Sheep River
Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park
Trail score 36 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality
About this trail
Sheep River is a 17.1 km out and back trail in Elbow Sheep Wildland Provincial Park. It runs 8.5 km each way. The route gains 410 m in total and tops out at 2,128 m. Hike Alberta rates it hard. Allow about 5 hours 15 minutes of moving time. It passes four mapped trail junctions. Much of the route follows Sheep River. Also used for mountain biking and horseback riding.
- Length
- 17.1km
- 8.5 km each way
- Elevation gain
- 410m
- Estimated time
- 5h15min
- Moving time
- Route
- Out and back
- Highest point
- 2,128m
- Lowest point
- 1,880m
Elevation profile
1,880 m to 2,128 mHighest point 2,128 m, lowest 1,880 m, 410 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 15% over 100 m.
Predicted coverage: 0% of route
0% LTE · 0% 5G
- Longest modelled gap
- 8.5 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, Horseback riding
- Dog friendly (on leash)
- River or creek, Alpine
Trailhead
The trail starts at 50.6300° N, 114.8970° 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
- Mount Burns RouteHard · 5.7 km · 1,045 m gain · 1.3 km away
- Rickett's Pass TrailHard · 2.6 km · 330 m gain · 3.6 km away
- Gibraltar Mountain RouteHard · 4.1 km · 780 m gain · 5.2 km away
- Storthusa Ridge RouteHard · 1.9 km · 272 m gain · 5.5 km away
- Mount Arethusa RouteHard · 3.5 km · 493 m gain · 5.9 km away
- Little Arethusa RouteHard · 2.2 km · 312 m gain · 6.1 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