Cat Creek Falls is not the biggest or most impressive waterfall in Kananaskis Country, but it is nonetheless a beautiful Kananaskis waterfall located at the end of a short family-friendly hike definitely worth doing. There are plenty of shady spots to sit in the small canyon where the small waterfall splashes down, and its pool of vibrant green water is a popular place for a dip on warm summer days. The trail to Cat Creek Falls takes only about half an hour each way, and there a bunch of interpretive signs describing the forest and local geography. I stopped and read a few and learned some stuff that I didn’t know before, which I thought was pretty cool. As well, Cat Creek Falls is ideally located off of highway 40 along with other great Kananaskis waterfalls like Troll Falls, Edworthy Falls, and Sarrail Falls.
Though the hike to Cat Creek Falls isn’t as popular as Troll Falls, it still sees a number of visitors especially on summer weekends, so prepare to share the waterfall if that’s when you plan on visiting.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Cat Creek 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 Cat Creek 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 Cat Creek Falls as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Cat Creek Falls Round Trip Details
Distance: 3.3 KM / 2 MI
Elevation Gain: 161 M / 528 FT
Hiking Time: 1-1.5 HRS
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 Cat Creek Falls a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
When to Visit Cat Creek Falls
Like many waterfalls in the Rockies, the best time of year to visit Cat Creek Falls is early in the year, in the case of Cat Creek Falls early in the summer. Highway 40, on which the trailhead for Cat Creek Falls is located, is closed December 1 – June 14. 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. Cat Creek Falls never fully dries up and to the best of my knowledge flows decently year round, but if visiting in late summer or autumn either try and time your visit with recent rainfall or lower your expectations accordingly.
How to Get to Cat Creek Falls Trailhead
Cat Creek Falls is located off of Highway 40, an hour and a half south from Canmore or two hours from Calgary. The best route to Cat Creek Falls is to drive along the highway 1 and 30km east of Canmore turn south onto Highway 40 at the intersection signed for Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino. Highway 40 is a beautiful road through some of the most beautiful scenery in Kananaskis, and there are plenty of other potential stops to make. After about an hour of driving down the road look for a signed right turn for Cat Creek. Follow the short road to the parking area at its end, and look for the trailhead, which climbs back up the hill and crosses the highway you just drive.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to Cat Creek Falls
The trailhead sign for Cat Creek Falls has seen better days. From here the trail heads up for no more than a minute or two before crossing the highway.
The Cat Creek Falls trail crosses Highway 40 and resumes climbing gently uphill on the other side.
Excellent views north over the Highwood Valley as the trail winds up to the top of the hill.
There were plenty of flowers alongside the trail when I visited at the end of July.
The trail turns left to follow above Cat Creek. It gains a little more elevation before heading down towards the creek. Cat Creek Hills visible in the distance.
Heading downhill. Some hikers have chosen to leave the actual trail and “shortcut” down the hill, causing unnecessary trampling of plants and eroding away at the actual trail as visible here.
Following Cat Creek upstream.
The second of two bridges that cross Cat Creek in succession not long before reaching the waterfall. Note the canyon walls starting to rise up here.
Approaching Cat Creek Falls. Note the attractive rock ribs rising up the sides of the canyon.
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 Cat Creek Falls in Kananaskis Country! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.