1 Leitch Collieries 7 Lille 11 Saskatoon Mountain 15 Crowsnest Mountain 20 Lynx Creek (0.8 km loop) (6.3 km one way) (1.8 km to summit) (5.8 km to summit - 1040 m elevation gain) (5.6 km to the end of the road) Ta e a Hi e Trailhead: Leitch Collieries Provincial Historic Site - Trailhead: North of Centre access road Trailhead: There are several informal routes that lead Trailhead: Drive north on the Allison Creek/Atlas Road Trailhead: Follow Sartoris Road south from Blairmore in the Highway 3, 5 km east of Bellevue (another option is to park at the Frank Slide Centre from the Pineview subdivision in Coleman to for 9.7 km, keeping right at the junction for Chinook for 10 km, where a rough road leads northwest up Self-guided interpretive trails lead visitors through and walk back down the paved access road to the Saskatoon Mountain. This route leads from the Lake. From the parking area, the trail leads back Lynx Creek. Park at the junction and hike the road. CrowsnestCrowsnest PassPass the remains of Leitch Collieries, a coal mine that cattleguard at the ). Cross the cattleguard Kananaskis Highway (Highway 40). Drive north from south. The road leads up through the forests burned out operated from 1906-1915. The trails are gravelled at the hairpin turn on the Frank Slide Interpretive Coleman on Highway 40. Stop just beyond the Crowsnest Mountain is the crown jewel of hikes in in the Lost Creek Fire of 2003. Mt. Coulthard and and are wheelchair accessible. Interpretive sta is Centre access road. Take the second road to your left cattleguard indicating the beginning of the Forest the area. The massive form of the mountain can the dominate the views to the on site each summer from May 15 to Labour Day. (approximately 250 m from the cattleguard). Park in Reserve. actually be summited by hikers without having to west. It is possible to hike beyond the end of the the meadow. There is no formal trail leading up “Saskie”. From do any technical climbing. However, it is a long and road to the meadowed slopes above. HIKING TRAILS Hike on the rough road that leads into the forest. Highway 40, follow the fence line west as it steadily dicult hike, with many hazards including danger 2 Crowsnest Community Trail Once the rough road rejoins the main Lille access climbs up through forest and open grassland. The from falling rock and some very exposed sections. 21 true summit of Saskatoon Mountain is about ten Ironstone Lookout (23.0 km one way) road (approximately 1.5 km from the start), turn left The trail leads through the forest and begins to (2.9 km from gate on York Creek road) Easy Trailhead: The trail can be accessed from many points and follow the road up the Gold Creek Valley. There minutes after the rst lower summit. climb at a very steady pace, eventually reaching is one small crossing of Green Creek, followed by treeline just before the 3 km mark. From here the Trailhead: Take the York Creek Road south from Generally on well-maintained trails with little through the community, with the o cial western Coleman. Depending on your vehicle, you may not trailhead at the walking bridge over the Crowsnest two more substantial crossings of the Gold Creek. route leads up open scree slopes to the base of the change in elevation and no major hazards. For both Gold Creek crossings, there are snow- massive cli s above. Once at the base of the cli s, want to drive much of this road. The gated road to River at the west end of Willow Drive in Coleman and Ironstone is approximately 6.5 km from Coleman. Hiking boots are not necessary. the o cial eastern trailhead at the Hillcrest Coal and mobile bridges upstream from the vehicle ford. the route works its way to the left, eventually One nal crossing at Morin Creek brings you out reaching ‘the Chimney’, the crux of this route. In Add whatever distance you don’t drive to the 2.9 km Coke Centennial Park. from the gate to the lookout. This non-motorized route connects all of the into the open at what once was the coal mining dry conditions, the 50m long chute is generally not community of Lille. A bit of searching will nd a major problem. In early season, if snow persists From the gate, the road climbs steadily and steeply Moderate communities of the . It ranges from up Willoughby Ridge to the re lookout. There are paved roadway and trail to gravel trail to natural basement depressions, bricks, rusted metal and a or in foul weather, the Chimney can be treacherous. couple of re hydrants. Once in the meadow, if you Once above the Chimney, the route follows a series expansive views of the area burned in the Lost Trail may involve signicant changes in trail surface. The trail passes through Coleman, Creek Fire in 2003. Blairmore, Frank, Bellevue and Hillcrest and o ers veer to the left, you will come across the basement of tracks steeply through loose scree, eventually elevation and moderate distances. Hiking access to many of the area’s vast collection of foundation of the Lille Hotel, a ne two-storey reaching the peak. Being the highest point in the boots recommended. Topographic map signicant historical sites. Between the urban structure in its day. Continuing in this direction will Crowsnest Pass at 2785 m, views are unparalleled 22 North York Creek areas the trail passes through some stunning lead to a large pile of slack coal and the remains of from the summit. useful but not usually essential. Lille’s Bernard-type coke ovens. Note: Good scrambling and route-nding skills are a (6.2 km from York Creek bridge) natural areas. Wildlife is often seen along the Pika trail as it winds its way through the Crowsnest Note: Lille is an Provincial Historic Site. Do not must for this hike. This hike can be extremely Trailhead: Take the York Creek Road south from River valley o ering spectacular views and disturb or take anything from the site. dangerous for those unprepared or unskilled. Coleman. Approximately 4 km from Coleman, you peaceful seclusion. can park at the bridge over York Creek. Challenging 12 Wedge Mountain Cross the bridge and follow the route that leads up (1.9 km to summit - 430 m elevation gain) Window Mountain Lake the south bank of York Creek. The route eventually Will have either major change of elevation, Trailhead: There is no specic trailhead for this hike. forks, and hikers take the right fork across York Creek 3 signicant distance or a major hazard. Route Frank Slide Trail Follow the McGillivray Creek (Gun Range) Road from and up the North York Creek drainage. The route ends (1.5 km loop) the west end of Coleman. From the cattleguard at where in 1946 an RCAF DC-3 Dakota crashed into the nding skills may be required. Topographic Trailhead: Frank Slide Interpretive Centre parking lot 2.5 km on the road, Wedge Mountain stands out to valley, killing all on board. The upper valley, below map essential. Must have hiking boots. This gravel pathway leads into the rocks of the the right (north). Turn right at the next intersection the face of Mt. Coulthard, has pleasant meadows. Frank Slide of 1903, giving hikers an up-close look and park in one of the primitive camping areas near at the awesome power of nature. An interpretive the mountain’s base. 23 The Promised Land guidebook is available for a minimal cost from the Wedge Mountain is one of the line of peaks that Very Challenging Frank Slide Interpretive Centre gift shop and is make up the Crowsnest Volcanics, a geologically (8.7 km to pass - 985 m elevation gain) keyed to numbered markers along the trail. unique formation in the southern Rockies. The hike Trailhead: Turn south o of Highway 3 just east of the does not follow any trails, and one must simply slog bridge over Crowsnest Creek, 11 km west of Coleman. Dicult route with major change in their way up the rough volcanic rocks. Views from Drive on the gravel road for 3 km and park at the junction. elevation. Mountain scrambling and route 4 Hastings Ridge the large cairn at the summit are impressive, 16 Window Mountain Lake The route follows the rough road to the left (south). especially towards the looming face of Crowsnest (2.0 km to lake) The rst 2/3 of this route cross back and forth over nding skills required. Must be prepared (3.5 km one way) Mountain. the bubbling waters of Ptolemy Creek and can make Trailhead: Drive north on the Allison Creek/Atlas Road with appropriate gear. Trailhead: Height of land on Adanac Road, 9.5 km Coke ovens at Lille Note: Good hiking boots are a must for this hike. for a nice outing in itself. At the end of the road, a from East Hillcrest Road for 16.5 km, keeping right at the junction for Chinook well-dened trail climbs very steeply up through Follow the old road that leads west from the Lake. At km 16.5 a rough road leads left (west) for the forest to a rocky pass into the moonscape of Discover cattleguard, taking left forks when faced with an 13 Chinook Lake Circuit 2 km, ending at a parking area. ‘The Promised Land’. There are several signicant option. The road slowly climbs the ridge, emerging 8 Turtle Mountain (North Peak) (2.3 km loop) A well-dened path leads steeply up and over the caves in the immediate area, including Cleft Cave, Crowsnest Heritage above the remains of an open pit coal mining (3.1 km to summit - 780 m elevation gain) headwall from the parking area into the basin Gargantua Cave and Yorkshire Pot. Trailhead: This trail begins along the shoreline of holding the stunning blue-green waters of Window The route or the nal destination are operation from the 1940s. From the height of the Trailhead: The trail begins on the pipeline right-of-way Chinook (Allison) Lake Note: Caving can be extremely dangerous. Do not enter ridge, there are expansive panoramic views in all Mountain Lake. The lake is a very popular spot in any caves without proper equipment and training. signicant in the history of the Crowsnest at the west end of the rocky spur that extends down to This pleasant 2.3 km loop encircles Chinook Lake, the summer with day hikers and anglers. Despite directions. The Flathead Range to the west the Blairmore subdivision on Turtle Mountain’s slope. and the trail is seldom far from the shores of this dominates the vista that extends south to Waterton its name, the “window” on the ridge south of Pass and . A back alley o of 16th Avenue onto the pipleline peaceful pond. If hiking clockwise, watch for the Mount Ward cannot be seen from the lake. Park. right-of-way will lead down to a parking area below trail as it heads down into the forest a few hundred the trail. Painted yellow rocks indicate the start of the metres beyond the western end of the lake. The 17 trail. campground is busy spring through fall, and there Mount Ward 5 Livingstone Range The trail begins rather steeply and roughly, ghting is generally kid activity in the summer along the (1.6 km from lake to summit - its way up the west shoulder of Turtle Mountain. 470 m elevation gain) Ta e a Hi e HIKING IN THE Raptor Migration Viewpoint trail at the ‘beach’. (2.6 km one way) The trail is generally well-dened throughout its Trailhead: The route begins on the scree slopes at the CROWSNEST PASS length. Although there is no actual climbing far end of Window Mountain Lake in the Trailhead: Abandoned well site on gravel road north involved, good scrambling and route nding For those keen to see the “window” from the top Wildlife of Frank Slide Centre. The access road leads north abilities are an essential. The route comes very of Mount Ward, it is a tough scramble up the loose The Crowsnest Pass is wildlife country! Even across the cattleguard from the hairpin turn on the close to a number of sheer precipices, so those who scree slope from the southwest corner of Window Crowsnest Frank Slide Interpretive Centre access road. Follow the Crowsnest do not like very exposed views should not attempt Mountain Lake. Follow the general direction of the on an Easy trail, you may encounter wildlife, main road up the hill, keeping right at the main this trail. From the top of North Peak, there are gulley as it leads around the back of Mount Ward, including bears. Do not approach or feed junction. Eventually this leads to an open meadow fantastic views in all directions, but especially down eventually ending up on the open slopes leading to (abandoned well site) beneath the Livingstone Range. wildlife. Be bear aware. If you are hiking in onto the rocks of the Frank Slide in the valley below. the summit. From the top there are great views From the well site, there are game trails and a few over to the “window” on nearby Window Mountain. Pass worn routes that lead steeply up the grass and Pass bear habitat, hike in groups and make lots of forest ridge, and those with good route-nding 9 Miner’s Path noise. Wood ticks are common on grassy skills will have few problems. Once on the ridge, NOTE: The Atlas Road, which provides access to (0.8 km one way) the Crowsnest Mountain and Window Mountain slopes in the rst six weeks of spring. nd the internet transmission station (looks like a Trailhead: Flumerfelt Park in Coleman Lake hikes, is scheduled to be decommissioned plastic porta-potty). The viewpoint is on the This path follows Nez Perce Creek for 0.8 km to Chinook Lake and closed at some point in the future. Check eastern face of the ridge, overlooking Rock Creek Rainbow Falls. A side branch at the 0.2 km mark with the S.R.D. oce in Blairmore for updates. valley. In the spring and fall each year, thousands crosses the creek and leads steeply up stairs to the of large raptors make their way north and south old McGillivray Mine site, which still has many 14 Deadman Pass (7.3 km to pass) along this yway, using the thermals to lift them remnants of a bygone coal mining era. It was 18 Phillipps Pass high above the valley oor. Golden eagle counts along this same path that miners would walk to Trailhead: Trail begins as the Chinook Lake Circuit, (4.1 km to pass) are taken from this location each migration season. work each day. A Miner’s Path brochure is available heading northwest from the boat launch. Continue Trailhead: Turn north o of Highway 3 at Sentinel at from the Crowsnest Museum in Coleman. straight where the Chinook Lake Circuit cuts to the the east end of . Pass the small Red Squirrel right. collection of buildings to the bridge over the Livingstone Range This forest-enclosed hike leads to a low Continental 6 10 Star Creek Falls Crowsnest River. Park once across the bridge (before Hazards Chert Quarries Divide pass northwest of Chinook Lake. Three the railway tracks). The route follows the road that (2.3 km one way) (1.2 km to Falls viewpoint) kilometres from the lake, a rough 4WD road is turns left across the C.P.R. tracks. Like any natural area, the Crowsnest Pass has Trailhead: Take Willow Drive west from West Coleman encountered. Turn left and follow the road, taking a The route follows the road along Crowsnest Lake Trailhead: Pipeline access road north of Frank Slide many hazards that hikers need to deal with. for 1.7 km to the bridge over Star Creek. 100 m past right fork 100 metres down the 4WD road. A and then up a narrow, rocky valley to Phillipps Pass. Centre. The access road leads north across the the bridge turn left and drive 700 m (rough road) to number of streams and beaver ponds are found Tiny Phillipps Lake (on the Alberta-B.C. border) Be aware that the weather can change cattleguard from the hairpin turn on the Frank Slide the trailhead sign. near the actual Alberta-B.C. border. The trail does signies your crossing of the Continental Divide. suddenly in the Crowsnest Pass. A sunny day Interpretive Centre access road. Follow the main road This route leads through a small canyon to 15 m continue into B.C., but it is a long walk down The route continues down the west side of the pass up the hill, keeping right at the main junction and (12 km+) to Highway 3. can quickly become cold and rainy. In the high Star Creek Falls. In the spring of the year, the for 3.4 km to Crowsnest Provincial Park on Highway then left to the gas pipeline (watch for the orange creek has much more ow and you will have to 3 in B.C. This route was used prior to the arrival fall , hunters can be found in many areas of pipeline warning signs). Although it is possible to stick to the main trail. In autumn, when water of Europeans by First Nation groups crossing the drive part of this road (rough 4WD), it is best to hike the Crowsnest Pass outside the municipal levels are much lower, it is possible to make your Prairie crocus Prairie Crocus mountains. In 1873, Michael Phillipps, a Hudson’s from where you rst reach the pipeline. way up the canyon oor to the falls. Bay Company trader, made the rst recorded boundaries. If hiking in the fall, stay on Hike the pipeline road up to the windswept pass crossing of the pass. at the crest of the Livingstone Range. From here well-marked trails and wear bright clothing. Livingstone Range Chert Quarries Note: The landowner has been accommodating to make your way less than half a kilometre back east hikers in the past, but this route can potentially be Private Property to the base of the large eletrical transmission tower. closed o at any time. Please receive permission from The “quarries” are found on the bench overlooking the landowner before beginning this hike. Make sure you have permission before the Crowsnest Valley, another 100m southeast of the tower. It was at this location, in the waist-deep crossing into any private property. pits, that the K’tunaxa and the Piikani dug out 19 Crowsnest Ridge nodules of chert, a int-like material, which they (1.4 km from Phillipps Pass road to summit) Drinking Water used for tool making. Although most waters in the Crowsnest Pass Note: This hike can easily be combined with the Trailhead: The route begins from the Phillipps Pass Livingstone Range Raptor Migration Viewpoint trail, approximately 0.5 km west of Phillipps Lake. look pristine, they may be unt to drink. Do (Hike #5) to make a loop trip. The distance from the The steep access road to the communications not depend on creeks, rivers or lakes for your Chert Quarries to the Raptor Migration Viewpoint is Trail descriptions adapted from and distances taken tower on Crowsnest Ridge can be hiked from the from Southern Rockies Trail Guide by Joey Ambrosi. Phillipps Pass road. There are very dramatic views water. Provide your own source of hydration. approximately 0.5 km. It is approximately 1.0 km between trailheads. Photos courtesy Frank Slide Interpretive Centre. down to Crowsnest Lake from the ridge. c 2012 Community Futures Crowsnest Pass to to Western Economic Diversi cation de l’economie Longview Old Diversi cation Canada de l’Ouest Canada Highway 40 ma Black Diamond n Longview Ri Okotoks ve

r Maple Leaf k

Window e 22 e Mountain r Window C

Mountain Lake e 40 s Lake r o Bellevue h FRANK SLIDE e INTERPRETIVE CENTRE c 16 a R venue TO TRAILHEAD 27th A e Leitch Avenu 1 17 to 27th Collieries Mount Fireman’s Bellevue Underground East Ward Park Mine Tour Access 2 ilway ific Ra n Pac adia 3 Can ALBERTA r ive Ta e a Hi e Crowsnest R

t B.C. e e A r NOTE: The Atlas Road in the t t S l h a is scheduled to be t 3 s 1

decomissioned and 2 R

oad closed at some point in the near future. CrowsnestCrowsnest PassPass TO TRAILHEAD Centre Riverbottom NORTH Access Hastings Deadman 4 Ridge Pass 15 Seven to 14 Sisters oad FRANK Crowsnest k R 0 1 2 3 4 5 km Chapel Roc Community Trail Crowsnest Mountain Hillcrest 13 2 2 to Chinook Chinook Lake Lake Circuit Hillcrest Coal & Coke Fernie Centennial Park Ave T Cranbrook 9th 8th Ave Wedge 40 Hillcrest Mine Disaster Trout Cemetery A Hatchery Mountain Mount lliso n k Tecumseh C e

r e

e r

e C 22 k

m

R

k u r

o 12 e e D a r

d Saskatoon C

e N Phillipps r Lille Provincial Mountain o

o to A r TO TRAILHEAD Phillipps Pass Historic Site t

l m h Lake l r Livingstone Range BELLEVUE i i LEGEND B s 11

18 a 5 (Fireman’s Park) l Raptor Migration Viewpoint o

3 Livingstone Range u 2

B n r

Chert Quarries m

Crowsnest C Livingstone Range i HIKING TRAILS 6 r

Miners 7 s Chert Quarries e

19 Lake R

e 6

Path 9 o k

Crowsnest Crowsnest Municipality of a Easy d Ridge Coleman Lake Crowsnest Pass 5 k Frank e Moderate 7 T C 2 e T Frank Slide row 2 Crowsnest r Livingstone Range Interpretive Centre sn iver C est R Community Trail Raptor Migration Viewpoint Slide Emerald 10 d Lille l Challenging Lake o

2 G

Island Star Creek Frank Slide 3 k

Lake d e Interpretive Centre

R Falls Blairmore

e l Frank to r Very Challenging a Frank Slide Frank Slide C k o k BELLEVUE/ e Trail C e Trail Cre y rk e 2 a HILLCREST k Sentry o r hw Pt Y 3 Hig o o C st 3 T Trailhead o le Mountain ne n my s 2 ws i n Bellevue ro Ch o 8 Leitch C Ly to Municipality of C 2 Collieries t 23 re North York Lundbreck Crowsnest Pass s e 1 e k Creek sn 22 Turtle Falls 21 1 3 w Provincial Boundary 5 ro Andy Good Mountain Hillcrest 3 C rd Peak S Paved Road tr Tent Mountain Frank ee Pass Burmis Calgary t Plane Crash k Gravel Road to Site Ironstone e Lake e HILLCREST The Lookout d r Tent a C Lee Lake Mount 1 Promised Mount o A 5

Mountain R n 0

Ptolemy Ptolemy th

Coulthard s d o Lake Crowsnest 6 Land r Pass i a River or Creek e S r u n y en t 2 reet o v a B Community Trail A 20 t c 0th L r 507 Mountain or Ridge 2

a R y o n S a Lynx x d 2 C Pass Creek re e B.C. k Special Feature ALBERTA Hastings to Ridge 4 Beaver Mines Campground Resort to Frank Sulphur Spring Pincher Creek Urban Area BLAIRMORE Crowsnest River

TO TRAILHEAD TO TRAILHEAD Turtle Mountain / Frank Slide Wedge Saskatoon to 12 11 Mountain Mountain Rainbow COLEMAN Falls Highway 40 Blairmore (Kananaskis Highway) West

N Access

e k z e Centre P e Coleman r e Pineview rc C Access e re 129th C o 3 r m e ir e a k l B McGillivray 9 Street Crowsn es mine site t Miners Ri k ve e 2 Riverside r e Path 20th r Avenue East C Memorial Park y Access a r Crowsnest 20th r v

i C Ave l

l i rk Community Trail

G Flumerfelt T Yo

c Park M 3 Canadian Pacific to West Railway Access FRANK West Coleman

Crowsnest 17th Ave 20th 18th Ave Museum k

Ave e e r C

17th Ave n Ave o 16th y Drive 77th Willow L

St T 2 Pass Powderkeg TO TRAILHEAD to Ski Hill Bushtown S Crowsnest BLAIRMORE a 2 Crowsnest r t Community Trail Community Trail o 8

r

Star Creek i Turtle

10 s Crowsnest Falls River Mountain R

o

a

TO TRAILHEAD d

21 Ironstone Lookout TO TRAILHEAD 22 North York 20 Lynx Creek Creek