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Rockies :: Alberta Foothills :: Prairie Mountain

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Iconic Canadian Flag at 2210m rounded Prairie Mtn summit with view of distant Foothills and Snowy Elbow area Peaks

Jun 20, 2024

Prairie Mountain is Calgary equivalent of Vancouver Grouse Grind.  Accessible and as such always busy with popularity really taking off in Covid era and never letting off.  Badly eroded normal trail caused Alberta Parks to close the area in summer '23 in order to perform upgrades.  Result is wide and rather unappealing bulldozed track to treeline.   Biggest appeal to most Prairie hikers is fitness exercise - 650m vertical over ~4km (slightly less compared to GG 840m over 2.4km).   I've heard of people doing multiple laps any time of year.  All this urban gong show might create an impression that Prairie Mtn should be avoided, but rounded 2210m summit area is still fantastic Foothills viewpoint and as such worth the effort - at least once.  Real reward lies in Prairie North Ridge leading to north end above Canyon Creek, a fantastic Moose Mountain viewpoint.   South side loop return via Prairie Creek as presented on this page offering much more solitude and real hiking feel is highly recommended.

Signed Trailhead is opposite Elbow Falls rec area on Hwy66 (first photo in Gallery).  There are always many cars on shoulder here creating a jam -park at wide Elbow Falls lot instead and simply walk back.  Hwy 66 is closed in winter, so leave car at seasonal gate and walk over.   It will take ~1.5hrs of normal pace to Prairie summit cairn with iconic Canadian Flag.  After quickly snapping few photos I continued down north ridge and enjoyed fantastic views in total solitude.   South side descent junction is bit tricky to identify from the ridge - use GPS download Top of Page, Waypoint ("3, 5 - South Descent"), but good trail develops at Treeline and is easy to follow all the way down to Prairie Creek where you turn left.  Hike out back to Elbow Trail feels a bit roundabout with some ups/downs, but is more scenic than likely expected.   Expect ~5hrs RT for this recommended Prairie loop, best done in CCW direction.

Gallery