Parking
The route runs between the Peter Lougheed Park Discovery & Information Centre and Canyon Day Use. Arrange a shuttle or return along the same track. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for parking in Kananaskis Country.
Overview
About Canyon Snowshoe Trail
Why go
- Only 79 ft (24 m) of official climbing over the one-way route.
- Connects the Discovery Centre with the Lower Lake and Penstock winter trail network.
Heads up
- The point-to-point layout requires a return plan or shuttle.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Peter Lougheed map
Full mapElevation1,653–1,688 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Best time to go
Safety
4 active Peter Lougheed alerts
- ClosureTrail closures and Three Isle detourThree trail sections remain closed; stay out of closed areas and follow the signed Three Isle detour to reach the open backcountry campgrounds.Official details
- CautionBear activity near Elpoca and ValleyviewFrequent bear activity has been noted along Valleyview Road from Elpoca Day Use Area south to Highway 40, near Little Highwood Pass and Valleyview Day Use Areas; use bear precautions.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Peter Lougheed Tour Guide
Your drive to Canyon Snowshoe Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Peter Lougheed audio tourRecorded for this trailhead
Discovery Centre: Exhibits and Meadow Bears0:00 / 0:34
“You're nearing the Peter Lougheed Park Discovery and Information Centre, a useful stop for trail advice and a break indoors.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Peter Lougheed Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Pocaterra Warming Hut: A Ski-Day Shelter
- Canyon Day Use: The Lake and the Lost Trail
- A Hare's Changing Coat
- South Lawson Peak: The Ridge Above the Lakes
- 41 audio storiesacross Peter Lougheed’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Grizzly Bear, Canada Lynx, Black Bear, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 66 trails, 41 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Canyon Snowshoe Trail
The routeThis winter snowshoe connector runs one way from the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre to Canyon…
This winter snowshoe connector runs one way from the Peter Lougheed Discovery Centre to Canyon Day Use. It crosses Kananaskis Lakes Trail, passes through forest beneath the hydro line, then follows roads through Canyon Campground. The route is about 1.1 mi (1.7 km) one way, with 79 ft (24 m) of official elevation gain. It links onward with the Lower Lake and Penstock snowshoe trails.
Winter conditionsExpect a road crossing on Kananaskis Lakes Trail and possible snow or ice underfoot.
Expect a road crossing on Kananaskis Lakes Trail and possible snow or ice underfoot. Winter conditions can make even an easy trail harder, so bring footwear and traction suited to the day and stay on the designated snowshoe route, away from groomed ski tracks.
DogsLeashed dogs are allowed on non-groomed trails in the area.
Leashed dogs are allowed on non-groomed trails in the area. Keep dogs off groomed ski trails and pack out waste.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Peter Lougheed
132 sightingsGrizzly BearMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
17 sightingsCanada LynxMost seen around 8 PMSighting map
30 sightingsBlack BearMost seen around 6 AMSighting map
69 sightingsMooseMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
176 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
19 sightingsBald EagleMost seen around 8 AMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Peter Lougheed. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
