Plateau Mountain Route
Near Elkford · Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve
Trail score 43 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Plateau Mountain Route is a 7.8 km out and back trail near Elkford in Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve. It runs 3.9 km each way. The route gains 633 m in total and tops out at 2,495 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 4 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It meets Plateau Base Route at 1.3 km, and passes two other mapped junctions.
- Length
- 7.8km
- 3.9 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 633m
- Estimated time
- 4h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,495m
- Lowest point
- 1,917m
Elevation profile
1,917 m to 2,495 mHighest point 2,495 m, lowest 1,917 m, 633 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 54% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 100% of route
56% LTE · 44% 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
- 3.6 kmPlateau MountainSummit · 2,438 m
Good for
- Hiking
- Views, Alpine
Rankings
Trailhead
The trail starts at 50.1838° N, 114.5069° 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
- Plateau Base RouteHard · 3.8 km · 503 m gain · 2.1 km away
- Hailstone Butte East Side TrailModerate · 4.2 km · 357 m gain · 4.7 km away
- Windy Peak Hills RouteHard · 16.8 km · 1,055 m gain · 4.7 km away
- Plateau Mountain Alternate RouteModerate · 8.3 km · 143 m gain · 4.8 km away
- Pasque Mountain RouteHard · 14.8 km · 1,219 m gain · 4.9 km away
- Ridgewalk routeHard · 14.9 km · 1,003 m gain · 5.0 km away
All 5 trails in Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve
Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30