Arethusa Cirque Route
Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Trail score 54 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Arethusa Cirque Route is a 6.9 km out and back trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It runs 3.5 km each way. The route gains 468 m in total and tops out at 2,435 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 3 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Arethusa Shortcut Route at 0.7 km and Mount Arethusa Route at 2.4 km, and passes one other mapped junction.
- Length
- 6.9km
- 3.5 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 468m
- Estimated time
- 3h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,435m
- Lowest point
- 2,162m
Elevation profile
2,162 m to 2,435 mHighest point 2,435 m, lowest 2,162 m, 468 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 42% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 100% of route
100% LTE · 0% 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.
Good for
- Hiking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Views, Alpine
Trailhead
The trail starts at 50.5879° N, 114.9733° 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
- Little Arethusa RouteHard · 2.2 km · 312 m gain · 1.1 km away
- Highwood Meadows TrailEasy · 1.1 km · 14 m gain · 1.2 km away
- Mount Arethusa RouteHard · 3.5 km · 493 m gain · 1.3 km away
- Pocaterra CirqueModerate · 7.0 km · 265 m gain · 1.4 km away
- Storthusa Ridge RouteHard · 1.9 km · 272 m gain · 1.7 km away
- Mount Rae RouteExpert · 4.5 km · 754 m gain · 2.0 km away
All 157 trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30