Quick Little Escape
Getting There
The Grassi Lake Trailhead is just over an hour from Calgary. Located behind Canmore in the Rocky Mountains, this quick hike will give you your back-to-nature fix. You can be back in Calgary in half a day (if you must) or stay for the whole day and enjoy stops along the way. Maybe lunch in Canmore? Or maybe a summertime trip to Mount Engadine Lodge?
The hike is approximately 1.9 km with an elevation gain of 125 meters. It’s perfect for the whole family and I’m told, is a popular trail for folks in Canmore. We arrived around 10:45 a.m. and parked in the overflow lot just off the highway. Remember, you will need a Kananaskis pass to stop here. You can get one online here.
A Fork in the Road
About 100m from the trailhead, there is a fork in the road. Here, you can go to the right, Grassi Lake Upper, for an easier and more accessible trail. This is a wide, groomed trail great for families with small children either walking or in strollers.
If you went left, the path winds up through the dense forest on the Grassi Lakes Interpretive trail. This path is gradual at first but then you reach a very steep portion where you can see amazing views and a waterfall.
On this trip, we were travelling with children in a wagon, so we went to the right. Wildflowers dotted the landscape, and the forest was thick and lush along the way.
This trail is within a wildlife corridor, so everyone is encouraged to stay on the path. There was ‘bear in the area’ signs at the beginning of the hike, but there were also a good number of people around, so we weren’t too concerned.
Bliss
The cherry on top of this hike, are the two gorgeous lakes at the top of the incline. At first, you only see one lake. However, if you walk halfway around it, and go up a few stairs, you will find the other.
Enjoy the pathways around each lake. As well, some massive boulders are fun to explore. Great for the whole family.
This is a picture taking place since the water colour is gorgeous.
We sat at a bench set up at the second lake and watched rock climbers on the cliffs across the lake. It’s a popular place for this and a great place to have your lunch if you packed one.
We took this hike with two small children, so we had to return the way we came. But first, we walked partway down the other path to see the waterfall. Provided that you are on your own, with no encumbrances, this would be the chance to go down the other way to make this 2 km hike a loop.
It’s funny how the trip back always seems faster. In this case, it probably was due to the incline on the front end. Rolling down is a might easier than pulling up!
Bottoms Up
By the end, we had two sleepy bottoms in our wagon. In truth, there’s nothing quite like mountain air and exercise!
In conclusion, this short hike will get your heart pumping and give you lots of natural eye candy. If you haven’t been before, or even if you have, Grassi Lakes is worth the time for a quick little escape.