Grizzly Col Trail

Grizzly Col is a 5.6-mile (9-km) out-and-back from Highwood Meadows Day Use through Pocaterra Cirque to the saddle between Mount Tyrwhitt and Grizzly Ridge. Plan about four hours for a sustained climb; the route guide estimates about 520 m of gain. An older outing estimated about 10 km return, so expect some variation in this faint trail network. Turn around at the col; the scramble beyond toward either summit is a separate, more technical outing.

The route begins at the Highwood Meadows access and shares its first stretch with the Pocaterra Cirque trails. Several faint paths weave through the early forest. After the bridge and gravel path, take the left-hand dirt trail through the meadow and stay with the broad middle track rather than steep paths that climb the ridge. At the cirque pond, take the left-hand continuation toward the col. The junction is easy to miss, so a reliable route map is useful.

The lower approach moves through forest and can be boggy before opening into meadow and talus. Above treeline the route crosses bare, rocky ground on a sustained climb to the saddle. At the col, views open into both the northern and southern valleys, with Mount Tyrwhitt and Grizzly Ridge framing the pass. Larch forest brightens the cirque in fall, especially around late September.

Highwood Meadows sits just above 2,200 m, and the col is around 2,600 m. Snow can linger in the high terrain and mountain weather can change quickly; bring a warm layer and allow time for the descent. Grizzly bears live in the area, so carry bear spray and know how to use it. Dogs are allowed on leash. Highway 40 between Peter Lougheed Provincial Park and Highwood House Junction closes every year from December 1 through June 14.