Grotto Canyon

Near Exshaw · Bow Valley Provincial Park

Hard · Out and back

The narrows of Grotto Canyon. Photo by davebloggs007 on Flickr, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 81 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

About this trail

Grotto Canyon is a 11.6 km out and back trail near Exshaw in Bow Valley Provincial Park. It runs 5.8 km each way. The route gains 741 m in total and tops out at 1,899 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 5 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It passes five mapped trail junctions. Between 10 m and 10 m a 0.3 km alternative with the same name runs beside the route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass Grotto Mountain Pond, a stream crossing, a waterfall and a cave.

Length: 11.6km; 5.8 km each way
Elevation gain: 741m
Estimated time: 5h30min; Moving time
Route: Out and back
Highest point: 1,899m
Lowest point: 1,294m

Elevation profile

1,294 m to 1,899 m

Highest point 1,899 m, lowest 1,294 m, 741 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 60% 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

0.0 kmTrailhead
0.0 kmGrotto Mountain PondLake
0.2 kmStream crossing
1.9 kmWaterfall
2.7 kmCave

Good for

Hiking
Dog friendly (on leash)
Lake, Waterfall, Canyon, Cave

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 51.0648° N, 115.2029° 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 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