Hike Alberta
Elbow LakeEdworthy Falls 1 km N
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Elbow Pass/Lake Trail

Near Fortress Junction · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park

Moderate · Out and back

Elbow Lake on the way to Elbow Pass
Elbow Lake on the way to Elbow Pass. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 82 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Elbow LakeEdworthy Falls 2 km Open the map

About this trail

Elbow Pass/Lake Trail is a 10.5 km out and back trail near Fortress Junction in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 5.2 km each way. The route gains 264 m in total and tops out at 2,103 m. Hike Alberta rates it moderate. Allow about 3 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Rae Glacier Route at 2.0 km, Elpoca Peak Route at 3.4 km and Tombstone Mountain Route at 4.2 km, and passes three other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass Elbow Lake, a campground and Edworthy Falls. Much of the route follows Elbow River. Also used for trail running, mountain biking and backpacking.

Length
10.5km
5.2 km each way
Elevation gain
264m
Estimated time
3h15min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,103m
Lowest point
1,962m

Elevation profile

1,962 m to 2,103 m
2,1021,962 0 km5.2 km

Highest point 2,103 m, lowest 1,962 m, 264 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 24% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
5.2 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. 0.0 kmElbow PassTrailhead
  2. 1.4 kmElbow PassPass or saddle
  3. 1.4 kmElbow LakeLake
  4. 1.4 kmElbow Lake Backcountry CampgroundCampground
  5. 4.7 kmEdworthy FallsWaterfall

Good for

  • Hiking, Trail running, Mountain biking, Backpacking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, Waterfall, Views, River or creek, Camping, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.6352° N, 115.0232° 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

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30