Hike Alberta
Opal RidgeOpal Ridge South 500 m N
Route preview. The interactive map opens here with terrain, contours and live notices.Open the map

Opal Ridge South Route

Near Fortress Junction · Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park

Hard · Out and back

Trail score 64 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Opal RidgeOpal Ridge South 1 km Open the map

About this trail

Opal Ridge South Route is a 8.3 km out and back trail near Fortress Junction in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 4.1 km each way. The route gains 996 m in total and tops out at 2,593 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 6 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Mount Denny Route at 1.7 km. Along the way you pass the summit of Opal Ridge South. Much of the route follows Grizzly Creek.

Length
8.3km
4.1 km each way
Elevation gain
996m
Estimated time
6h15min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,593m
Lowest point
1,674m

Elevation profile

1,674 m to 2,593 m
2,5931,674 0 km4.1 km

Highest point 2,593 m, lowest 1,674 m, 996 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 71% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 53% of route

0% LTE · 53% 5G

Longest modelled gap
2.0 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

  1. 3.4 kmOpal RidgeSummit · 2,575 m
  2. 4.1 kmOpal Ridge SouthSummit · 2,575 m

Good for

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

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.7649° N, 115.1412° 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