Picklejar Lakes Tr
Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
Trail score 54 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Picklejar Lakes Tr is a 10.3 km out and back trail in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 5.2 km each way. The route gains 551 m in total and tops out at 2,188 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 4 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Picklejar Hill Route at 3.6 km and Lineham Ridge Route at 3.8 km, and passes two other mapped junctions. Between 4.7 km and 5.2 km a 0.6 km alternative with the same name runs beside the route. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Also used for mountain biking.
- Length
- 10.3km
- 5.2 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 551m
- Estimated time
- 4h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,188m
- Lowest point
- 1,734m
Elevation profile
1,734 m to 2,188 mHighest point 2,188 m, lowest 1,734 m, 551 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 26% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 58% of route
58% LTE · 0% 5G
- Longest modelled gap
- 2.2 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, Mountain biking
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- Lake, Alpine
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 50.4918° N, 114.8071° 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
- Odlum Ridge RouteHard · 16.4 km · 1,242 m gain · 2.1 km away
- South Mist Hills RouteHard · 8.8 km · 870 m gain · 2.4 km away
- Loomis Creek TrailHard · 17.6 km · 556 m gain · 2.7 km away
- Picklejar Hill RouteEasy · 1.6 km · 167 m gain · 3.0 km away
- Mount Bishop RouteHard · 13.8 km · 1,072 m gain · 3.1 km away
- Highwood Peak RouteHard · 8.1 km · 902 m gain · 3.2 km away
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