Acephale Trail
Near Lac Des Arcs · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Trail score 34 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Acephale Trail is a 3.4 km out and back trail near Lac Des Arcs in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 1.7 km each way. The route gains 318 m in total and tops out at 1,654 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 2 hours of moving time. Along the way you pass a stream crossing.
- Length
- 3.4km
- 1.7 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 318m
- Estimated time
- 2h
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 1,654m
- Lowest point
- 1,337m
Elevation profile
1,337 m to 1,654 mHighest point 1,654 m, lowest 1,337 m, 318 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 65% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 100% of route
0% LTE · 100% 5G
- Longest modelled gap
- 0.0 km
- Model
- 2024 · Natural Resources Canada
Predicted coverage is not guaranteed. It varies by carrier, terrain, weather, device and network load, and it does not guarantee emergency service.
Along the way
- 0.5 kmStream crossing
- 0.8 kmStream crossing
- 1.3 kmStream crossing
Good for
- Hiking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.0566° N, 115.1354° W.
Kananaskis Conservation Pass
Vehicle pass required when parking
Pass details
Vehicles parked at provincial park and public land sites in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley need this pass. It is registered to the licence plate. People arriving without a vehicle do not need one, and official exemptions and free days may apply.
$15 daily for one vehicle · $90 yearly for up to three vehicles
Information and prices checked October 21, 2026.
Before you go
Carry an offline map and plan for no service in backcountry areas. Trails close for wildlife, fire, weather and construction. Check the official sources:
Nearby trails
- Heart Mountain TrailHard · 14.8 km · 1,829 m gain · 0.2 km away
- Trans Canada TrailModerate · 5.7 km · 138 m gain · 0.4 km away
- McConnell Ridge East RouteHard · 5.7 km · 729 m gain · 0.6 km away
- The Razor's EdgeHard · 11.2 km · 628 m gain · 0.7 km away
- Quaite ValleyEasy · 2.7 km · 82 m gain · 0.9 km away
- Door Jamb and Loder Peak TrailHard · 10.0 km · 1,402 m gain · 1.5 km away
All 149 trails in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30