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September 16, 2023 In Outdoor Edventures

Chester Lake Hike

Where:

  • Chester Lake

 

When:

  • September 16, 2023

 

Who:

  • Ed, Dave, Rod, Ian, Mike, Brenda, Angela, Peter

 

Trailhead:

  • a 60-minute drive (45 km) up the Smith Dorrien (Spray Lakes) road from Canmore
  • turn left (east) into the parking lot, which is directly across from the Burstall Pass parking lot
  • you can also access it from the Kananaskis Lakes Road, which is slightly shorter if you are coming from Calgary
  • the trail is at the far end of the parking lot, and be careful not to head to the right behind the outhouses as this leads up to Headwall Lakes

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

  • 550 meters elevation to the ridge above the first lake up Three Lakes Valley
  • 13 km
  • the hike took us just under four hours
  • the first 2 km are on a logging road that turns into a hiking trail
  • moderate climb most of the way to the lake, which only took us an hour
  • at the lake, we took the first trail (there are two of them that end up at the same place) on the left-hand side of the lake up to the Elephant Rocks and then beyond to Three Lakes Valley
  • from Chester Lake to the Elephant Rocks is a 10 minute stroll
  • there are a few other options when you reach Chester Lake (go up the scree behind the lake into the upper Chester Valley where you can either enjoy the valley or ascend the pass to the Fortress Mountain Col or descent to Headwall Lakes and loop back to the parking lot which are both long and challenging days)
  • this is a moderate trail, and even though we were out for just under four hours, it was a leisurely pace enjoying all the beauty of the area

 

 

Interesting notes:

  • we started the hike in -1C weather, but it climbed to 15C, and it was a spectacularly sunny day with no clouds
  • we beat the larch crowd heading up the trail but passed 323 people on our way down who were coming up the trail
  • the initial part of the trail is quite forested, but once you break out of the trees, the 360 views are amazing
  • the views include Mount Chester, Fortress Mountain, Mount Galatea, Mount Burstall, and Commonwealth Peak
  • most people are not aware of these Elephant Rocks, and it is one of the most unique and majestic sites in the Bow Valley
  • as well most people don’t know about the Three Lakes Valley, which is like being on the moon with rocks blanketing the entire valley
  • the other unique feature on this trail is the fields of small ‘hummock’ mounds which can be found as you break out of the trees on the ascent to the lake, near Chester Lake, and near the Elephant Rocks

 

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