Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Geological Significance · Historical Significance · Lake · Views

This is Kananaskis Country. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for motor vehicle access.

The Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition Trail starts and ends at a large trailhead sign in the White Spruce Day Use area of Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. This is a one-way loop trail though the forest at the edge of Upper Kananaskis Lake. It is dedicated to the spirit of the 11 Canadians of the 1982 Canadian Mt. Everest Expedition, the first Canadian expedition to climb Mt. Everest, hence its name.

To add interest, it is also an interpretive trail. The story is the history of this area from its origins in the shallow inland sea covering it, up through the explorers and recent times. The multiple plaques telling this story are well written and easy to understand. They do a great job of connecting all the bits and pieces of this history, both geological and human civilization.

The trail immediately enters the forest and stays in it for its entire length. At first relatively flat, it begins to climb to its high point after 0.4 miles. After a short 0.2 miles the trail's highpoint is reached. The steepest sections have stairs to ease the way.

The highpoint is a thinly forested knoll about a quarter mile long. Both Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes, as well as impressive mountains, can be seen through the sparse trees of the knoll.

Leaving the high point, the trail descends a bit and shortly comes to a bend, free of trees blocking the view of Upper Kananaskis Lake, Mt. Sarrail, and other mountains. The trail then descends more steeply for a short ways, levels out, and returns to the trailhead after a total of 1.3 miles.

Lodgepole pines and other conifers.