North Kananaskis Pass via Maude-Lawson Trail

From North Interlakes Day Use, this is a 21.9-mile (35.3-km) out-and-back to North Kananaskis Pass and back along the same corridor. It follows the Upper Kananaskis Lake and Three Isle approach to Forks, climbs on the Maude-Lawson trail to Turbine Canyon, then continues past Maude Lake to the 2,368 m pass on the Alberta–British Columbia divide. The mapped one-way line is 17.65 km; the listed mileage doubles that corridor for the return.

Treat this as an exceptionally strenuous outing: allow about 12–14 hours of walking and be comfortable with long days at altitude. The maintained approach from North Interlakes to Turbine Canyon is about 15 km one way with roughly 525 m of elevation gain; the pass extension adds about 2.2 km and 170 m of climbing one way. That final stretch is unmaintained and hard to follow, so the pass is not a casual add-on. A reserved overnight at Turbine breaks up the walk; even turning around there makes about 30 km round trip from North Interlakes.

The first 7.3 km follow the established Upper Kananaskis Lake and Three Isle routes to Forks. From North Interlakes, cross the spillway footbridge and follow an old road before the route narrows beneath steep slopes. A rocky section crosses the Palliser rockslide, then a bridge spans Invincible Creek. Forest and river crossings lead to Forks, where the terrain eases before the long climb west. These are remote backcountry miles, not a short walk from the parking lot.

From Forks, take the Maude-Lawson junction. The trail follows the Kananaskis River for about 1.2 km, then climbs steep switchbacks away from the water. The 7.5 km to Turbine gains about 550 m, with views south toward Mount Lyautey. Farther up, larch forest and subalpine meadow lead past Putnik Pond to Lawson Lake; the twin summits of Mount Maude rise beyond it. A ranger cabin and a bridge over Maude Creek mark the approach to Turbine Canyon campground.

Continue through the campground toward Maude Lake and the pass. Signs stop at Turbine, and the route beyond is an unmaintained boot track that can be difficult to follow. Bring a downloaded topographic map and reliable navigation, and turn back if the line becomes unclear. At the pass, the Continental Divide crosses into British Columbia's Height of the Rockies; views open toward Mount Queen Elizabeth and Mount King Albert, while Mount Beatty Glacier stands near Maude Lake.

Putnik Pond and Lawson Lake make strong foregrounds for the mountain walls above them; Maude Lake and the nearby glacier are the payoff near the pass. Larches may turn gold in late September, though the season varies. The pass also sits on an older crossing route: Warre and Vavasour crossed it in 1845, followed by Sinclair settlers in 1854 and the Palliser expedition in 1858–59. This record stops at the pass and returns the way it came.

Bring all food; there is no food service along this route. Turbine's backcountry campground has a pit toilet and secure food lockers, prohibits fires, and requires a reserved site if you stay overnight. Treat stream or river water before drinking; there is no potable water in the adjoining wilderness. A Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required for a vehicle parked at the trailhead.

This is bear country; carry bear spray and stay alert. Weather can change quickly at high elevation, with lightning, hail and snow possible even in summer. Dogs are permitted on leash, but the adjoining BC backcountry is not considered suitable for pets because of bears and other wildlife.