Horseshoe Loop
Near Canmore · Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Trail score 47 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Horseshoe Loop is a 9.1 km out and back trail near Canmore in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 4.5 km each way. The route gains 313 m in total and tops out at 1,500 m. Hike Alberta rates it moderate. Allow about 3 hours of moving time. It meets Horse shoe loop at 2.2 km, Grotto Mountain West Ridge Route at 2.7 km and Horseshoe Slabs at 3.3 km, and passes 10 other mapped junctions. At 2.3 km a 0.9 km side branch with the same name splits off. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Also used for trail running and mountain biking.
- Length
- 9.1km
- 4.5 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 313m
- Estimated time
- 3h
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 1,500m
- Lowest point
- 1,311m
Elevation profile
1,311 m to 1,500 mHighest point 1,500 m, lowest 1,311 m, 313 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 20% 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.
Good for
- Hiking, Trail running, Mountain biking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 51.0761° N, 115.3102° 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
- Grotto MountainEasy · 2.2 km · 118 m gain · 0.2 km away
- Horse shoe loopEasy · 1.3 km · 40 m gain · 0.4 km away
- Horse Meadows TrailEasy · 2.2 km · 52 m gain · 0.4 km away
- Grotto Mountain TrailHard · 8.1 km · 1,265 m gain · 0.8 km away
- Grotto Mountain Hard RouteHard · 5.3 km · 1,252 m gain · 0.8 km away
- Cougar Creek RouteHard · 13.7 km · 511 m gain · 1.6 km away
All 149 trails in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30