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Rockies :: Kananaskis :: Piper Pass

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Panoramic View from Ridge above the Pass down Piper Creek Valley; Mt. Elpoca just right of center, Mt. Rae behind to the left

September 3, 2021

Piper Pass is rewarding day hike in scenic Elbow/Tombstone area. Often overlooked in favor of more popular destinations like Rae Glacier, Tombstone Lakes, Rae Lake, etc. but it offers similar if not better scenery.  Access is via ever popular Elbow Lake trail, but crowds thin out past the campground and after leaving Elbow Trail below Tombstone Pass you are likely to have it all to yourself!  Main deterrent is unavoidable ford of -very young- Elbow River;  this is why hike is better done later in season after water level have subsided.  Forest travel contouring west slopes of South Tombstone Peak is longer than expected, but once trail breaks treeline you are rewarded with trademark Kananaskis alpine.  For better views Bumps either side of the pass can be scrambled easily, while Peakbaggers will utilize Piper Creek for approach to rarely ascended Mt. Schlee (not a Kane peak).  Rough trail continues on north side of the Pass and drops into West Fork of Little Elbow continuing over Paradise Pass into Evan Thomas area.  This extension requires several nights backpack and is attempted very rarely.

From Elbow Lake Parking (note seasonal closure of Hwy 40 past Kananaskis Lakes turnoff Dec 1 - June 15), hike to Elbow Lake on a wide track.  Trail, road in fact, continues on left (north) side of the lake then after crossing lake outlet on log bridge continues for couple of km to Tombstone Pass.  Views really open up here and it is worth taking a break.  Piper Valley is to the left and in the distance Cats Ears / Mt. Schlee can be spotted.  Normal access is roughly 10 minutes below Tombstone Pass.  It will be the second trail to the left (first being brief side trip to Edworthy Falls, well worth if you have never seen it).  Except for cairn -- that might or might not be there next time -- this junction is not marked;  if not sure use GPS track (download link on top of page, Waypoint 2 - Elbow Trail).  Rough trail drops steeply to Elbow River; easiest place to cross is right where the trail brings you; it is not worth looking upstream or downstream.  Gaiters will be of big help here if you don't want to take your boots off, but watch for slip on slimy river rocks.  On the other side trail climbs across some meadows then settles for long forested haul crossing several drainages along the way.  Piper Creek is on the left side and higher up there are some neat waterfalls well worth a glance.  After breaking up treeline ~1hr from Elbow Trail, fantastic alpine opens up and this is logical spot for a break.  Mt. Schlee access is on the left side;  while Piper Trail continues into upper valley.  Further up in the meadows trail fades away but direction is obvious - aim for large rock boulder directly below the pass,  crossing Piper Creek along the way (good water!).  Final rise to the Pass is steep and bit loose, but not problematic.  On my hike I scrambled "Piper Ridge" on east side and it offered very nice viewpoint.  More popular is apparently higher orange cone on the other (west) side, but it offers no scenic advantage.

Return is the same way. Instead of going all the way to Elbow Trail it is possible to take shortcut via Tombstone Meadows. Watch for side trail (on my trip there was branch lying across this path) ~20 min from Elbow ford;  Waypoint 3 - Shortcut on GPS Track).  Trail drops to Piper Creek;  ford and find bits of trail on other side leading to Tombstone Meadows where trail fades away.  Aim for general direction of Tombstone Pass and after crossing several benches ford Elbow River back to Elbow Trail.  Main reason this shortcut is not recommended going in is that direction will be not obvious and you might end up doing more rough bushwhack than necessary.

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