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Mist Ridge

Panoramic View back to South Summit (center right) from mid-section of Mist Ridge

August 5, 2020

In her Kananaskis Guide book Daffern calls Mist Ridge "one of finest ridge walks in K-country".  Several hours of wondering on gentle grassy ridge spine offer fine views of Sheep River Valley, Foothills and several front range peaks.  There are many different options:  Most popular, presented here traverses entire ridge in S-N direction to low point at Rickert Pass, then loop returns via Mist Creek valley trail, once used by native hunters.  Shorter outing loops around South Summit only, while longer extensions continue north from Rickert Pass along long several grassy bumps towards Storm Mountain.  Peakbaggers use Mist Ridge as access to Gibraltar Mountain;   this is a very long day and not realistic target for most day hikers.  It is also possible to descend on east side of Rickert Pass and visit Burns Mine (3.0 KM) and Denning's Cabin another 3.5 KM for a total, round trip, back to Rickert's Pass of 13.0 KM.

Parking is at Mist Creek Recreation area (planned to be permanently closed), some 20km south of Highwood Pass along Hwy40.  Note that Hwy40 is seasonably closed Dec 1 - June 15 south of Kananaskis Lakes turnoff;  this effectively puts Mist Ridge as summertime/fall destination only.  Alternative start is roadside parking that cuts 400-500m of walking (see second photo of gallery).  If first time here, and Mist Recreation area is still open I suggest starting from there.   Trail kiosk is at north side of parking lot and wide trail meanders by Highwood River for 5-10 minutes eventually crossing Hwy40 to north side by alternative hike start.  Follow trail with red markers for ~25min to junction;  go right for Mist Ridge.  Left branch, marked Mist Creek (3rd photo in gallery) is where you will return if you complete the loop.  Trail ascends and is initially bit overgrown but soon tops on open grassy slopes dotted with wildflowers in summer.   More like an old road, trail then descends ~80m vertical and crosses creek which is the only water source till well below Rickert Pass -- make sure you top up water bottles here.  Couple of wide switchbacks and long horizontal traverse brings you to South Col and start of Mist Ridge -- 1.5 - 2 hrs from trailhead with moderate pace.  Trail splits here by cairn;  left (west) branch drops straight to Mist Creek and can be used as alternate shortcut descent.  Right branch bypasses South Summit by side-sloping on west side and it is frequently used by mountain bikers. For hikers it is better to ascend South Summit off trail on grass as views are much better, then descend to mid-portion (~100m vertical loss) where bypass trail joins in.  If you are short with time, this would be acceptable turnaround point.  

What follows is fantastic open ridgewalk for several kilometers - what Mist Ridge is best known for.  Eye catcher is Gibraltar Mountain;  an easy but very long scramble and not feasible as day trip for most people.  North summit comes into view several bumps later.  Trail bypasses on left side, but it is recommended to tag North Bump as "summit of the day", then re-join trail lower down.  (Gibraltar scramblers would drop east here to obvious saddle lower down).  Trail is bit more rough for a bit till it rounds the corner below rocky outcrop, then turns right and descends on grass to Rickert Pass where Mist creek trail joins in from the left near Wooden cross landmark.  With enough time you can extend the day by ascending next bump north or continuing for several hours on grass towards Storm Mountain.  Mist Creek loop return is mostly featureless as it stays below treeline for most of the way, except for crossing of couple of swampy meadows. It is wide and for most part, except for initial descent, flat and allows for fast return  back to trailhead.

Gallery

Treeline Shoulder Wildflower Carpets as trail breaks treeline.  Switchbacks leading to south end of Mist Ridge can be seen on a grassy hill center left and trail loses ~80m elevation crossing intervening drainage (last water source)