Trail closure: The West Wind Pass hike is closed annually from December 1 – June 15 for protection of critical winter range for elk and bighorn sheep. If looking for a great hike to do during these months, please respect the closure and instead try any of a million other great hikes in the region.
Formed as a result of dam construction in 1950, the long and narrow Spray Lakes Reservoir which stretches through the Spray Valley south of Canmore is today one of the most beautiful places in Alberta’s Kananaskis Country, and the valley surrounding it is home to some of the regions most worthwhile and popular hikes. While there are a dozen hikes involving up to and over 1000 m of elevaion gain in order to reach spectacular summit views, arguably equal views from West Wind Pass are obtainable with a lot less work.
Nestled between soaring Rimwall and Windtower, West Wind Pass is a safer and easier objective compared to these and other peaks in the area. Hiking up West Wind Pass trail is relatively easy though at times trail braiding poses a bit of a challenge to navigation. The trail starts at the base of the valley near the Spray Lakes Reservoir and climbs sometimes steeply up the valley until reaching the high mountain pass. Views from the top include west over the Spray Valley as well as east towards Wind Ridge and the end of the Bow Valley with the great plains beyond.
West Wind Pass is a fantastic example of a shorter hike near Canmore that doesn’t compromise on views, making it perfect for families and beginner hikers or for more experienced hikers looking for a warmup before tacking some of the more challenging hikes in the region.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the West Wind Pass 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 West Wind Pass 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.
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 West Wind Pass as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
West Wind Pass Round Trip Details
Distance: 4.8 KM / 2.9 MI
Elevation Gain: 345 M / 1132 FT
Hiking Time: 1.5-2 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 West Wind Pass a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to West Wind Pass Trailhead
The trailhead for West Wind Pass is a spectacular forty minute drive from Canmore, an hour from Banff, or an hour and forty minutes from Calgary. From downtown Canmore, drive west onto 8 Ave and follow it south as it crosses the Bow River and eventually turn left when it reaches Three Sisters Drive. When Three Sisters Drive forks a couple minutes later, turn right onto Spray Lakes Road as the gravel road climbs up along the side of Mt Rundle, passing several notable trailheads including the ones for Grassi Lakes, EEOR, and Ha Ling Peak. The views are fantastic. After 20km of driving Spray Lakes Road, pull off on the shoulder near where the gravel trail starts at right. There is no signage at the parking area so I suggest having the route in GPS ahead of time.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking to West Wind Pass
The West Wind Pass trailhead parking on the shoulders of the Spray Lakes Trail. The trail starts at left.
The trail heads up initially alongside a rocky creekbed visible at right.
A small unofficial sign on a tree directs hikers to the right to start ascending West Wind Pass.
The creekbed from the start of the trail is still visible though now some elevation has been gained.
The trail can be a bit confusing due to several unnecessary branching paths. As intuitive as it may seem to head left up the trail visibly gaining more elevation, a number of the left trails fade away into nothing. I found it better to consistently keep right.
Looking a bit tired as the trail continues to gain elevation.
Keeping right here at this easy-to-miss fork. The left trail leads up above the slabby section before disappearing, forcing hikers to scramble back down or turn back.
Keeping right here at this easy-to-miss fork. The left trail leads up above the slabby section before disappearing, forcing hikers to scramble back down or turn back.
Continuing ahead. Though the trail can be hard to follow on the slabs, the obvious more trail resumes in the grass beyond.
You’ll know you’re near the top of West Wind Pass when the trail becomes increasingly rooty and steep. Almost there now!
Spectacular views back over the Spray Lakes Reservoir as the trees start to thin out.
Windtower offers an additional challenge for the bold. Not today.
Near the top of the pass. When possible, I tried to stay on the trail to minimize trampling the grass.
Views to the east include (from foreground to background) Windtower at very right, grassy Wind Ridge at left, and Pigeon Peak behind it in the middle. Just visible behind it is Gap Lake, and several peaks in the Exshaw area line the distant left.
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 West Wind Pass in Kananaskis Country! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.