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Shared itinerary · Kananaskis Country, Alberta

Kananaskis Country day trip from Calgary

A day down Highway 40 into Kananaskis Country, an hour from Calgary and quieter than Banff: Barrier Lake, Troll Falls, Wedge Pond, lunch in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, the Upper Kananaskis Lake shore and the alpine bowl of Ptarmigan Cirque at Highwood Pass, then a soak at the Kananaskis Nordic Spa. 7 stops with times and notes. Every car needs a Kananaskis Conservation Pass, and Highwood Pass is closed from December 1 to June 15.

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Updated

Distance

126 km

Barrier Lake → Kananaskis Nordic Spa

Day

1

Stops

7

Day 1: Barrier Lake to Kananaskis Nordic Spa

126 km

Highway 40 south from the Trans-Canada, to the far end first and back north for the spa. Buy the Conservation Pass online before you leave; signal is patchy past Kananaskis Village.

  1. 08:30

    Barrier Lake

    Park & nature

    The first lake on Highway 40, milky turquoise under Mount Baldy.

    15.7 km · 15m drive to next

  2. 09:15

    Troll Falls

    Park & nature

    An easy forest walk to a waterfall, 3.4 km return from the Stoney trailhead near Kananaskis Village.

    10.7 km · 10m drive to next

  3. 10:40

    Wedge Pond

    Park & nature

    A small pond that mirrors the peaks around it on a calm morning. A short loop goes round it.

    34.9 km · 25m drive to next

  4. 11:45

    Boulton Creek Trading Post

    Food & drink

    Burgers, coffee and ice cream at the summer store by the Boulton Creek campground.

    3.6 km · 5m drive to next

  5. 12:45

    Upper Kananaskis Lake

    Park & nature

    From the Upper Lake day use area the shoreline trail runs south past the falls on Sarrail Creek, about 40 minutes each way.

    12.5 km · 30m drive to next

  6. 14:45

    Highwood Pass

    Park & nature

    Canada’s highest paved pass, at 2,206 m. The Ptarmigan Cirque loop, 4.5 km from the lot, climbs into an alpine bowl with marmots and pikas.

    48.7 km · 45m drive to next

  7. 18:00

    Kananaskis Nordic Spa

    Activity

    Hot pools, saunas and a cold plunge at Kananaskis Village. Book a time; walk-ins wait. Calgary is an hour away.