Sarrail Falls is a Kananaskis Country waterfall that doesn’t get enough attention. Situated right on the edge of Upper Lananaskis Lake, this gorgeous waterfall is most often visited by hikers continuing on to Rawson Lake or Sarrail Ridge – two fantastic hikes. For those looking for a short and easy hike right in the heart of Kananaskis Country however – Sarrail Falls makes a fantastic destination all on its own.
The walk to Sarrail Falls along the edge of Upper Kananaskis Lake starts off scenic, and remains so for the entirety of the hike. The views to the left stretching out over the lake with intimidating mountains in the distance would be worth it all on their own, and the incredible forest setting to the right is also a delight. This is one of the wetted and lushest hikes I’ve ever done in Alberta, and the dripping green moss reminds me more of coastal Vancouver Island than the land-locked Alberta Rockies.
As the trail only navigates around the edge of the lake, elevation gains and loss is minimal, making this a great trail for hikers looking for something unchallenging. The trail does get a little rooty and potentially muddy, though never terribly so.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Sarrail Falls hike in Kananaskis Country for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
Note: The Sarrail Falls hike is located in Kananaskis Country, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Day passes can only be purchased online and are per day per vehicle, but if you’re staying six days or longer, it’s more cost-effective to just buy an annual pass instead.
Before visiting Kananaskis Country it’s essential to read up on the Alberta Parks rules that must be followed to avoid tickets and/or fines. Harmful practices that are illegal in Kananaskis Country include disturbing plants or rock-stacking, or removing any natural object from flowers to rocks, as it’s important to leave the environment as natural as possible for the animals and for fellow hikers to enjoy in perpetuity. As many flowers as there are, there are few enough that if we all took one, then there wouldn’t be any left. Take only photos, leave only footprints.
If you haven’t heard of Leave No Trace principles, they’re also really essential to read up on before heading anywhere into the outdoors in general. Following these important principles basically means doing your best to leave beautiful places like Sarrail Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Sarrail Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 2.2 KM / 1.4 MI
Elevation Gain: 40 M / 131 FT
Hiking Time: 30 Mins
Hiking & Safety Tips
- Prepare for the possibility of wildlife encounters. Bear spray is a must whenever travelling in bear country, as well as learning how to use it. Though your chance of an aggressive bear encounter is low, it is always better to be prepared with bear spray. Bear bells are proven to be an ineffective bear deterrent, and are actively discouraged by Parks Canada. The best way to let bears know you’re around is simply to use your voice. Make sure to keep a respectful distance from wildlife and never feed the animals. It may seem kind but it doesn’t just kill wildlife and put people in danger, it’s also illegal.
- Research current trail conditions and make sure you are well-informed about the route before you leave, and assess if it is within your capability. Be aware of what time it gets dark and check the weather forecast. Make sure to tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to return. Every year as more and more people try hiking for the first time, the number of rescues goes up. Being prepared is the best defense.
- Pack everything you need for a successful hike, including enough water and energy-rich snacks. Remember to pack out everything you pack in though – don’t expect to find a convenient garbage can halfway up the trail. Bring appropriate layers (remember you’ll warm up once you start hiking) and sun protection. Hiking poles may be helpful but are not required. In addition to not leaving any garbage on the trail yourself, I highly recommend bringing a garbage bag and collecting any trash that you do see on the trail. You’re guaranteed to make the hike to Sarrail Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Sarrail Falls
Like many waterfalls in the Rockies, the best time of year to visit is in late Spring. Melting snow and recent rainfall mean that the water level is at its highest, and the waterfalls at their most dramatic. Later in the year waterfalls lose a lot of their power, with some drying up to not much more of a trickle. Sarrail Falls typically flows well even later in the year, but if visiting after a particularly dry period lower your expectations acccordingly.
How to Get to Sarrail Falls Trailhead
The walk to Sarrail Falls starts at the Upper Kananaskis Lake area parking. Lot. The drive there largely follows the beautiful Highway 40 through the heart of Kananaskis Country, and is an hour and forty-five minutes from Calgary, or an hour and a half from Banff. This is the same highway used to access Troll Falls, just much further down. After driving down Highway 40 for 50 kms, turn off into Kananaskis Lakes Trail (the only real intersection in the area) for another 13kms. Parking at Upper Kananaskis Lake can fill up, so if you’re not able to park at the very end of the parking lot and the start of the trail like I did don’t worry – park where you can and continue walking in the same direction keeping the lake on your right. The views of the lake from the very start are fantastic.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Sarrail Falls
Walking alongside Upper Kananaskis Lake towards the trailhead.
Just past the official start of the trail.
Views of Upper Kananaskis Lake are fantastic throughout.
The trail does get a bit muddy and rooty at times. That and the super lush mossy vegetation really remind me of some Vancouver Island hikes I’ve done.
The trail passes over a couple small creeks on its way.
At the falls. A previous bridge was destroyed in the 2013 floods but has since been rebuilt.
Views from the bridge out towards the lake.
Upper Kananaskis Lake is popular with SUPers and kayakers.
A rough trail just across the bridge leads steeply up to some more waterfalls above.
Recommended Hiking Gear
Water is a must whenever I’m hiking, especially if the sun is going to be out. My favourite water filter I’ve used is the Katadyn BeFree 0.6L, which unlike other water filters I’ve used packs up really small and lightweight. For hikes where I know there won’t be any readily available water sources along the way, I make sure to bring my own. The Hydrapak Stow 1L bottle is my go-to, for the same reason that it’s made of a soft plastic that folds up and doesn’t take up any more extra space than necessary in my pack. Finally, Aquatabs are another great option for purifying water, with one tablet being suitable for one litre of water. I previously used the Grayl water filter while travelling internationally, and though I found its hard body more convenient for day to day use and easier to drink from, it has a little too much bulk for my fast-and-light style of hiking.
The secret to all my photos of gorgeous sunset and sunrise mountaintop views? A lot of hiking in the dark. And let me speak from personal experience when I say that the last thing that you want to happen when hiking is to be caught in the dark without a headlamp. I used the Black Diamond Spot 400 for years and it worked great – until I lost it on top of a mountain somewhere. The only downside to it was having to worry about the batteries dying, though there’s also a slightly more expensive version that has a rechargeable battery. Nowadays I’m using the Petzl Actik Core, which is a bit pricier than the more budget-friendly Black Diamond, but is also brighter, more comfortable (in my opinion), and has a hybrid power system that is rechargeable but can also take AAA batteries if needed.
You won’t see me using trekking poles on shorter hikes often – but on long hikes and backpacking trips, as well as certain scrambles, they are an absolute lifesaver. I’ve invested in a high quality ultra-lightweight pair of MSR DynaLock Ascent carbon poles which, while pricey, I don’t regret one bit. If you’re not entirely sure how much use you’re going to get out of a pair of trekking poles, the best budget-friendly option would be the Trekology Trek Z 2.0. Amazon does sell a lot of cheaper Made in China-style trekking poles for cheaper, but these usually are much much heavier and not worth buying.
All the best and most long-lasting cables and power banks I’ve ever owned have been Anker. I once had a phone cable from them that lasted me over three years of daily use! That’s why I keep an Anker PowerCore Essential 20K power bank on me. Like many people I use my phone for a lot of stuff when hiking (checking in with family, using online maps, taking photos, flying my drone) so I like to be prepared for that low battery warning by having a backup power source on me just in case.
The only socks I ever buy for myself are from Darn Tough, and I almost always make sure to wear them when hiking. After years of having no problems only wearing these comfortable and rugged socks for hikes, I accidentally wore a pair of no-name socks on a hike last year and ended up with blisters on both feet. Safe to say I’m back to sticking with the Darn Tough. And the best part? They have a lifetime guarantee, meaning that if they ever wear out you can send them back for a brand new pair. For hiking footwear I go between a pair of lightweight approach shoes for quick and dirty mountain ascents or anything involving scrambling and more heavy-duty boots for longer treks. I’ve worn a couple different versions of the lightweight but super durable Arc’teryx Konseal FL 2 approach shoes for a few years now and am very impressed with the durability. I also really like the thick toecap that keeps me protected every time I stumble into a root or large rock. For longer, tougher, or muddier treks I rely on my LOWA Camino EVO GTX, which I find insanely comfortable and made of very high quality.
I wear my Ar’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pants on every single hike I go on, and on many days when I’m not hiking. After several years of abuse they are still holding together extraordinarily well, with only a few small holes from where I’ve fallen down and some slight stains from being repeatedly coated with mud. They’re lightweight, breathable, and super comfortable. For lightweight and breathable hiking tops I’m a big fan of both the Patagonia Capilene Shirt and the MEC Core Shirt. My Arc’teryx Squamish Hoody shows up in a lot of my photos. It’s super lightweight and packable, and does a great job of cutting the wind while also being pretty breathable. I also have an Arc’teryx Atom Hoody and Arc’teryx Beta LT that I pull out for cooler or wetter conditions.
I hope you enjoyed this guide to hiking to Sarrail Falls in Kananaskis Country! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.