Title: Hiking Grassi Lakes with Kids Trip type: hiking Summary: It was Ella and Mika's first hiking trip in the Rockies. Grassi Lakes Trail is located in Canmore, very easy to access. It takes only about 2 hours but can see a lot. Author: Jean Cao Date of Trip: July 20, 2016 Country: CA Province: Alberta County/City/national park/etc: Calgary Location Route: Grassi Lakes Distance: 3.8 Km Elevation Gain: 250 m Are Horses Allowed?(yes/no): no Weather Conditions:Sunny Directions to Set in or Trail head: Drive west from Canmore along Spray Lakes Road (ie hwy 742), pass Nordic Centre about 2 km, turn left right before the road turns to gravel. Partners: Tracy, Ella&Mika Group experience level: Experienced hikers Author's Experience level: Experienced hikers Authors Trip Rating: Easy Trip's Good Points: Beautiful view Trip's Bad Points: None |
Trail Description: The trail is located in Canmore. 3.8 Km long and 250 m elevation gain. Fairly easy in summer. Very beautiful lakes, waterfall and wildflowers... |
The Trip Report:Grassi Lakes is one of my favourite trails. It is short and easy but has so much to see. In two hours, you get to see everything you expect in the Rockies: pine woods, creeks, water falls, lakes, rocks, naked rock climbers and Indian paintings on rock... It is a perfect trail for hiking with babies.
There are two trails going to the lakes. I usually take the "more difficult" trail going up and come down from the "easy" one which is a service road.
The first part of the trail is fairly leveled and well shaded.
Walk about 2 km, will hit a lookout point to see a waterfall. The mountain in the background is Haling Peak, named after a Chinese Chef who worked for CPR 100 years ago. There are a few versions of his story. The official one by Canmore Town is that he won a bet on if he could climb up to the peak and back in one day. He made it in 10 hours and won $50. The peak was used to called Chinaman Peak, but changed to Haling Peak for political correction.
From the waterfall, the trail becomes very steep. There are also a section of steep stairs by the cliff. So coming down in high heels is not recommended...
After climbing the steep section, it is time to take a break and catch up breath. The view here is stunning.
Keep walking uphill, soon will see the first lake on the right hand side. The water from the lake runs over the cliff and turns into the waterfall we saw earlier.
Pass a log bridge, soon will come out of the woods and hit the service road. Turn left then the second lake is on the left hand side. The colour changes at different spots in the lake because the colour comes from the algae in this lake.
Pass a little wood bridge, it is the third Grassi Lake. The colour is like a gem.
Ella fell in sleep by now.
If continuing to hike up, there are a few ancient Indian paintings on a huge rock. But they are fading away quickly in the last ten years.
Return from the Indian Painting, the view is stunning.
Come back on the service road, the easy way down.
Mika fell in sleep as well on the way back. |
Content Copyright © Jean Cao 2016