Segment 14: Elk Pass trailhead to Palliser River (27.3 km)
Moderate climb on good hiking trail with a potentially difficult ford of the Palliser River.

Map: 82 J/11 Kananaskis Lakes
Jurisdiction: Kananaskis Country, Height of the Rockies Provincial Park

This segment of the GDT leads you into the secluded Height of the Rockies Provincial Park at the head of the Palliser River. Starting in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park you circle the northern side of Upper Kananaskis Lake. The constant view of the dramatic peaks surrounding the lake and the excellent hiking trail is very enjoyable. The trail remains in very good shape up to North Kananaskis Pass on the Divide. An interesting feature en route is Turbine Canyon, a deep incision in the mountainside concealing waterfalls and shady pools.

South Access: The Kananaskis Lakes Trail road turns off Kananaskis Trail 40, 50 km south of the Trans-Canada Highway. In approximately 12 km is the Elk Pass trailhead parking area on the left, 2 km past the Boulton Creek Trading Post. To save some walking, you will probably want to start your hike at the North Interlakes trailhead parking area, at the end of Kananaskis Lakes Trail road in another 3 km. Only thru-hikers would continue from the Elk Pass trailhead. You can also access the Kananaskis Lakes Trail by driving 70 km south on the gravel Smith Dorrien/Spray trail from the Trans-Canada Highway at Canmore. In Canmore, follow signs for the Nordic Centre through town to find the start of the Smith Dorrien/Spray trail.

North Access: From Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park, turn onto Settlers Road in the southeastern corner of the park. Driving to the south you will leave Kootenay National Park and turn left to cross the Kootenay River bridge. Turn right onto Palliser River Road. Follow the gravel road to its terminus at Joffre Creek. On foot, go north on the Palliser River trail and ford Joffre Creek. Within 2 km, ford the Palliser River to the western bank. You pass a cabin in 7 km and meet the LeRoy Creek trail in 14 km total. Be warned, not only does this access include 80 km of gravel forestry roads, it is only suitable in the summer when the river level is down.

You can also take Kootenay River Road (Settlers Road) from Canal Flats on Highway 93 south of Radium Hot Springs. Follow the gravel road about 50 km north, cross the river and continue north on the eastern side of the river. Past Fenwick Falls you meet Palliser River Road. Turn right and drive the remaining 40 km to Joffre Creek.

Overnighting: There are several campgrounds to choose from on the Kananaskis Lakes Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. From north to south they are the Pocaterra, Canyon, Elkwood, Lower Lake, Boulton Creek, Mount Sarrail and Interlakes campgrounds. Elkwood and Boulton Creek are the only campgrounds with showers and Mount Sarrail is the hikers’ campground. Mount Sarrail is $13.00 per night. The other campgrounds are $16.00 or $17.00 per night. You can reserve a site at Boulton Creek Campground by calling in advance. Another alternative is to stay at Point Campground, a backcountry campsite that is only 3.6 km from the North Interlakes trailhead. See the alternative route in this segment if this option interests you.

On Palliser River Road, turn left onto Albert River Road to reach the Palliser-Albert Campground at the confluence of the two rivers. This B.C. Forestry Recreation campground has a fee of $8.00 per night, self-registration.

Overnighting on the Trail: Kananaskis Country backcountry campsites Point, Forks and Turbine Canyon—see notes below.

Information Sources: Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Information Centre, Invermere Forest District, B.C. Parks Kootenay District

Resupply Stations: Boulton Creek Trading Post

Special Notes: In Peter Lougheed Provincial Park there is a per night cost for backcountry campsites. You must stay in designated campsites. Passes are available through the Peter Lougheed Provincial Park Information Centre, which is 6 km north of the Boulton Creek Trading Post on the Kananaskis Lakes Trail road, 4 km south of the Kananaskis 40 intersection. You can make reservations by telephone if you have a credit card and the fee is fully refundable up to two days in advance. In the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park, there are no established campgrounds, therefore please practise no-trace, random camping.

0 (221.4) Elk Pass trailhead to North Interlakes trailhead (5.4 km)
From the Elk Pass trailhead (1720, 0, b40), go through the parking lot and turn left to follow Kananaskis Lakes Trail road for 1 km to the turn-off for the Upper Lake picnic area. Turn left and follow the road 300 m uphill. Look for a trail crossing and turn right. You soon reach a junction with the Upper Lake trail. Turn right and follow the excellent trail as it parallels the lakeside to arrive at the North Interlakes trailhead (1725, 5.4, c1) near a dam. There is a pay phone, outhouse and trailhead information at this location. It is a busy trailhead during summer weekends because it is the main access point for most of the backcountry campgrounds in the park.

5.4 (216) North Interlakes trailhead to Forks Campground (6.7 km)
Follow the Three Isle Lake trail over the dam and head west, below Mount Indefatigable. This is a wide but rocky trail also used by mountain bikers. In 1 km you come to a junction for the Upper Lake trail, followed in 1 km by a second junction for the Upper Lake trail. Continue straight past both junctions for the most direct route. The lower trail is more pleasant to hike but it adds 500 m more distance than staying on the main route. The choice is yours. All the trail junctions have metal signs emblazoned with trail maps to facilitate routefinding.

Alternative Route—4.5 km instead of 2.8 km

At the second junction with the Upper Lake trail, you can turn left and walk 1.4 km to Point Campground if you have planned to stay there. Return to the main route by following the Upper Lake trail past the campground and turn right on the Lyautey trail. The Lyautey trail rejoins the Three Isle Lake trail, the main route, at a bridge over the Upper Kananaskis River. This is a good option if you need to find a backcountry campsite sooner than Forks Campground. Point Campground is only 3.6 km from the North Interlakes trailhead while Forks Campground is 6.7 km from the trailhead.

Cross the Upper Kananaskis River on a footbridge and continue past the Lyautey trail junction. The Three Isle Lake trail follows the river upstream to the Maude-Lawson lakes trail junction at Forks Campground (1780, 6.7, c2).

12.1 (209.3) Forks Campground to Turbine Canyon Campground (7.7 km)
Turn right and follow the Maude-Lawson lakes trail north, through Forks Campground. The trail stays near the river at first but soon begins a long moderate ascent across a large avalanche slope. After passing Lawson Lake in mostly open terrain, the route reaches the Turbine Canyon Campground past Maude Brook. The GDT goes to the left but the trail going downstream is worthwhile. If you walk just 200 m down this path you will approach the brink of awesome Turbine Canyon. You can practically straddle the narrow canyon where the water begins to plummet out of sight.

19.8 (201.6) Turbine Canyon Campground to North Kananaskis Pass (2.1 km)
The Maude-Lawson lakes trail follows Maude Brook upstream to Maude Lake. Follow the edge of the water to reach North Kananaskis Pass (2360, 9.8, c3) on the Continental Divide. At the boundary, you enter the Height of the Rockies Provincial Park in British Columbia and trade maintained trails for wilderness ones (meaning that only the passage of the odd hiker or lone elk keeps the trail recognizable).

21.9 (199.5) North Kananaskis Pass to Palliser River (5.4 km)
The fair LeRoy Creek trail descends west from the pass following metallic orange markers, which indicate the distance, every 500 m. The moderate descent has a number of steep and rocky sections before getting down to a gentler slope alongside LeRoy Creek. Follow the southern bank of the creek and cross to the north side before reaching a gorge. For the last 100 m to the confluence of LeRoy Creek with the Palliser River the trail hugs the northern bank of the creek. Ford the river above its confluence with LeRoy Creek (1585, 5.4, c4). This can be a difficult crossing. Look for the trail close to the west bank of the Palliser River.