Highwood Ridge Trail

Highwood Ridge is an informal out-and-back scramble from Highwood Pass Day Use Area to the ridge’s north high point, then south to Highwood South Peak. Allow about 12.5 km round trip, roughly 730 m of climbing, and 4–5 hours. The lower approach starts gently through forest, then steepens above treeline onto loose scree and exposed rock. It suits hikers who are comfortable with route-finding and short hands-on moves; this is a hard mountain outing, not a casual ridge stroll.

Follow the Highwood Meadows and Pocaterra Cirque approach paths from the pass before taking the less distinct Highwood Ridge line uphill. The climb steepens through forest, then breaks into open alpine terrain. Near the first high point, loose scree and short scrambles require careful footing and sometimes your hands. Highway 40 lies below one side of the ridge, with a broad mountain skyline on the other.

At the north high point, continue down the saddle and south along Highwood Ridge to the second summit, Highwood South Peak, then return the same way. The Grizzly Col option heads north to a different ridge and is a separate scramble. From the south summit, look back along the ridge toward its north peak; Grizzly Ridge and Mount Tyrwhitt also shape the view. The ridge line is partly unmarked, so bring a map and compass and confirm the turn before leaving the first summit. The exact route line is informal, so treat the published distance as an estimate.

Start at Highwood Pass Day Use Area on Highway 40. Its shared parking lot has an outhouse and can fill quickly on fine weekends; no food stop or potable-water source is documented at the pass or on the route, so bring what you need. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for parked vehicles. Highway 40 over Highwood Pass closes every year from December 1 through June 14, reopening June 15. Dogs are allowed but must stay leashed on a lead no longer than 2 m.