Hills and Thrills: Five Must-Do Trail Runs
By Wildly Supply Co.
If you’re an experienced trail runner looking for ideas about where to kick up some dust, you’ve come to the right place. We’re all about running the flats and downs, then hiking the ups for about 20km- give or take. If that sounds like your speed, here are five trails we recommend you add to your list this trail running season.
Remember to check Parks Canada trail conditions and bulletins and to always bring your bear spray before heading out.
BANFF NATIONAL PARK
1/ Healy Pass
Rating: Moderate
Route: Out and back
Distance: 8.8 km one-way
Elevation Gain: 655 metres
Trailhead: Park in the Sunshine Village parking area, the trailhead is located behind the main gondola building
Description: Following Healy Creek to its source, this trail takes you through forest, with pops of open meadow, until you arrive to the start line of the pass. Then it’s all lungs and legs to the top. From mid-July to late August, the ground is blanketed in pinks, reds, and purples with beautiful wildflowers in bloom. The landscape turns a golden yellow in late September as the alpine larches needle begin to glow.
Top Tip: You have a 360 of breathtaking views to choose from while you eat your lunch at the top of the pass and on a clear day you can see Mount Assiniboine. If you are feeling turbo-charged, you can carry on to hang out by Egypt Lake for an extra nine kilometres to the day’s tally.
KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK
2/ Floe Lake
Rating: Difficult
Route: Out and back
Distance: 10.5 km one-way
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,110 metres/415 metres
Trailhead: Floe Lake parking lot, 72kms east of Radium Hot Springs
Description: This is one of the most popular day hikes in Yoho and for the same reasons, it’s fun to run. The majority of the trail is exposed, so you're in the sun with mountain views every which way. There is a gradual uphill until the trail gets steeper the last couple of kilometres before reaching the lake. Floe Lake is quite grand and makes for a breath-taking lunch spot before heading back.
Top Tip: The parking lot is on the small side and fills up fast so get there early. As mentioned, it’s quite exposed so be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen. There’s also a nice creek you can use as a water bottle refill station a little over halfway en route to the lake.
YOHO NATIONAL PARK
3/ Emerald Triangle
Rating: Difficult
Route: Loop
Distance: 19.7 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 880 metres
Trailhead: Emerald Lake parking lot, 10 kms west of Field, B.C.
Description: You can pick your starting point but we’d opt for beginning on the western shores of Emerald Lake. From there, you will go through Emerald Basin, a natural amphitheatre, until you hit the start line of Yoho Pass. The ascent takes you to the Wapta Highline, also known as the Burgess Highline. Once you’re up in the alpine, you’ll have a bird’s eye look at Emerald Lake as well as views of the President Range. You’ll then come to Burgess Pass and afterward, you’ll begin a steep descent back to the eastern shore of the lake through Columbian forest.
Top Tip: Watch for mountain goats and bring a swimsuit for a dip in the lake afterward to cool off!
4/ Iceline Trail via Little Yoho
Rating: Difficult
Route: Loop
Distance: 20.8 km
Elevation Gain/Loss: 710 metres
Trailhead: Park at the Takakkaw Falls parking lot and then make your way on foot about a kilometre back down the road or trail to the trailhead close to the Whiskey Jack Wilderness Hostel (with recommending the loop you can choose your own adventure to start here or to start at the Takakkaw Falls Campground)
Description: We're a fan of getting the heavy lifting done first on this one, so our vote is to get the bulk of the elevation out of the way in the first few kilometres. The forested trail is steep but with switchbacks until you hit the alpine. Once onto the high bench, you are surrounded by spectacular views of the mountains and even glaciers. There are a few rock hopping, creek crossings as you make your way across the bench. Keep straight on the trail to head down to the meadows where you will find a creek and the Alpine Club of Canada’s Stanley Mitchell hut. This is also a great spot to have lunch and soak your feet. From here, you’re about halfway through the loop and you’re heading into the trees. There are signs pointing you in the direction of add-ons like Whaleback and Twin Falls, but if you keep on track you’ll run into Laughing Falls and then eventually Takakkaw Falls Campground and the parking lot.
Top Tip: This trail has a fair bit of rock and roots, which we opt to hike at times. You could also bring a swimsuit and rip up to Emerald Lake afterward for a dip!
WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK
5/ Carthew-Alderson
Rating: Difficult
Route: One-way
Distance: 19.2 km
Elevation Gain: 650 metres
Trailhead: Cameron Lake, on the left when facing the lake.
Description: For ease, we recommend keeping your car in Waterton and booking the Cameron Express hiker shuttle (through Tamarack Outdoors) to Cameron Lake. You get a jumpstart on the ascent with a series of slow and steady switchbacks to lessen the grade until you reach Summit Lake, where the trail levels off for a bit before a switchback to the summit. You will see a contrasting landscape marked by fire: burnt trees alongside new green growth. It’s windy up at the top but there are stellar views of Carthew Lakes, the Wateron Valley, as well as the prairies in the distance to go with your lunch. From there, the trail takes you down a scree slope to Carthew Lakes, then a descent to Alderson Lake, and finally to Cameron Falls in the townsite.
Top Tip: Again, we highly recommend the hiker shuttle. And if you aren’t fussed about your running time, you could do a dip in the gem-coloured Carthew or Alderson Lakes.
A NOTE FROM WILDLY: You, the reader, are responsible for your own safety and gathering the information you require to tackle these trips. Please adventure safely.