Hike Alberta
Hidden LakeFoch PondAster Lake Backcountry Campground 1 km N
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Aster Lake Trail

Near Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Expert · Out and back

Hidden Lake along the Aster Lake trail
Hidden Lake along the Aster Lake trail. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 68 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Hidden LakeFoch Pond 2 km Open the map

About this trail

Aster Lake Trail is a 11.1 km out and back trail near Fortress Junction in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It runs 5.5 km each way. The route gains 684 m in total and tops out at 2,250 m. Hike Alberta rates it expert. Allow about 6 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Mount Sarrail Route at 3.9 km and Old Aster Lake Trail at 4.3 km, and passes five other mapped junctions. Two side branches with the same name split off the route, at 2.4 km and 5.2 km. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Hidden Lake and Foch Pond, a campground and a backcountry campground. Expect scrambling and exposure; this is mountain terrain. The T4 alpine hiking section starts at 2.5 km and runs to the turnaround point. Also used for backpacking and scrambling.

Length
11.1km
5.5 km each way
Elevation gain
684m
Estimated time
6h15min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,250m
Lowest point
1,743m

Elevation profile

1,743 m to 2,250 m
2,2501,743 0 km5.6 km

Highest point 2,250 m, lowest 1,743 m, 684 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 44% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
5.5 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

  1. 0.4 kmHidden LakeLake
  2. 4.3 kmFoch PondLake
  3. 5.3 kmAster Lake Backcountry CampgroundCampground
  4. 5.3 kmAster LakeBackcountry campground

Good for

  • Hiking, Backpacking, Scrambling
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, Views, Camping, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.6147° N, 115.1836° W.

Driving directions

Kananaskis Conservation Pass

Vehicle pass required when parking

Buy pass

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.

Official details

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

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