Hike Alberta
Pocaterra Tarn 500 m N
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Pocaterra Cirque

Near Fortress Junction · Peter Lougheed Provincial Park

Moderate · Out and back

Storm Mountain above the meadows at Highwood Pass, where the route begins
Storm Mountain above the meadows at Highwood Pass, where the route begins. Photo by Ingo Schwarze, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Trail score 79 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

Pocaterra Tarn 500 m Open the map

About this trail

Pocaterra Cirque is a 7.0 km out and back trail near Fortress Junction in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. It runs 3.5 km each way. The route gains 265 m in total and tops out at 2,314 m. Hike Alberta rates it moderate. Allow about 2 hours 30 minutes of moving time. It meets Pocaterra Ridge Trail at 2.9 km and Grizzly Col at 3.1 km, and passes three other mapped junctions. Along the way you pass Pocaterra Tarn and a viewpoint. Also used for trail running.

Length
7.0km
3.5 km each way
Elevation gain
265m
Estimated time
2h30min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
2,314m
Lowest point
2,201m

Elevation profile

2,201 m to 2,314 m
2,3142,201 0 km3.5 km

Highest point 2,314 m, lowest 2,201 m, 265 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 19% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 100% of route

100% LTE · 0% 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

  1. 0.2 kmViewpointAt 0.2 km
  2. 1.6 kmPocaterra TarnLake

Good for

  • Hiking, Trail running
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Lake, Views, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.5969° N, 114.9879° 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