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Fording River Pass Trail

Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park

Hard · Out and back

Trail score 59 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

2 km Open the map

About this trail

Fording River Pass Trail is a 26.8 km out and back trail in Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 13.4 km each way. The route gains 972 m in total and tops out at 2,291 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 9 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Coyote Hills Route at 0.6 km, Coyote Hills Alt Route at 3.7 km and Etherington Baril Connector at 6.2 km, and passes 14 other mapped junctions. At 0.3 km the trail forks. This route keeps right; the left fork is a 0.1 km side branch with the same name. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Also used for backpacking.

Length
26.8km
13.4 km each way
Elevation gain
972m
Estimated time
9h15min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,291m
Lowest point
1,581m

Elevation profile

1,581 m to 2,291 m
2,2901,581 0 km13.5 km

Highest point 2,291 m, lowest 1,581 m, 972 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 37% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 92% of route

0% LTE · 92% 5G

Longest modelled gap
1.0 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, Backpacking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Views, River or creek, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.3593° N, 114.6358° 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 103 trails in Don Getty Wildland Provincial Park

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