Big Elbow

Near Kananaskis Village · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park

Hard · Out and back · Official trail

Elbow Lake with the trail along its shore. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 70 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Big Elbow is a 43.8 km out and back trail near Kananaskis Village in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 21.9 km each way. The route gains 904 m in total and tops out at 2,097 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 13 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Banded Peak Trail at 10.2 km, Sheep River at 16.8 km and Elbow Pass/Lake Trail at 18.5 km, and passes nine other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass Elbow Lake, a campground, a backcountry campground and Edworthy Falls. Much of the route follows Elbow River. Also used for mountain biking, horseback riding and backpacking.

Length: 43.8km; 21.9 km each way
Elevation gain: 904m
Estimated time: 13h15min; Moving time
Route: Out and back
Highest point: 2,097m
Lowest point: 1,658m

Elevation profile

1,658 m to 2,097 m

Highest point 2,097 m, lowest 1,658 m, 904 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 26% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 55% of route

42% LTE · 13% 5G

Longest modelled gap: 9.8 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

10.1 kmBanded Peak Trail HeadTrailhead
15.9 kmTombstone BackcountryCampground
15.9 kmTombstoneBackcountry campground
18.5 kmEdworthy FallsWaterfall
21.2 kmElbow LakeLake
21.9 kmElbow Lake Backcountry CampgroundCampground
21.9 kmElbow LakeBackcountry campground

Good for

Hiking, Mountain biking, Horseback riding, Backpacking
Dog friendly (on leash)
Lake, Waterfall, River or creek, Camping

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.7601° N, 114.8435° 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 111 trails in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park

Government of Alberta, Open Government Licence Alberta
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30