Hiking

Metadata (?)

Certainty: Certain
Importance: Low
Status: Ongoing

Created: 2025/08/24
Modified: 2025/09/30

Tags: Personal

Audience: Everyone

Grotto Mountain

Length: 7.4km
Peak Elevation: 2706m
Elevation Gain: 1463m

June 14th, 2025: Grotto Mountain is one of the higher peaks in the Canmore area but still a fairly straightforward climb. We started from the Alpine Club of Canada and climbed the “easy route” up the left side of the mountain.

The view over the back side of Grotto Mountain.

The town of Canmore from the summit of Grotto Mountain.

Mount Lougheed

Length: 12.2km
Peak Elevation: 3107m
Elevation Gain: 1440m

June 29th, 2025: In my opinion, Mount Lougheed is one of the most beautiful mountains in Kananaskis so I was stoked to make it to the summit. However, we probably should’ve went later in the season since there was a lot of snow on the final part of the climb.

Mount Lougheed towering over the Trans-Canada Highway.

A beautiful alpine meadow on the approach to Mount Lougheed.

Attempting to keep my balance on a particularly steep section.

The incredible Mount Sparrowhawk as seen from the summit.

Panorama view from the summit. Little Lougheed and the spray lakes can be seen between the second and third peaks.

Cascade Mountain

Length: 18.5km
Peak Elevation: 2998m
Elevation Gain: 1689m

July 12th, 2025: Cascade Mountain is a fairly popular hike near the Norquay ski area. We saw a lot of people today, including quite a few tourists who were very unprepared. The trail itself is pretty boring but the views from the top were great!

The Bow Valley from the summit of Cascade Mountain.

Mount Temple

Length: 14.3km
Peak Elevation: 3544m
Elevatin Gain: 1704m

July 24th, 2025: Mount Temple is one of the tallest mountains in Alberta and one of the few 11,000ft peaks that can be climbed without mountaineering equipment. We were a bit disappointed by how cloudy it was at the top, but the views were still spectacular.

A beautiful sunrise near the University of Calgary.

Hiking the Larch Valley trail while Mount Temple looms in the background.

The first five peaks in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.

Looking up at Sentinel Pass with the Minnestima Lakes in the foreground.

Looking over the edge of Sentinel Pass into Paradise Valley.

The distinctive Pinnacle Mountain as seen from the Mount Temple scramble.

Looking down at Paradise Valley from the summit of Mount Temple.

Moraine Lake from the summit of Mount Temple with two large cornices in the foreground.

Castle Mountain

Length: 28.2km
Peak Elevation: 2766m
Elevation Gain: 1858m

August 4th, 2025: With its distinctive rectangular shape, Castle Mountain is one of the most iconic peaks in the Canadian rockies. The area around and above Rockbound Lake is absolutely beautiful as well. This was an absolutely amazing day and I can’t recommend this area enough.

Looking down on Rockbound Lake with Castle Mountain in the background.

The Trans-Canada Highway from Castle Mountain, our first objective of the day.

The view of Stuart Knob, our second objective, from Castle Mountain.

Looking back at Castle Mountain from Stuart Knob.

Looking across at our third objective, Helena Ridge.

The view of Rockbound Lake from the summit of Helena Ridge.

Mount Rundle

Length: 15.4km
Peak Elevation: 2948m
Elevation Gain: 1711m

August 23rd, 2025: Mount Rundle spans almost the entire distance from Canmore to Banff, towering above the Trans-Canada highway. The scree on the last 800m of elevation was brutal, but by this point in the season I was pretty used to it.

Looking down on a narrow ridge while climbing Mount Rundle. Sulphur Mountain can be seen in the background.

Looking across at the west side of Mount Rundle puts into perspective how steep this climb really is.

Looking over the edge of Mount Rundle onto the Trans-Canada highway.