Barrier Lake Trail
Near Lac Des Arcs · Bow Valley Provincial Park
Trail score 57 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Barrier Lake Trail is a 1.0 km out and back trail near Lac Des Arcs in Bow Valley Provincial Park. It runs 0.5 km each way. The route gains 53 m in total and tops out at 1,515 m. Hike Alberta rates it easy. Allow about 25 minutes of moving time. It passes one mapped trail junction, at 0.3 km. Along the way you pass a viewpoint. Also used for walking.
- Length
- 1.0km
- 0.5 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 53m
- Estimated time
- 25min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 1,515m
- Lowest point
- 1,461m
Elevation profile
1,461 m to 1,515 mHighest point 1,515 m, lowest 1,461 m, 53 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 18% 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
- 0.2 kmViewpointsAt 0.2 and 0.4 km
Good for
- Hiking, Walking
- Dog friendly (on leash), Kid friendly
- Lake, Views
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.0199° N, 115.0728° 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
- McConnell Ridge Scrambling RouteHard · 4.9 km · 683 m gain · 0.9 km away
- Mount Baldy Circuit Descent RouteHard · 4.7 km · 650 m gain · 1.3 km away
- Mount Baldy West Ridge RtHard · 4.6 km · 805 m gain · 1.3 km away
- Prairie View TrailHard · 12.5 km · 741 m gain · 2.3 km away
- Baldy West Ridge Descent RouteHard · 3.7 km · 668 m gain · 2.6 km away
- Mount Baldy Circuit RouteHard · 3.7 km · 351 m gain · 2.6 km away
All 16 trails in Bow Valley Provincial Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30