Parking
Use the Elk Pass Day Use Area parking; the snowshoe route starts at its south end.
Overview
About Elk Pass Snowshoe Trail
Why go
- The Fox Creek valley and Elk Pass make distinctive waypoints on the outing.
- The powerline corridor gives the climb a recognizable winter character.
Heads up
- Plan for about 11.6 km round trip; the park does not label its 5.8 km figure one way or return.
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Peter Lougheed map
Full mapElevation1,725–1,944 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 Elk Pass 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
Elk Pass: A Meadow on the Provincial Boundary0:00 / 0:25
“Up ahead is Elk Pass Day Use Area, the start of a summer hike to a meadow on the Alberta–British Columbia boundary.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Peter Lougheed Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Upper Lake: Shoreline and Sarrail Falls
- Lower Lake Day Use: A Winter Lakeshore Stop
- Boulton Creek: Trading Post and Creekside Break
- North Interlakes and Panorama: Two Lake Views
- 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 Elk Pass Snowshoe Trail
A winter route to Elk PassThis is the winter-only snowshoe route from the south end of Elk Pass Day Use Area to Elk Pass.
This is the winter-only snowshoe route from the south end of Elk Pass Day Use Area to Elk Pass. It is distinct from the summer Elk Pass Trail, though it crosses and shares sections with the cross-country ski trail.
Distance and effortAlberta Parks lists 5.8 km and 210 m of elevation gain, but does not state whether 5.
Alberta Parks lists 5.8 km and 210 m of elevation gain, but does not state whether 5.8 km is one way or a return trip. The assembled line from the south end of the parking area to Elk Pass is about 5.8 km, so plan for about 11.6 km (7.2 miles) out and back. Allow roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, with snow travel affecting the pace.
Powerline climb and Fox Creek valleyThe route climbs beneath the powerline, crosses the Elk Pass cross-country ski trail on its…
The route climbs beneath the powerline, crosses the Elk Pass cross-country ski trail on its first steep hill, follows beside it near the top, then joins it for the downhill. At the second Fox Creek Trail junction, it drops into the valley bottom, the route’s most scenic stretch.
Hydroline to the passAt the next junction, the route meets Hydroline Trail and parallels it to Elk Pass on the…
At the next junction, the route meets Hydroline Trail and parallels it to Elk Pass on the Alberta–British Columbia boundary. Continuing into Elk Lakes Provincial Park is an optional extension beyond the route’s turnaround and is not included in the return distance.
Sharing the winter corridorStay at the edge and yield to skiers where the trails cross or share tracks.
Stay at the edge and yield to skiers where the trails cross or share tracks. Dogs are not permitted on this snowshoe route, and the park lists a group-size limit of 15.
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.
