Memorial Lakes Hike

Where:

• Memorial Lakes

 

When:

• October 26, 2024

 

Who:

• Ed, Craig, Oak, Rod, Neil, Erin, Kellie, Chris, Winnie, Roger, Colleen, Lisa, Kim, Kuma

 

Trailhead:

• from the Trans Canada heading west towards Canmore, take Highway 40 south for 25 km
• take the right-hand turn for Nakiska Mountain Resort, take the first left at Centennial Drive, and  then a quick right onto Ribbon Creek Road
• the trail starts out of the far end of the parking area at the sign that says Ribbon Creek Trail

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

• 500 meters of elevation gain to the first lake, 600 meters to the second lake, and 825 meters to the upper lake
• 19 km return to the first lake, 21 km to the second lake, and 23 km to the third lake
• at 3.7 km, there is a sign that points straight ahead to Memorial Lakes
• after several km and two bridges, when you reach a gorge, take the steep climb up the right (north) edge of the gorge
• at the top of the gorge, the trail flattens out and you are soon at the first lake
• to get to the second lake go to the end of the first lake and look for flagging tape in the thick willows
• make your way through the willows, cross an inlet stream, and turn right then steeply up the rocks to the left of the inlet stream
• from here you cross a rockslide at the base of Bogart Tower and follow the cairns to the second lake
• the hike to the third lake involves a scramble or a walk along a narrow ridge
• the hike took us 5 hours

 

 

Interesting notes:

• the lakes are named for the three separate plane crashes in 1986 that killed 13 people, including two search and rescue planes
• there is a memorial cairn at the third lake

• the area is surrounded by Mount Kidd, Mount Bogart, Centennial Ridge, and Wind Mountain
• the parking lot was once the site of a logging and coal mining town called Kovach

• we were the only people on the Memorial Lakes portion of the trail
• you can ride your bike for the first 3.7 km until you reach the turn for Memorial Lakes