An easy loop following signed ski trails through pine and aspen forest, meadows, and finally the river bank of the Kananaskis River. The pièce de résistance is Troll Falls which is particularly impressive during run-off.

Start: Kananaskis Trail (Hwy. 40). Turn off onto the Nakiska Ski Area access road. Keep right. Just before the powerline, turn right onto an access road for Stony equestrian trail parking lot. Park at the trailhead.

Follow the road along the powerline right-of-way through a gate.

Turn left onto Hay Meadow ski trail. Turn right. You're now on Troll Falls ski trail.

Keep left. Turn right. The wide undulating trail winds through aspen forest with a grassy understory and a wide variety of flowers.

Cross the 4-way intersection (Hay Meadow trail to right, Ruthie's to left). A much narrower trail carries on to Marmot Creek. Follows up the stream to Troll Falls. If it appeals, clamber up one of two rough muddy trails forking off to the left from the splash pool. This brings photography buffs to a greasy ledge behind the fall itself.

Backtrack to the 4-way junction. Turn left. Now on Hay Meadow ski trail you follow a soft-on-the-feet grassy track to the primary pumphouse.

Cross the access road between pumphouses. The trail soon reaches grassy banks overlooking the Kananaskis River. Hay Meadow is on your right. If eagle watching, this is the place to train your telescope on Mount Lorette. The trail continues, back into the trees for the last straight leg to the powerline and access road.

Turn left. Arrive back at the parking lot.

Troll Falls

The Way of the Eagle

Exciting news! Thanks largely to Peter Sherrington and Wayne Smith, the concept of Golden Eagle migration is changing. Ongoing observations show thousands of Golden Eagles make their way each spring up from the sun-baked south to their breeding grounds in Canada's north via Alberta's Front Ranges. Travelling 600 km per day in optimum conditions, it takes them less than a half hour to get from Highwood Junction to Mount Lorette. Using thermals, they soar to as much as 300 m above a peak top from where they're in a good position to down-glide to the next peak top. And so on, and all this travelling without even one flap or a meal. At dark they roost on the ridgetops, waiting for the sun to rise and speed them on their way.

When to come: March/April. Optimum time is near the end of March with over 1,000 sightings recorded in a single day. September/October, first half of November. Optimum time is the beginning of October.

Best time: early afternoon to 5 pm.

Best weather: sunny and warm with light to moderate winds.

Where to look: Catch them when they're crossing the Kananaskis Valley at its narrowest points i.e. Fisher Range to Mt. Lorette. On spring mornings, it's been observed that more birds use the Limestone Mountain to Mt. Kidd crossing. You might see 50 or more birds in a thermal at one time. The larger stronger females can often be seen waiting for their mates to play catch-up.