Wedge Mountain is a Crowsnest Pass peak that likely doesn’t see too many summits. The only two routes published online are an off-trail hike / scramble up the south side, or a snowshoeing route that leads up a road most of the way. Fortunately there is a third hiking route that I used to get up Wedge Mountain. Wedge Mountain is a part of the Crowsnest Volcanics, a unique group of ridges running up through the Crowsnest pass that predate the rest of the Rocky Mountains. One of my favourite views in the Crowsnest Pass is from just past the summit of Wedge Mountain looking south down over the Crowsnest Pass. From here the way other peaks in the Crowsnest Volcanics fit together is obvious – Wedge Mountain flows into Iron Ridge flows into Saddle Mountain flows into Willoughby Peak. It’s an unique view.
That said, the hike up Wedge Mountain is mostly uninteresting. It’s not until near the end that some (fantastic) views of Crowsnest Mountain open up, and then after that the trail is forested again until the summit itself, at which point decently panoramic views open up over the entire Crowsnest Pass. The views from Wedge are very similar to that of its neighbour, Saskatoon Mountain but views from just past the summit south over the Crowsnest Pass are definitely better from up on Wedge, while the summit of Saskatoon offers better views to the north. Ultimately if you had to pick only one of the two to hike, I’d probably choose Saskatoon as the hike itself is more scenic and fun on the way up. That said, Wedge Mountain is a worthy objective on its own, but particularly if you haven’t done Saskatoon recently as again – very similar views.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Wedge Mountain hike in the Crowsnest Pass for yourself, including distance, elevation gain, how to get there, the best time to visit, and lots of photos of my experience.
When hiking it’s important to avoid harmful practices such as 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 Wedge Mountain as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Wedge Mountain Round Trip Details
Distance: 6.1 KM / 3.8 MI
Elevation Gain: 328 M / 1076 FT
Hiking Time: 2 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 in many cases 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 up Wedge Mountain a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to Wedge Mountain Trailhead
The trailhead for Wedge Mountain is located past McGillivray Staging Area in Livingstone PLUZ. From here Wedge Mountain is visible on the right. After driving straight past the staging area along 63 St, the road becomes tougher but is still easily drivable by most cars as it leads to the backside of Wedge Mountain. The road leads past a million camping spots before eventually reaching a clearing with a sign for McGillivray Creek Youth Camp on the left. The trail up Wedge Mountain heads up to the right.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking Wedge Mountain
The trail begins heading up from just before the clearing where I parked.
Turning left at an early fork. This is in the first couple minutes. At every successive fork I turned right.
Heading up.
An early stream crossing followed by an immediate right turn.
Someone has marked the trail very enthusiastically, so it definitely wouldn’t be easy to get lost.
Despite an arrow pointing left, I chose to continue heading right. I’m pretty sure my way ended up being a shortcut that the other path eventually joined up with.
Reconnecting with the main trail. The trail gets a bit rutted from bikes but nothing terrible.
Just before gaining the ridge views of the summit open up. The trail soon continues up and to the right along the ridgeline visible.
Heading up along the ridge. To the rear, the view of Crowsnest Mountain and the Seven Sisters is one of my favourites in the Pass.
Just before the main trail misses the summit and continues down the other side of the ridge a smaller trail splits off to the right.
The trail heads steeply up.
Some elevation loss before heading up to the false summit visible at right. The third fence crossing is not long after this point.
The final push up the summit block is the steepest section. The trail disappears but it only becomes a scramble if you choose, I was able to get up just by hiking.
Up to the summit. The Livingstone Range in the distance behind me.
I chose to continue North past the summit to get even better views over the Crowsnest Pass. A white cross marks an arbitrary point slightly past the actual high point.
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 Wedge Mountain in the Crowsnest Pass! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.