ELEVATION GAIN: 411 meters DISTANCE: 8 km round trip Nihahi Ridge is a wonderful all-terrain hike close to Calgary. The trailhead is located at the Little Elbow parking lot near the end of Hwy. 66. The start of the hike is a bit underwhelming, as you will have to make your way past the outskirts of the Little Elbow Campground along the road, about 1.5 km. There will be a sign with a map on the right side of the road indicating the official start of the trail. Here you will begin your ascent via some switchbacks through the trees.
The trail itself is easy to follow and well-marked. After breaking through the trees you will come upon a short flat section followed by a climb along the bottom of the ridge. Watch your footing on the trail as there is loose dirt and rock that you will be climbing. The trail continues up the ridge with amazing views of the Elbow Valley and surrounding peaks. For those who aren’t attempting the summit, take a break and enjoy the views. That’s one of my favorite things about this hike – you can make it as long or short as you want and still have great views. For those going further on to the summit, continue on the trail as it skirts around the right side of the mountain. There is an upper and lower trail on this portion of the hike. They eventually meet up so feel free to take either path. At one point, you will have to climb a small section of rock – using both hands and feet. Then, it’s a matter of tackling the scree and arriving at the summit. Use caution on the ridge as there is lots of loose rock and it can be quite windy (we couldn’t stay on the summit long as a storm rolled in). Retrace your steps on the way down. Overall, this is an awesome, underrated hike that is great for beginners, and those who are a bit more advanced. Hiking poles are recommended, but not essential. Happy Trails!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Of all the paths you take in life make sure a few of them are dirt. John Muir Archives
September 2017
|