Hike Alberta
North Highwood Peak 1 km N
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North Highwood Peak Route

Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park

Hard · Out and back

Trail score 58 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

North Highwood Peak 1 km Open the map

About this trail

North Highwood Peak Route is a 11.2 km out and back trail in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 5.6 km each way. The route gains 986 m in total and tops out at 2,826 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 6 hours 45 minutes of moving time. It meets West Highwood Peak Route at 0.5 km, and passes one other mapped junction. At 1.8 km the trail forks. This route keeps right; the left fork is a 1.4 km side branch with the same name. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass the summit of North Highwood Peak.

Length
11.2km
5.6 km each way
Elevation gain
986m
Estimated time
6h45min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,826m
Lowest point
2,102m

Elevation profile

2,102 m to 2,826 m
2,8262,102 0 km5.6 km

Highest point 2,826 m, lowest 2,102 m, 986 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 75% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 57% of route

20% LTE · 37% 5G

Longest modelled gap
2.4 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. 5.5 kmNorth Highwood PeakSummit · 2,850 m

Good for

  • Hiking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Summit, Views, Alpine

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.5334° N, 114.8089° 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