Trail closure: The Wind Ridge 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.
Unlike most other hikes near Canmore, the Wind Ridge hike doesn’t offer many views into the Bow Valley and Canmore, but instead this fantastic Kananaskis Country hike is known for its stunning views of the surrounding peaks including the Three Sisters, Windtower, and Mt Lougheed. West Wind Pass is also visible from the summit.
Wind Ridge is one of the longer day hikes in the Canmore area, with a decently long approach to the base of the ridge before the trail starts ascending steeply. Once out of the trees and on the verdant grassy southern slopes of the ridge, views of the valley and surrounding peaks are revealed. The steady ascent uphill along the Ridgeline gets quite steep, but the views definitely help. The crux of the hike is probably a very short and easy scrambling section (only about two vertical meters) that most people should be able to do without a problem – otherwise it is possible to take a detour around this section. Otherwise the constant uphill grind is what makes this a moderate hike, but the views are well worth it. If you’re looking for an easier hike with similar views, I suggest the West Wind pass hike.
The views on the way up wind Ridge are so exquisite that the views from the top are almost a bit underwhelming, with only the Three Sisters revealing themselves at the very end. That said, the views of the unique Canmore peaks from an unique angle are well worth the work it takes to finish this Canmore hike.
Continue reading this blog post for everything you need to know to experience the Wind Ridge 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 Wind Ridge 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 Wind Ridge as good (if not better) than you found them, both for their preservation and for the enjoyment of other visitors.
Wind Ridge Round Trip Details
Distance: 13.9 KM / 8.6 MI
Elevation Gain: 964 M / 3163 FT
Hiking Time: 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 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 Wind Ridge a more enjoyable experience for the next person.
How to Get to Wind Ridge Trailhead
The Wind Ridge hike starts from the Mt Lougheed Viewpoint, about ten minutes from Canmore, half an hour from Banff, or over an hour from Calgary. From Highway 1 south of Canmore take the turn-off for Dead Man’s Flats and drive south, following signs for Mt Lougheed. Continue straight along George Biggy Sr Road, keeping right past Banff Gate Mountain resort. A minute later you’ll reach the parking lot, continue walking to the loop at the end of the road to the start of the Wind Ridge trail.
Click here to open the exact trailhead location in Google Maps.
Hiking Wind Ridge
The start of the Wind Ridge hike.
The Skogan Pass trail peels off the to the left. Keep straight to continue along the Wind Ridge hike.
The trail splits before crossing several creeks. Go left here, unless you’re a horse.
The final creek crossing. Immediately after this point the trail climbs up the hill on the other side and follows alongside the creek.
Several smaller trails break off from the main one. Ignore them and continue along the most obvious trail.
After following the creek the trail turns to the right and starts ascending steadily the woods. Distance-wise this about the halfway point of the hike but elevation gain-wise this is only the beginning.
A switchback not long before the Wind Ridge trail starts to get close to the treeline.
Windtower is the first of the neighbouring peaks that start to become visible as the trees thin out.
The southern slopes of Wind Ridge are mostly grassy while the northern slopes are densely treed. As the trail. takes its way up along the ridge it ducks back and forth between the treed and open slopes.
Views looking back.
One of the steepest sections of trail. For some reason it has been terribly braided here – try to stay in the centre. Up ahead is the small scrambling section.
The short scramble is only about two meters. Look for the large block on the ground below my feet that acts as a stepping stone. If you want to avoid the short scramble there is a trail that heads around it to the right. It’s pretty easy though, and not as long as it looks. About where my head height is in this photo is where the trail resumes.
The trail winds up just after the short scramble.
Views over the Bow valley towards Grotto Mountain. Views to the north are obscured from the summit of Wind Ridge, so make sure to enjoy these views along the way.
The summit of Wind Ridge visible up ahead. The trail goes up the ridge pretty steeply so even though the summit still looks pretty far from here it’s only about ten minutes away.
The last somewhat treed and mostly flat section just before the mostly bald summit of Wind Ridge.
Views west from the summit of Wind Ridge towards (left to right) Mt Lougheed, Windtower, The Rimwall, and The Orphan.
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 Wind Ridge in Kananaskis Country! Feel free to leave any questions in the comment section below or to contact me directly via social media.