Parking
Park in the signed day-use lot at Elbow Pass Day Use Area on Highway 40; equestrian and backpacker parking are separate. The area is seasonal, open June 15 through November 30. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park.
Overview
About Edworthy Falls via Elbow Lake Trail
Why go
- Elbow Lake and Edworthy Falls give the walk two very different stops.
- The long valley stretch is gentler, with open views along the Elbow River.
Heads up
- The falls spur is easy to miss, and the last descent is slippery when wet or icy.
Near the end, look for a cairn and flagging where a short footpath branches toward the falls. The junction is easy to miss, and the surrounding braided paths can make the right line less obvious; save the falls point on an offline map before leaving the lake. Edworthy Falls drops about 20 m into a rock-walled pool. The upper viewpoint gives a strong look at the cascade without taking the steep descent to the water. The final drop can be slippery when wet or icy.
Parkwolf’s verdictFinding Edworthy FallsMap & elevation
The route
Loading the Peter Lougheed map
Full mapElevation1,961–2,100 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
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 Edworthy Falls via Elbow Lake 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
Elbow Lake: A Short, Steep Lake Hike0:00 / 0:24
“You're nearing Elbow Pass Day Use Area, the starting point for a short, steep hike to Elbow Lake.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Peter Lougheed Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Little Highwood: Mount Roberta and Ridge Access
- Rock Glacier: A Short Walk and Pikas
- Follow a Fold in the Rock
- Highwood Pass and the Meadow Walk
- 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 Edworthy Falls via Elbow Lake Trail
The walkThis is a 6-mile out-and-back from Elbow Pass Day Use Area to Edworthy Falls, with Elbow Lake…
This is a 6-mile out-and-back from Elbow Pass Day Use Area to Edworthy Falls, with Elbow Lake along the way. Allow 3 to 4 hours. The climb comes early; after the lake, the route eases into a broad valley before the final falls spur. It is a good half-day choice if you want two very different stops on one hike.
The climb and Elbow LakeThe old road and trail climb about 1.4 km and 120 m to Elbow Lake.
The old road and trail climb about 1.4 km and 120 m to Elbow Lake. Talus openings give you glimpses down the valley as you work up through forest. At the lake, the backcountry campground is on the right, or east, side; continue left, or west, around the shore onto Elbow Pass Trail.
Beyond the lakeThe trail beyond the lake is gentler and follows an old road through forest before opening onto…
The trail beyond the lake is gentler and follows an old road through forest before opening onto grassy slopes. The Elbow River stays to your left in the open sections, with mountain views between the trees. This stretch is easier than the first climb, but remember that the route back includes the lake approach again. Mountain bikes and horses also use this trail, so stay alert and give them room.
Access and rulesStart in the signed day-use lot at Elbow Pass Day Use Area on Highway 40; the equestrian and…
Start in the signed day-use lot at Elbow Pass Day Use Area on Highway 40; the equestrian and backpacker lots are separate. The area is seasonal, open June 15 through November 30, and a Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park. Dogs are allowed on leash. No food or potable-water service is listed along the route, so carry what you need.
A shorter optionIf the waterfall makes the day too long, Elbow Lake is a worthwhile turnaround on its own: it…
If the waterfall makes the day too long, Elbow Lake is a worthwhile turnaround on its own: it is about 1.4 km each way from the day-use area. That shorter walk keeps the steep climb but skips the valley and falls spur.
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.
