Southerly Panorama looking down Blackshale Creek Drainage from Kent South.  Upper K-lake left,  Gypsum Ridge to its right.   Indefatiguable - Invincible - Warspite Ridgeline upper center right

Trip Summary

Multiple Dates, last Jun 6, 2025 Long ridge flanking Kent Creek Valley rising above Spray road on east side as one drives towards Canmore from K-Lakes junction.  There are several access points;   easiest is to trudge south side moderately angled Forested slopes.  Tree cover provides avalanche-safe travel in winter and there is usually well broken snowshoe trail.  "Trailhead" is tricky to find;   drive ~1.5km south from Peninsula day-use and watch for Curving Road sign on right side (first photo in Gallery).   Pull over and park here, then after gearing up trash shale bank to junction with High Rockies Trail and look for faint trail heading up the forest - large cairn in Spring '24.   Trail is faint and has some deadfall in lower part, but nothing problematic.  Grade is constant but not too tiring.   About halfway up there are some clearings where snow tends to soften in warm spring conditions - postholing.  Just over an hour grade levels and trail crosses large meadow with Kent South directly ahead.  Final bit rises bit steeply to "summit" area that often has snowdrift accumulations in winter.   As expected views are terrific;  by descending a bit southerly open slopes grants aerial view of Blackshale Creek drainage, that can also be used as Kent South access, better left for summer conditions.   Popular Blackshale Suspension Creek bridge can be spotted below.    Continuing to Kent Summit and/or traversing entire ridge involves losing ~70m vertical - few people seem to bother in winter.   Main visual prize for me was great view of Kent Creek Valley flanked by elegant Lawson - Inflexible Ridge to the east.     If not continuing further, best is to return the same way.  Descent will be considerably faster and whole trip - if trail is broken - can be done in 3 hours.

Gallery

Winding Road Sign Parking area - Winding Road Sign at right side of Spray Road ~1.5km from Peninsula Day Use

Spray Shoulder View down to "Parking Area" after ascending talus bank to High Rockies Trail.   Note Road Sign from Top Photo

Kent South Trailhead Large Cairn indicating faint path splitting off High Rockies Trail - Kent South Trailhead

Lower Bushwhack Some deadfall as trail heads up, but nothing major

Forest Clearing Forest clearing halfway up - possibility of soft snow / postholing in spring

Treeline Views Grade levels as trail reaches treeline.   Kent South (C) is ~10 minutes away

Treeline Meadow Looking back crossing open area above Blackshale Creek East bank

Summit Cornice Minor Cornice just below Kent South.   Length of Kent Ridge upper center distance

Length of Blackshale Drainage - alternate Kent South Access.   Very popular Suspension Bridge ~15min above Spray Road center.  Click to Zoom

Gypsum Ridge Gypsum Ridge Telephoto from Kent South

Kent Summit & North Ridge from Kent South.  Continuing involved ~70m elevation Loss.  With 2 cars in summer it is possible to traverse entire ridge and descend back to Spray Road on North side.  Click to Zoom

Snow Formations Windblown Snow Formations below Kent South on East side

Kent South Pano Nice Panorama NE - Kent North left,  Length of Little Lawson - Mt. Inflexible Ridge center.   Opal Range behind to the right

Abstract

Kent Ridge South GAIA Map

Kent Ridge South Elevation Profile

During initial winter trip I stopped at first bump - usual turnaround place for most. Snow track was hard packed and I didn't take snowshoes. However no tracks extended beyond first bump, and continuing without 'shoes would have been very difficult. I took mental note to return when snow is gone and explore further. In June 25 I did so; here's what transpired

First thing to note: Ascending via usual route from Spray Road is more difficult without snow. Why? Faint trail comes and goes, and while overall direction is relatively straightforward most of the way is in trees and there is some bushwhack, not a factor when snow covers thin underbrush. There is also deadfall in first 15 or so min above road; on descent I went off best way and had to navigate bit of unpleasant terrain ending up ~200m east from where I parked. But once at first bump, route-finding is straightforward. although still without trail - initially. First obstacle is to cross stubborn snowdrift extending east below first bump, then at low point turn north and follow edge of forest on a beautiful meadow. I expected bushwhack once slope dipped into the forest, but it was nice and open and I had no issues. Then really well trail appeared, to my utmost surprise. It was not needed, but I thought it might be alternate and shorter way up directly from Spray Road, and decided to investigate on return. Rest was just beautiful open meadow walk to real Kent South, that also had sizable cairn, built around survey marker (no register). Some shots illustrating the above:

Bushy Snowdrift View directly below first bump, looking downhill. Do not go all the way to first bump (unless you have never been there before). Drop to edge of forest then turn left is easiest

Meadow Walk Great going in meadow, looking back to first bump

Forested Rise View back as I was ascending from low forested saddle, now on that trail that appeared just below

Kent Panorama Great pano south as I cleared treeline. Unfortunately it was a bit hazy from the wildfires burning north

Long Snowdrift Really Long snowdrift extending all the way down - it was deep, I had no gaiters but I found a spot to cross over where it thinned out sufficiently. First bump upper center now appears much further

Kent South True Kent South. In the distance, over several more bumps is Mt. Kent.  Long ridge extending from Little Lawson to Mt. Inflexible upper right

Kent South Panorama Pano looking towards range of peaks rising above K-lakes area

And where does that mystery trail I encountered on the way up go? Short answer - nowhere! I investigated, really well defined kept descending and just as I had real hope it might lead me express way all the way down it came to bit of peeling rock - and stopped. I scrambled across the rock to the other side thinking it might resume, but nothing. So I went back and basically returned the same way over first bump.  I advise you do the same.