Experience the Bow Valley
Photo Courtesy of AB Parks Ambassador Amanda McNally/ Alberta Parks
Heading west into the Bow Valley, trees blanket the land, foothills give way to mountains, and a river runs through it. Named by the Peigan, for bow-making reeds that grow along its banks, the Bow River brings life to the valley and an array of recreational opportunities. Great hiking, rafting, golfing, cave exploring (aka spelunking), camping, and more await - just one hour from Calgary. Here are seven fun things to do in Bow Valley and Bow Valley Wildlands Provincial Parks.
1. Hike Mount Yamnuska It’s distinctive cliff face on the eastern edge of the Rockies is a beacon for adventurers. Known as “Yam”, or Iyamnathka (“flat faced mountain”) in Stoney, it is a popular hiking and rock climbing destination with several trails and over 100 climbing routes. While the mountain’s short approach and long hiking season play a large part in its popularity, you can’t deny the fun factor of Yam’s varied terrain. The scramble to the summit boasts scree, slab, chains along a ledge, and an epic scree run. Plus, there are the bragging rights of summiting both a well recognizable and seemingly insurmountable peak.
How do you get up the mountain? The typical hiking route is counter clockwise around the back (north) side. At the signed junction, one kilometre from the trailhead, just turn right to stay on the hiking and scrambling trail. From here, you can choose your own adventure depending on how much time and scrambling experience you have: Raven’s End is a scenic lookout at the northeast shoulder that is hikeable year-round. 7 km round trip, 460 m elevation gain. Upper Viewpoint offers the classic postcard view at a dizzying break in the cliffs, 125 metres above the mountain base. There is a short section of hands-on scrambling to get here. From the cliff base, follow the painted blue trail markers to stay on track. 8 km round trip, 650 metres elevation gain. Yamnuska Summit (elevation: 2,240 metres) is an exciting scramble with its notorious rock ledge and scree ski. Above treeline, follow the blue trail markers painted on the rock. For your safety, only attempt the summit in good conditions if you
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