The Memorial Lakes are a collection of three lakes in Kananaskis Nation, with every yet another tough to achieve that the earlier one. The higher lake, accessed by a gnarly scramble, is house to a stone memorial to honour 13 victims killed in three separate airplane accidents in 1986, two of which had been search and rescue operations for the primary airplane crash. The quantity of dangerous luck is unbelievable! The hike to the Memorial Lakes can function a reminder of how fleeting life will be.
The Memorial Lakes hike is average to difficult, relying on how far you go. We selected to do the hike on a scorching, sunny day, understanding that there was loads of water for our canine alongside the route and sufficient shade to maintain us considerably cool. We stopped on the gorgeous second Memorial Lake and wouldn’t have needed to scramble as much as the third lake with a canine after listening to from a few guys on the way in which down that there was a stretch of fourth-class scrambling. Hike inside your limits, particularly on this one as you don’t see lots of people.
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Memorial Lakes hike in Kananaskis abstract
Distance: 15.2 km (9.4 miles) return to the center lake; 17.2 km (10.7 miles) return to Higher Memorial Lake
Elevation achieve: 599 m (1,965 ft) to the second lake and 816 m (2,677 ft) to the third lake.
Time wanted: 5 – 6 hours for the center lake, 6 – 7 hours for the higher lake.
Stage of problem: Average to tough to the center lake and difficult to the third lake.
Location: Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Trailhead: The Memorial Lakes hike begins on the Ribbon Creek Day-Use Space and shares the identical begin because the Ribbon Falls hike.
Greatest time to hike: Late June till mid-October. Ideally you need a snow-free path.
Backcountry campsite: A no-fee backcountry tenting allow is required to camp at Memorial Lakes. To get a allow go to the Alberta Parks Customer Data Centre in Kananaskis Nation.
Discovering the trailhead for the Memorial Lakes hike
From the Trans-Canada Freeway, drive south on Freeway 40 for 22.8 km and switch proper (west) onto Mt Allan Drive, signed for Nakiska Ski Space. Proceed for 850 metres. Take your first left onto Centennial Drive. Drive 250 m and switch proper onto Ribbon Creek Street (you’ll cross the Kananaskis Hostel) and proceed to the big car parking zone on the finish of the highway.
The hike begins from the western finish of the car parking zone beside Ribbon Creek. There’s signage. On the trailhead there are additionally washrooms and rubbish cans. This car parking zone can also be the start line for the Ribbon Falls hike (you hike the identical path for the primary 4 km) and the incredible however lengthy and onerous Centennial Ridge – Mount Allan hike.
Memorial Lakes hike description
The hike to Memorial Lakes begins from the west finish of the car parking zone. Head proper alongside the broad path, as you’d when you had been climbing to Ribbon Falls. Cross a collection of bridges, and a few picnic tables roughly half-hour into the hike.
While you attain a signed junction, keep proper to remain on the Ribbon Creek path. The path to the left is the Kovach Path. While you begin to cross a collection of enormous wood benches, you’ll be near the turnoff to Memorial Lakes. Hold an eye fixed out for a brand new signal pointing within the course of Memorial Lakes and a slim path taking off into the woods previous some scrawny bushes. The turnoff is 3.8 km from the car parking zone.
From the turnoff comply with the Memorial Lakes path up Ribbon Creek’s north-fork drainage. You’ll cross two bridges after which the path begins to climb. While you attain a gorge, drop right down to water stage, and take a look earlier than beginning the steep climb up the proper or north fringe of the gorge.
When you get to the highest of the gorge the Memorial Lake path ranges out considerably. You’ll attain the primary Memorial Lake in brief order. We had been there in 2 hours, quarter-hour from the car parking zone, with a number of quick stops for pictures and water.
The primary Memorial Lake
We stopped for a brief break on the first Memorial Lake – the place I seen a few tents within the woods, benches, and a fireplace pit. There’s a tough campsite right here that’s free to make use of, however you’ll want a backcountry allow which you may get on the Barrier Lake Centre on Freeway 40.
From the primary Memorial Lake you get a view of Bogart Tower (entrance and centre). Mount Bogart is within the background on the left and Mt. Sparrowhawk to the far proper or northwest. Ribbon Peak, not proven, is to the left.
You can too see a cascade to the left of Bogart Tower. Some folks hike down this terrible scree slope from the third Memorial Lake, however it’s NOT beneficial.
The hike to the second of the Memorial Lakes
The hike to the second of the Memorial Lakes is steep and more durable – particularly on the descent again to the primary lake, however I’m getting forward of myself.
To search out the path, hike round to the far finish of the primary Memorial Lake. You’ll see a path or trails going up by means of the thick willows, with no less than one marked by flagging tape. Make your manner by means of them, cross an inlet stream, and switch proper. Hike steeply up the rocks to the left of the inlet stream pictured beneath. Cross a rockslide on the base of the Bogart Tower – searching for cairns alongside the way in which. It’s simple when you’re by means of the meadows and on this path.
While you come to an open space with a cairn search for and determine which route you need to take. The route up the scree seems to be nice going up, however we opted for the hike up by means of the forest. You come out on the similar place by a big cairn – overlooking the second Memorial Lake. Comply with the path right down to the water and discover a place for lunch.
A cease on the second Memorial Lake
We wandered round to a beautiful spot beside the water and loved a peaceable lunch on the second Memorial Lake. There wasn’t a soul round for the primary hour and as we had been about to go away we noticed a few guys coming down the scree from the third Memorial Lake.
The hike to the third Memorial Lake
We opted to not hike to the third of the Memorial Lakes due to the warmth, time of day, the canine, and the extent of problem. Don’t go until you’re a sturdy hiker and are ready for some scree and scrambling. The 2 males we met coming down from the lake stated there was a bit of Class IV scrambling – which suggests “Technical scrambling on uncovered terrain. A fall might end in dying.” I’m nice with Class III scrambling and mountaineering the place I’m tied in, however I wasn’t feeling it the day we did it.
You need to scramble up by means of a vertical gulley – the crux of this a part of the Memorial Lakes hike. Then you definitely undergo a “meadowy draw” and as much as the proper of a tiny basin. Nothing is tough previous the scree and it’s solely a kilometre away. You’ll be able to hike across the third Memorial Lake, situated in an alpine cirque beneath Mt. Bogart and Ribbon Peak. The stone memorial is on high of a knoll on the northeast shore of the lake.
To return, retrace your steps, exercising nice warning on the descent by means of the scree.
The descent from the second Memorial Lake
To return to the primary Memorial Lake, and the car parking zone merely retrace your footsteps. Earlier than we began down, we went over to have a look at the path down by means of the scree – and to admire the view over to Mount Allan, earlier than going again down the way in which we got here up – which was by means of the woods and never on the scree. Take your time on the steep bits.
It took us 2.75 hours to hike again to the automotive from the second lake – with a number of stops alongside the way in which to dip ft and palms within the cooling waters.
A number of issues to tackle the Memorial Lakes hike
Take bear spray in a straightforward to entry bear spray holster.
For the Memorial Lakes hike, choose up a duplicate of Gem Treks Canmore and Kananaskis Village.
Don’t neglect a water filter or purification tablets so that you don’t cramp up from dehydration. And take some energy-protein bars because it’s a protracted hike so that you’ll want a lift for the ultimate hour.
Contemplate taking a pair of light-weight socks Darn Powerful socks you may become close to the tip of the day particularly when you usually put on heavier ones. Take Compeed – a product I swear by for blisters. It’s costly however value each penny because it quickens therapeutic time.
The place to remain close to the trailhead
If it’s car-camping you’re focused on, learn A Full Information to Tenting in Kananaskis.
You’ll cross the Kananaskis Wilderness Hostel on the drive in.
In the event you’re after a glamping expertise in teepees or trapper’s tents, take a look at Sundance by Basecamp.
In Kananaskis Village, simply 5 minutes from the trailhead is the Kananaskis Mountain Lodge.
Concerned about extra hikes within the space?
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