.
Trail Length Season Permitted Activities (Legend) Status
1982 Canadian Mount Everest Expedition Interpretive 2.1 km Summer Only Hiking Open
Bill Benson

Limited access due to William Watson Closure

0.7 km one-way Summer Only Wheelchair Accessible Hiking Warning
Black Prince Cirque Interpretive

May 27th: A few snow and ice patches.

Note: The Blackshale Creek Suspension Bridge is NOT accessed from this trail.

4.2 km Summer Only Hiking Open
Intermediate Boulton Creek 2.2 km one-way Winter Only Hiking Cross Country Skiing Open
Braille 2.2 km Winter Only Cross Country Skiing Open
Burstall Pass

June 5th: The lower portion of trail is snow free with snow patches becoming progressively deeper with elevation, with the some completely snow bound sections near border.

Note: Bikes permitted on first 2.9 km of trail ONLY.

7.4 km one-way Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
Burstall Pass (Backcountry) km Winter Only Cross Country Skiing Open
Chester Lake

June 5th: Snow free. Downed trees removed.

Chester Lake: Annual closure in place for Chester Lake until Jun 29 to allow area to dry and prevent damage to trail.

4.6 km one-way Summer Only Fat Biking Hiking OHVing Closed
Elbow Lake

June 11th: Trail is snow free.

Warning: No motorized or bicycle access via HWY 40, Dec 1 - Jun 20.

1.4 km one-way Summer Only Hiking Horseback Riding - Equestrian OHVing Warning
Elk Pass

June 2nd: Mostly bare ground with muddy/snowy sections. Sign changeover complete. 

5.6 km Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
Highwood Meadows

June 11th: Trail is snow free.

Closed for construction

Warning: No motorized or bicycle access via HWY 40, Dec 1 - Jun 20.

0.6 km one-way Summer Only Wheelchair Accessible Hiking Closed
Kananaskis Canyon Interpretive

Closed: Stream crossings washed away by penstock/dam construction. Trail is impassable and is closed indefinitely.

0.8 km Summer Only Hiking Closed
Lookout

May 29th: Mix of bare and snow covered. 

1.7 km Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
Lower Lake Interpretive

Limited access due to William Watson Closure

0.5 km one-way Summer Only Hiking Warning
Maude-Lawson

June 2nd: Partially snow covered.

Note: This trail has been redirected just west of Forks for access to Turbine Canyon.

7.5 km Summer Only Hiking Open
Intermediate Meadow

Trackset from Elkwood to the Visitor Centre on April 9th. The remainder was trackset on April 2nd.

4.0 km Winter Only Cross Country Skiing Open
Peter Lougheed Paved

Bear Closure: Portion of trail between Lower Lakes to Sarrail campgrounds.

12.1 km one-way Summer Only Hiking OHVing Partially Closed
Pocaterra

Note: This is not the undesignated Pocaterra Ridge or Cirque route.

9.9 km one-way Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
Ptarmigan Cirque Interpretive

June 11th: Trail is mostly snow free with a few small patches of snow in shaded areas.

Warning: No motorized or bicycle access via HWY 40, Dec 1 - Jun 20.

4.5 km Summer Only Hiking Warning
Rawson Lake

June 2nd: Trail is snow free with muddy sections.

3.9 km one-way Summer Only Hiking Open
Rock Glacier Interpretive

June 11th: Snow free

Warning: No motorized or bicycle access via HWY 40, Dec 1 - Jun 20.

0.15 km one-way Summer Only Hiking Warning
Rockwall

Closed for bear activity. 

0.5 km Summer Only Wheelchair Accessible Hiking Closed
Rolly Road Training Grid

Six sets of tracks set.

 

km Winter Only Cross Country Skiing Open
Intermediate Spruce Road

Limited access due to William Watson Closure

0.8 km Year-Round Wheelchair Accessible Hiking Cross Country Skiing Warning
Difficult Three Isle Lake

June 2nd: Snow free between Interlakes and Point campground junction. Trail not observed beyond Point junction. Snow free between North Interlakes and Forks Campground. Patches of snow observed on upper headwall.

Note: Bikes only permitted to Invincible Creek, 3.8 km from trailhead

10.2 km Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
Upper Lake

May 30th: Snow free between Interlakes and Point campground junction and from North Interlakes to Upper Lake. The rest of the trail has not been observed this year. One small patch of snow remains on the Northwest shore of Upper Lake Trail, downed trees have been removed. 

15.7 km Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
Whiskey Jack

May 29th: A mix of bare and some snow patches with muddy sections. 

3.9 km one-way Summer Only Hiking OHVing Open
William Watson Lodge Access

Due to William Watson Closure

0.6 km one-way Year-Round Wheelchair Accessible Hiking OHVing Cross Country Skiing Closed
Peninsula 0.4 km Summer Only Hiking Open
Tailwater Snowshoe 1.9 km Winter Only Fat Biking OHVing Snowshoeing Open
Frozen Toad Loop Snowshoe 8.1 km Winter Only Fat Biking OHVing Snowshoeing Open
Torpor Loop 6.1 km Winter Only Winter Hiking Fat Biking Hiking OHVing Snowshoeing Open
South Sawmill Loop 2.8 km Winter Only Winter Hiking Fat Biking Hiking OHVing Snowshoeing Open
William Watson Lodge Connector

May 6th: Mainly snow covered. Sign changeover complete.

0.7 km Winter Only Winter Hiking Fat Biking Hiking OHVing Snowshoeing Open
Boulton Creek Interpretive 4.9 km Summer Only Hiking Open
Marl Lake Interpretive 1.5 km for loop Summer Only Wheelchair Accessible Hiking Open
Lower Lake 3.5 km one-way Summer Only Hiking Open
High Rockies (Winter)

Note: Between Nov. 1 and May 1 the trail is closed through the Buller Slide Path due to Highway Avalanche Control.

63.0 km Goat Creek to Peninsula Day Use Winter Only Winter Hiking Fat Biking Hiking OHVing Snowshoeing Open
High Rockies (Summer)

June 9th: Snow free with some muddy sections. Downed trees removed.

Partial closure due to activities associated with G7

Note: Hiker-cyclist camping allowed at select day use areas only from Jun 1 - Sep 20. See details.

 

63.0 km Goat Creek to Peninsula Day Use; 80.0 km Goat Creek to Elk Pass Summer Only Dog Sledding Hiking OHVing Partially Closed