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Burns Lake via Arethusa Crest

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Panoramic View north from grassy rib above Burns Lake.  Arethusa Crest route comes in down grassy patch center left.  Rae Creek Hills extreme center right

September 5, 2019

Burns Lake is infrequently visited Highwood Pass area back-country lake, mainly in domain of hunters.  It has also been featured in sports fishing magazines.  Lake is quite beautiful in typical front range wilderness setting, but day hikes from Highwood Pass, although feasible from distance perspective, have been largely ignored because of savage crossover via Arethusa col -- lose scramble with significant elevation loss on east side, that must be regained on return.   West side of crest is considerably more rough, but faint path can be followed most of the way.  Odd hiker usually backpacks via Rae Lake / Sheep trail, utilizing Arethusa crest as exit route only.  It is a shame though as views are fabulous, specially ridge on south side of the lake.  For competent scramblers, day-hike is feasible although backpack might be preferred.  Good camp can be found at north side of the lake.  Initial part is via popular Arethusa Cirque network of hiking trails, brimming with golden larches in early fall, followed by Kane scramble approach for Mount Arethusa.  

Park at pullover on east side of Kananaskis Trail (Hwy 40), about 1km south of Highwood Pass (40min drive from Trans-Canada Highway;  note Hwy40 seasonal closure Dec 1 - Jun15).  Trail starts by "unload your guns" sign -- clear indication of primary type of its users -- and although unsigned, it is easy to follow.  It rises somewhat steeply through thinning forest on right side of Arethusa Creek.  Within 15-20 minutes you reach meadows, and trail splits.  Cross the creek and hike up on the left side of drainage reaching meadows on top of Cirque in another 15 minutes or so.  This is the end of trail;  note this point in order to be able to pick it up on return.   Kane Mount Arethusa is directly above you at this point, while Little Arethusa -- much more benign (and much more recommended) outing with fabulous viewpoint on top -- is to the left.  Cross the meadows and churn the way up scree towards obvious low point of the ridge above.  Faint trail exists most of the way.  Higher up it becomes steep and lose, with couple of brief rock bands. Upper part is steep slog up hardened mud slope interspersed with scree -- very uncomfortable on descent;  hiking poles are huge asset here.  Nearing the top pick up trail heading right and exit to ridge crest, some 100m vertical above low point;  note cliffs below, primary reason why low saddle is not feasible option.  Huge cairn built here is extremely important in order to identify this spot on return.

Drop directly down talus on east side, without going down to low point, heading towards top of drainage and pick up good trail on right side.  Lose and sometimes awkward, but generally easy to follow it drops steeply then crosses to other side and aims in direction of Blayney Tarn seen from above. Reaching alpine basin near the tarn trail disappears, but it is not needed anymore.  Burns lake can be seen in the basin still some distance below.  Follow path of least resistance down talus and meadows, crossing Blayney drainage along the way.  Final bit is walk in delightful meadows (watch for grizzly bears!) towards the lake. 

If you are backpacking, sheltered larch / pine area on north side is obvious camp spot. Otherwise make sure you hike up low angle grassy ridge on east side; it provides fabulous viewpoint (title photo on this page).   Return will not be faster at all;  plan 1:15 - 1:20 back to Arethusa Crest, then at least another hour for descent back to the Cirque and hike out to the car.

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