Hike Pigeon Mountain

Canmore, Alberta

Description

Beautiful views of Kananaskis Valley. Easy to find the trail head and easy to navigate once on the mountain. A perfect full day hike. A gradual incline the whole way (not many steep sections) / not technical. Mountain sheep sightings are common from August - October. There are pigeons! Elevation gain: 990m (3,247 ft). Round trip: 6-6.5 hours (15 kms).

Important note: trail closure from December 1 - June 15th.

Altitude: 2,394m (7,852 ft)Elevation gain: 990m (3,247 ft)Round trip: 6-6.5 hours (15 kms)

Heading West from Calgary on Trans Canada Highway #1 - take the Dead Mans Flats overpass, and go South for 1 -1.5 kms until you reach a parking lot. The trail head is easy spotted from the lot. Continue through the trees for a few minutes until you reach a fork in the trail and a sign that will direct you to either 'Centennial Ridge Hike' or 'Pigeon Mountain' - you will go left to Pigeon Mountain.

The trail begins up a tree cut line for 4 kms (approx. 1-1.5 hours at a moderate pace). The only time you will leave the cut line is when you reach a ravine and have to veer off into the woods on a trail then will come back out on the other side. After the 4km there should be a pile of rocks set out locating the trail head from there. You will head left into the trees, and will continue hiking along on a few switch backs on a wider trail. There will be an obvious point where you have to turn left (a sign is posted) and you will take a smaller foot trail up to open grassy slopes and will hike all the way to the ridge in an exposed area. This section may seem rather long and tedious (the steepest part of the hike).

You can follow the ridge to the North Summit, (from the tree line down below to the North summit it is approx. 1.5 hours at a moderate pace) from there the South summit is optional.

Enjoy!

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Features

Running

Snowshoeing

Hiking

Bathrooms

Easy Parking

Family Friendly

Forest

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Scenic

Wildlife

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