Hike Alberta
The Tower 500 m N
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The Tower Route

Near Fortress Mountain Resort · Spray Valley Provincial Park

Expert · Out and back

Trail score 49 out of 100, from popularity, scenery and trail quality

The Tower 500 m Open the map

About this trail

The Tower Route is a 3.2 km out and back trail near Fortress Mountain Resort in Spray Valley Provincial Park. It runs 1.6 km each way. The route gains 749 m in total and tops out at 3,083 m. Hike Alberta rates it expert. Allow about 5 hours 30 minutes of moving time. Along the way you pass the summit of The Tower. Expect scrambling and exposure; this is mountain terrain. Nearly all of it is mapped as T6 difficult alpine hiking. Also used for scrambling.

Length
3.2km
1.6 km each way
Elevation gain
749m
Estimated time
5h30min
Moving time
Route
Out and back
Highest point
3,083m
Lowest point
2,354m

Elevation profile

2,354 m to 3,083 m
3,0832,354 0 km1.6 km

Highest point 3,083 m, lowest 2,354 m, 749 m of climbing in total. Steepest sustained grade about 69% over 100 m.

Predicted coverage: 0% of route

0% LTE · 0% 5G

Longest modelled gap
1.6 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. 1.6 kmThe TowerSummit · 3,117 m

Good for

  • Hiking, Scrambling
  • Dog friendly (on leash)
  • Summit, Views, Alpine

Rankings

Trailhead

The trail starts at 50.8441° N, 115.2877° 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 44 trails in Spray Valley Provincial Park

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