The Best Spots in Kananaskis to Visit this Fall
The Fall season in Alberta can definitely be described as short but sweet. Although it may not always share the same length and variety of colors that provinces like Ontario see with its abundant maples and other deciduous trees, Alberta's mountains provide a wonderful backdrop to whatever autumn scenes you may find yourself in this year.
Kananaskis Country, located just a 45-minute drive due west of Calgary, is a sprawling protected wildland in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta that is just the place to go as the trees begin to shift color and the air becomes crispy. Formed as an amalgamation of several parks, like Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, Elbow River Provincial Park, and several others, this large chunk of the famed mountain chain contains many dozens of excellent trails, cozy small towns, and other attractions to enjoy during all seasons of the year.
Today, we will highlight some of the best spots in Kananaskis to visit this Fall, whether you're looking for the perfect place to take a beautiful landscape photo, the best area to view larches (the only kind of conifer to seasonally change color and eventually lose its needles in the Fall) and aspen trees as they turn a brilliant shade of yellow, or simply somewhere to get some crisp mountain air.
Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre
If your plan is to head right into the heart of the mountains of Kananaskis, this visitor center is a great place to start, particularly if you're new to the area. Located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park just off Highway 40, the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre is a hub of info about the area, its flora and fauna, its geography, and its trails. Check-in with a helpful park information officer at its front desk to get the inside scoop on trail conditions and any other hazards that may be in the area (also be sure to purchase a day or season pass for the park if you haven't already). Ask what trails have the best Fall foliage too, as the changing conditions througout the season may favor one over the other.
The Discovery Center also features an intricate museum with awesome taxidermied animals (all ethically obtained) from Kananaskis Country and a viewing deck out back overlooking an expansive mountain meadow. On the viewing deck, be on the lookout for the Grizzly bears that frequent the area! The center is a good place to use a comfy indoor restroom within the park and has water bottle fill stations as well.
Black Prince Cirque Interpretive Trail
Located along the Smith Dorian Trail, a beautiful gravel road that connects Highway 40 to Canmore, just minutes from the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre is the Black Prince Cirque Interpretive Trail. This trail is highly recommended for its moderate length (about 4 km) and difficulty (not having any technical portions or extremely steep stretches), which will still take you into a remote feeling area of the mountains.
You will begin at the parking lot and make your way up a gradual uphill portion, eventually reaching a loop trail at the top that will take you near Waspite Cascade (a pond or a dry boulder field, depending on what time of the year you go and amount of rainfall/snowmelt), then back down again to your car. The Warspite Cascade is a scenic spot to take a break and enjoy the numerous larch trees at its high elevation. At lower elevations along the trail, you will see more Aspen trees, which by late September and early October, should rapidly be changing color.
If you're feeling up to it, you can extend your hike and head toward Black Prince Lake starting from Warspite Cascade, adding another 6 or so kilometers to the journey. Be warned, however, as this extended stretch of trail is significantly steeper and more difficult.
Chester Lake
Are you looking for a trail that will take up a bit more of your day? The Chester Lake is one of the most popular in the region, whether it is Summer or Fall. This roughly 10 km trail is also located on the Smith Dorian Trail and is notable for its abundance of larch trees along with the pristine Chester Lake that sits at its high point.
The brilliantly blue lake is nestled between Mount Chester and Mount Galatea and contrasts with the almost neon-yellow larches that rest on its shores. Stop here for a break and make a point a point of bringing up a good camera (if you have one), as this truly is one of the most beautiful places in Kananaskis, a beauty that attracts its fair share of crowds also. Try to arrive on a weekday for a more secluded outing.
Mount Lorette Ponds
This small collection of ponds on the shoulder of Highway 40 is a highly accessible and picturesque locale to experience Fall in Kananaskis. With flat and wheelchair-accessible trails circumnavigating the small ponds, this spot is ideal for people of all abilities looking for a quick and easy stop while passing through the area.
The remarkably clear waters that make up the Mount Lorette ponds will reflect the colorful foliage around them. Be on the lookout for fish as you peer in since the ponds are regularly stocked with trout, also making it a popular place for fishing.
Between the pond and parking lot are a number of picnic tables, some of which also have fire rings near them. These family picnic areas are generally separated by trees and shrubs, giving you a sense of privacy at this popular destination as you eat your lunch with a view.
Kananaskis Village
Stay the night in Kananaskis at this renowned resort area that boasts a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, shops, and other amenities. Kananaskis Village in the Fall is an excellent choice for anybody who wants to spend some extra time soaking in the sights that come at this vibrant time of the year. Surrounded by alpine forests, it is also a great place to start an outdoor adeventure along the many trails nearby.
Take the family on the relatively easy Troll Falls Trail, noted for its aspen groves and, of course, the Troll Falls, or do something a little harder and venture up to the Mount Kidd Lookout, which provides some of the best views you can get of the Kananaskis Valley below. You can warm up and relax after a day out at one of the public firepits at Kananaskis Mountain Lodge, one of the lodging options in the Village. These nightly fires are open for the public and hotel guests alike.
Near the village is also the Kananaskis Country Golf Course, which is widely ranked among the most beautiful courses in all of Canada. Usually requiring a booking well in advance, this course is often open in the early days of Fall when weather conditions can still permit play.
A Road Trip on the Highwood Pass
The Highwood Pass is the highest highway in Canada, sitting at an elevation of 7,273 feet, and will take you through some of the country's most breathtaking scenery. Given its sheer height and proclivity to clog up with snow and ice, it is completely closed from December through to as late as mid-June! Good thing for those visiting in the Fall, this stretch of highway is a perfect route for a short road trip from Calgary.
There are several stops along the way in Kananaskis, including several roadside viewpoints and other points of interest. There are also numerous trailheads along the way, ranging from shorter excursions like Ptarmigan Cirque to longer hikes like Pocaterra Ridge Trail.
Several towns can also be stopped on the route outside of Kananaskis to fuel up your car and fill your stomach. South of Calgary is Diamond Valley, which is home to some great eateries like the famed Chuck Wagon Cafe (only open for breakfast and lunch), and just west of Calgary is Cochrane, a bigger city with a huge variety of amenities of all kinds.
You can either approach it from the north, going south along Highway 40 from Highway 1, or from the south, coming up from the town of Longview. Assuming you're starting from Calgary, this route forms a loop if completely navigated through and should take 3-4 hours to drive, not counting the time you will probably spend stopping at various points along the way.
Elbow Falls
Elbow Falls is among the most visited attractions in Elbow Valley, a more central section of Kananaskis. Easily accessible from Calgary along Highway 66 (not the famous highway across the United States, although, arguably as beautiful), this waterfall is just an hour's drive away and is a perfect spot to spend some time in nature this Fall.
This serene, fast-flowing cascade is made even better by the colorful leaves in the surrounding woods. Due to the high elevation of the Elbow Falls, frost and snow come somewhat early in the year, often giving it a dusting in mid-late Fall. For many, the addition of snow and ice, which eventually encroaches onto the river but doesn't usually block it, just adds to the ambiance of the area and makes it a popular spot for landscape photography year-round.
With a large parking lot and public restrooms nearby, Elbow Falls makes for a fun and relaxing stop on a road trip throughout Kananaskis. Bragg Creek, the closest town, is also a good place to stop for a bite to eat, to go shopping at its locally owned boutiques, or to simply fill up on gas.
See the Other Wonders of Kananaskis this Fall
The list above covers only a handful of the things you can see and do this Fall in and around Kananaskis Country. Whether you want to go on a camping trip in Sheep Valley, spend an afternoon shopping in Canmore, or whatever else as the beautiful summer weather turns cold, there is so much you can discover on your own in this gem of Alberta.
