Hike Alberta
Pocaterra 2 km N
Route preview. The interactive map opens here with terrain, contours and live notices.Open the map

Pocaterra

Near Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Hard · Out and back

Trail score 32 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Pocaterra 2 km Open the map

About this trail

Pocaterra is a 18.4 km out and back trail near Fortress Junction in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It runs 9.2 km each way. The route gains 310 m in total and tops out at 1,803 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 5 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It meets Come Along at 1.0 km and Lynx at 6.2 km, and passes 13 other mapped junctions. At 3.2 km a 0.7 km side branch with the same name splits off. The distance and climb above follow this route only, not its branches. Along the way you pass a campground. Much of the route follows Pocaterra Creek. Also used for backpacking.

Length
18.4km
9.2 km each way
Elevation gain
310m
Estimated time
5h30min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
1,803m
Lowest point
1,637m

Elevation profile

1,637 m to 1,803 m
1,8021,637 0 km9.2 km

Highest point 1,803 m, lowest 1,637 m, 310 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 12% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
9.2 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.

Along the way

  1. 3.6 kmPocaterraCampground

Good for

  • Hiking, Backpacking
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • River or creek, Camping

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.6697° N, 115.0997° 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 157 trails in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL
Elevation © Mapterhorn from NRCan HRDEM (Open Government Licence Canada) and Copernicus GLO 30