Trails For Hikers Trails For Horseback Riders, Bikers & Hikers Hiking Safety TRAIL ACCESS REMARKS TRAIL ACCESS REMARKS Elbow Valley BEAVER FLATS Beaver Lodge A flat trail running alongside a series of DIAMOND T LOOP Station Flats staging Uphill through pine woods, with a short INTERPRETIVE picnic area/Beaver active beaver ponds with an abandoned 5 km return area detour to a foothills lookout. 1.5 km one way Flats Campground beaver lodge next to the trail. Signs describe 120 m/390 ft. beaver life. Before You Hike Summer Trails FORD CREEK Little Elbow Recreation A mountain biking and equestrian trail, this ELBOW FALLS Elbow Falls picnic A short, paved loop that takes you to the 18 km one way Area trail follows the eastern foot of Nihahi Ridge. INTERPRETIVE area viewpoints over Elbow Falls. The upper 590 m/1,935 ft. • Plan Ahead! 1 km return (left-hand) part of the loop is wheelchair accessible. Signs describe water erosion Climb through the trees on the north side and management. FORD KNOLL Forgetmenot Pond 4 km return picnic area of the loop and descend through open • Research your route and check the weather forecast. Ensure you 235 m/770 ft. meadows with views down the Elbow River FULLERTON LOOP Allen Bill day use area You have a choice of getting a workout valley have adequate information to assist with route-finding such as maps, 7 km return climbing the ridge edge, or taking the more 213 m/692 ft. gradual route up the valley behind. On guidebooks or a GPS file of the route.

Roughly paralleling the highway, the trail The way to top of the ridge, there are views to Moose ELBOW VALLEY Station Flats staging Mountain, west down the valley and south 10 km one way area, Paddy’s Flat winds up and down through forests and Elbow Valley across the Elbow River. 365 m/1,200 ft. Campground, meadows. It forms popular loops with • Make a trip plan and let a friend or family member know where you are Elbow River Boat Sulphur Springs Trail or Riverview Trail. A ford across Canyon Creek is required. LITTLE ELBOW Forgetmenot Pond From Forgetmenot Pond, the trail takes Launch, Elbow Falls, going and when you plan to return. Canada’s AdventureSmart website INTERPRETIVE picnic area, Little strollers through the picnic area to the Powderface picnic Elbow picnic area Little Elbow River, and follows upstream to areas includes excellent trip planning resources. 2.5 km one way the end of Little Elbow Campground. Signs Half of the popular Elbow Loop, the Little describe river ecology. LITTLE ELBOW Little Elbow Recreation Area Elbow Trail is an old fireroad that follows 23 km one way west and south along the Little Elbow • Ensure that you are carrying a safety communication device such as an MCLEAN CREEK McLean Creek A short stroll through pine and spruce 400 m/1,310 ft. forest, wetlands and meadows. River, over Tombstone Pass to Tombstone emergency personal locator device or a cellular phone. However, note that INTERPRETIVE amphitheatre backcountry campground. Views of Mounts 1.2 km return Romulus, Remus, Glasgow & Tombstone. cellular service is limited in many areas including the mountains. NIHAHI RIDGE Little Elbow Trail, Switchbacks up to the shoulder of Nihahi Ridge, a quick dive across the open saddle MOOSE MOUNTAIN End of Moose Mt. An old fireroad that follows Moose Ridge Elbow Valley Visitor 2.5 km one way 0.5 km west of and switchbacks up Moose Dome. The final 390 m/1,280 ft. campground and then straight up the ridge edge. Great 7.3 km one way Road • Pack appropriate equipment for your outing. Items to consider include: views east down the Elbow River Valley and 470 m/1540 ft. kilometre to the lookout is a steep, single- Information Centre west up the Little Elbow River Valley. track trail on loose rock. proper footwear, extra layers of clothing including a hat or toque, protection 403-949-4261 This trail runs from the campground through Little Elbow Trail Follow beside and above the creek behind from the sun, wind and insects, a flashlight or headlamp, adequate food PADDY’S FLAT Paddy’s Flat NIHAHI CREEK Nihahi Ridge. When the packed-dirt trail INTERPRETIVE Campground mixed woods down to the river and back 2.4 km one way and water, and an emergency shelter. up to the campground. Riverview Trail is 240 m/790 ft. exits onto the dry upper creek bed, a sharp 2.2 km return accessed off the west end of the interpretive left downstream leads hikers to the Nihahi trail. Brochure describes ecology of Elbow Creek Canyon with its water-polished rock River Valley. walls. Hikers can follow the canyon for a Service Alberta • Carry bear spray year round and know how to use it! Watch this how-to kilometre before having to retrace steps. From the campground, the trail follows up video. TOMBSTONE Little Elbow Call Centre Trail, Tombstone Tombstone Creek to the first of the lakes LAKES nestled in the arms of Tombstone Mountain. Powderface staging This trail follows Powderface Creek up its (toll free in Alberta) 2 km one way backcountry POWDERFACE narrow valley to the Three-trail Pass. The campground Access to the upper lake is along the north CREEK area 180 m/590 ft. side of the lower lake. eastern half of the trail is gently rolling, 310-0000 While You Hike 6.2 km one way but steeper, rockier terrain is encountered 510 m/1,673 ft. further west. Day Trails For Bikers & Hikers • Stay on established trails and avoid trail braiding. A strenuous climb from either end, with POWDERFACE End of Highway #66 TRAIL ACCESS REMARKS or Three-trail Pass great views and flower-filled meadows at Kananaskis Country RIDGE the top. • Share the trail with other users. During breaks, step off the trail so others RIVERVIEW Paddy’s Flat Loop This trail meanders through aspen and 7 km one way Campgrounds 4 km one way Trail, Elbow Valley mixed woods up the escarpment above the 640 m/2,100 ft. can pass.

102 m/300 ft. across from Paddy’s Elbow River. Aptly named, this trail has great Beaver Lodge parking The first two kilometres of this trail climb 403-949-3132 Flat Campground views of the river canyon. It is also a good PRAIRIE CREEK lot, Powderface the edge of a cool, shaded canyon. Once turnoff or west of wildflower trail. 9.2 km one way over the promontory over the creek, the trail 180 m/590 ft. staging area or • Do NOT pick or collect wildflowers or other vegetation including deadfall. Moose Mountain Powderface Road drops down and follows a series of beaver Road. ponds and wide meadows. This trail can Picking or collecting rocks, fossils and artifacts is NOT permitted. Take a be muddy. Backcountry Camping photograph instead! Trails For Horseback Riders, Bikers & Hikers This is a cut-off between Powderface PRAIRIE LINK Powderface Creek or Permits Prairie Creek Trails Creek and Prairie Creek Trails, shortening • Do not litter. This includes cigarette butts, seed shells and tissue. TRAIL ACCESS REMARKS 3 km one way a 24 kilometre loop to 11. The trail climbs 403-678-3136 85 m/280 ft. through forest over the saddle between the two trails. BIG ELBOW Little Elbow Recreation This is the east half of the well-known • Occasional shouting will warn wildlife that you are in the area. 26.5 km one way Area Elbow Loop. The old fireroad follows the The west end of the trail climbs along the 350 m/1,150 ft. Elbow River upstream past Big Elbow SULPHUR Elbow Valley Trail, SPRINGS Moose Mountain Road escarpment over Canyon Creek through backcountry campground to Tombstone aspen stands, then the trail winds through backcountry campground and trail junctions 5.2 km one way • This is especially important near noisy creeks and in dense forest. 215 m/705 ft. spruce forest down to the east junction with beyond. Views of Threepoint and Cougar Elbow Valley Trail. For More Information Mountains, Mounts Glasgow and Cornwall, and Banded Peak. www.Kananaskis-Country.ca TRAIL CREEK Ford Creek Trail. A connector between Ford Creek Trail, • Shouts are more effective than a bell, whistle or horn. the gravel road and the Powderface Trails THREEPOINT After fording the Elbow River, this trail 2.5 km one way Powderface Road, Big Elbow Trail 275 m/900 ft. Three-trail Pass (creek and ridge). East of the highway, it MOUNTAIN climbs steeply over the pass between climbs steadily through forest to the Three- 10 km one way Threepoint and Forgetmenot mountains, trail Pass, offering views of Nihahi and • If you decide to take your dog into the backcountry 460 m/1,510 ft. and down to Threepoint backcountry Compression Ridges to the west. campground. WILDHORSE Little Elbow Recreation Access to this trail requires fording the • Your dog must be kept on a leash at all times. TOM SNOW Station Flats staging The main connector trail between the Elbow Elbow River. From the ford at Big Elbow, River Valley and Sibbald Creek Valley, this 16 km one way Area, Cobble Flats Emergency 30 km one way area, Dawson 357 m/1,170 ft. picnic area the trail follows around the north side of 210 m/700 ft. Campground trail winds through foothills to the east and Forgetmenot Ridge, then up the valley to If you require Fire, Ambulance, Police or Mountain Rescue assistance, immediately call Cover Photo: north around Moose Mountain. Used mainly the east. Mountain bikers link this trail with Hiking the upper reaches of the Elbow River — Eric Kuhn • Your dog's waste must be packed out or buried. for mountain biking and equestrian. the Quirk Creek fireroad through the off- highway vehicle zone. 9-1-1. Tell the operator you have an emergency in Kananaskis Country. ISBN: 0-7785-1166-9 Pub. No.: I/844 Printed June 2016 • Wildlife regard your pet as either prey or predator. Powderface To Moose Mountain *Not recommended Trail Fire Lookout for summer use due Telephone Wildlife Viewing (Road) to wet sections Loop Map #3 Little Elbow Recreation Area 5.8 Wildlife viewing and photography comes with responsibilities; the most important is respect to all N To Ford Knoll (Loop) N To Ford Creek Powderface Ford Tom Ford Trail (Road) Creek Snow wildlife. Knoll (Loop) 0.7 Long Distance 4.9 Ford Scale: 1 : 60,000 Merlin Viewing Distances Scale: 1 : 20,000 Knoll To Powderface Tom View (Loop) Ridge Kananaskis 750 m Snow 6.3 200 m 0.2 2.6 Country These are the minimum distances from wildlife that are applicable in most cases. Stay back at least 0.6 Contour Interval: 60 m Moose Moose Loop Telephone • 100 metres from bears 1.9 Loop Reconnect Boundary Ranger 1.9 Loop 2.6 Ford Elbow Falls 1.5 Loop B Knoll 0.2Ford Trail (Road) Creek Long • 50 metres from all other large species Creek Canyon Distance Loop A 1.1 Trail Creek 0.1 0.2 1.0 Demi-Tel • 200 metres from coyote, fox or wolf dens Road 0.7 0.1 3.2 Prairie Creek 1.6 Loop E 0.3 Telephone Telephone Horse Stalls Forgetmenot Pond Moose Loop Loop 1.4 However, it is up to each person observing wildlife to watch for defensive warning signals. If you see the Cmpgd. Registration 0.6 Loop D Prairie Dome Long 3.5 0.9 0.2 0.4 following defensive warning signals from wildlife, pull back further or leave the area. If you cause an Loop C Creek Creek Distance Forgetmenot Bragging 2.9 animal to move, you are too close. 0.5 Pond Canyon Moose Rights Moose Elbow Wildhorse 1.0 Suspension 0.3 0.4 Little Elbow Creek Tom Connector 2.2 Connector River River Warning 0.6 Bridge 0.3 0.18 Trail to ice cave Snow 0.7 0.7 To Nihahi Creek, 0.1 Trail not recommended • Bears make a “woofi ng” noise, growl and pop their jaws or swat the ground. Nihahi Ridge & 0.3 Little Elbow 0.2 Creek due to dangerous Moose Hostel Telephone 1.3 rock conditions • Bull elk and moose put their heads down and paw at the ground. Big Elbow Connector Loop Loop 0.8 0.9 1.2 • Cow elk fl atten their ears, stare directly at you and raise their rump hair. Ranger West 0.8 • Even agitated deer can be dangerous and cause injuries to people. Ford Creek Crystal Line 0.4 Creek 2.9 0.3 0.1 0.9 0.3 1.6 Ridgeback 0.5 0.2 West Bragg Creek Other Wildlife Viewing & Photography Guidelines Prairie Logger’s 0.5 Mountain Loop 1.0 Sundog Prairie Link Prairie Creek 2210 m Loop Bragg Ranger 1.1 East Creek • Never approach the den site of any species. 2.5 Powderface Creek Summit 0.7 Crystal Line 2.1 Township Road 232 Tom 1.8 0.9 0.6 • Do not surround, crowd or follow an animal. Moose Snow Ridgeback 3.4 2.9 Ranger 5.7 Mountain Elbow Boundary • Do not stalk or pursue wildlife. Prairie Road Summit Creek 0.8 0.4 Ridge Powderface Canyon Strange 0.5 0.8 • Never follow an animal into the bush. Creek Creek Brew • Do not try to entice wildlife by feeding or by simulating animal calls (e.g. elk bugling). Road 2.8 9.7 2.8 Ranger Iron • Choose the best time of day. Early morning and late afternoon/evening are the best times for Summit Ranger Springs Nihahi Summit 1.8 viewing many species of birds and mammals. Creek Powderface Creek 0.6 0.7 1.2 Elbow Boundary • Use viewing guides and equipment. Make use of binoculars and spotting scopes to get a close-up look. Canyon 2.1 Ridge Powderface Powderface Winter Gate Creek 0.3 3.5 Ridge Bring fi eld identifi cation guides to help you identify what you see. 7.0 Road Closed Ridgeback Nihahi Dec. 1 - May 14 incl. Fullerton 0.3 • If you don’t have a telephoto lens for your camera (at least 300-400 mm), show the animal in Creek Ford 1.9 Creek Loop To Beaver Diamond T TomRanger 0.1 Iron Bragg its natural surroundings. Flats Elbow Snow 2.0 2.1 Springs 2.4 Powderface Valley Loop Creek Elbow Iron Creek 4.6 2.6 1.5 1.5 Creek • The best way to safely photograph wildlife is from a vehicle or observation area. Nihahi Ridge Trail Sulphur 0.9 0.5 Beaver 2.5 Springs • Never put people (especially children) at risk by posing them with wildlife. (Road) Lodge Station Flats Iron Little 4.3 Diamond T Allen Bill Springs Rainy Loop 0.3 Elbow Elbow See map #3 for Beaver Elbow Elbow 0.8 Traffi c & Parking Creek Falls 1.3 1.2 details of 66 Flats Elbow 0.8 Snagmore Valley 4.4 Little Elbow Allen 0.3 Nihahi Elbow Bill • If you see a wildlife grazing at roadside, please don’t stop. Drive by slowly instead. Little Recreation Ford Elbow Elbow Ridge Falls P River Pond Area Creek Elbow River Launch Winter Gate River • If you must stop to view roadside wildlife Trail Elbow Road Closed Cove (road) River Dec. 1 - May 14 incl. • Avoid stopping along roadways during periods of high traffi c volume. 2.5 Elbow McLean Creek Gooseberry Powderface Ridge Camping Centre Camp • Do not stop at or near hill crests, corners, or sharp curves and intersections. 2.2 Riverview 3.6 River Horizon Elbow Paddy’s Flat Valley Ford • Pull vehicles well onto the shoulder and park safely off the driving lanes. Use roadside pull-offs and parking areas 1.0 0.7 0.4 Knoll Visitor 0.6 Information to help avoid traffi c congestion around wildlife. Centre 0.8 Sylvester • Use your hazard lights. 1.1 Creek McLean Little Cobble Flats Staging Winter Gate Connop • Remain in your vehicle. Elbow 3.0 Always go prepared Area Road Closed Creek Elbow 66 River Forgetmenot McLean McLean Dec. 1 - April 30 • Stay at least 100 metres away even if you're in a vehicle. Wildlife need their space. Pond Take along a basic survival kit: flashlight, map, Creek Pond Falls To See Sheep Wildhorse Little Elbow Elbow Trail Hwy. • If you get out of your vehicle, do not trample vegetated areas. Valley Trails Map Wildhorse Creek first-aid kit, extra food, clothing, whistle, and raingear. McLean for Elbow Loop River Pond (road) 22X Big Remember, the weather can change at a moment’s Trails Details Elbow Elbow McLean Creek These guidelines will cause the least impact on wildlife, ensuring they remain safe and wild. Traffi c con- River notice. gestion around wildlife sometimes results in motor vehicle accidents. Drive carefully and be observant of other drivers.