Every Saturday of the summer the Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition offers day hikes within the Castle River watershed. Hikes range from easy to strenuous and will always take you to somewhere breathtaking.

As part of CCWC's citizen monitoring efforts, hikers are encouraged to report interesting observations, such as views of rare species, animal tracks, invasive species, garbage or other resource damage.

The 2009 hiking schedule is posted at left under documents or at www.ccwc.ab.ca under "Hikes".

Here's a sample of this summer's hikes:

June 20, Big Sage Natural Area
Reg Ernst (403-381-0528)
Join professional botanist, Reg Ernst, to explore the area’s variety of plants, including some rare species—notably the largest Alberta population of Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata). Visit the newly found Western Red Cedars and two lovely huge Cottonwood Trees. More energetic hikers can join Wendy Ryan (403-627-4106) on the higher elevation trail back towards Beaver Mines Lake.
Elevation gain: Optional.
Time: 7 hrs.
Meet: Beaver Mines Store at 9 a.m.


June 27, Butcher Canyon
James Tweedie (403-628-2422)
Explore one of the least-visited Front Range Canyons. Trail passes Shell Canada's Waterton–12 wellsite, currently under their first serious reclamation experiment for abandoned wellsites in the Front Range Canyons. Expect some bushwhacking towards the head of the valley. Bring your mountain bike.
Elevation gain: 600 ft.
Time: 7 hrs.
Meet: Hwy 6/Shell Waterton Plant Junction at 9 a.m.


July 4, Victoria Peak
Klaus Jericho (403-327-4062)
Revisit, at higher elevations, the flowers that you may have missed earlier this spring. Awesome panorama of the Front Range Ridges, Castle Peak and the Great Divide and the opportunity for viewing Bighorns up close. Bring your mountain bike.
Elevation gain: 1,500 ft.
Time: 7 hrs.
Meet: Shell Field Station in Pincher Canyon at
9 a.m. (Directions from Klaus)


July 17, (Friday), Table Mountain to South Castle Valley
James Tweedie (403-628-2422)
A strenuous full-day hike up the Table Mountain trail from Beaver Mines Lake, over the high plateau of Whistler Ridge, descending into the South Castle Valley through the Big Sagebrush Natural Area to the Grizzly Lake trailhead. Optional overnight camp to join Grizzly Lake hike.
Elevation gain: > 2,000 ft.
Length: > 12 kms.
Time: 8 hrs. minimum.
Meet: Beaver Mines Store, 8:30 a.m.


July 18-19, Grizzly Lake (overnight)
Wendy Ryan (403-627-4106)
Fording the South Castle River at knee-to-thigh height, travel on a good trail, about 5-6 hours hiking the first day. Camp at the high-alpine meadow of Ruby Lake, visiting Grizzly Lake. Return on the same trail. Moderate Hike. River crossings: bring river shoes.
Meet: Overnight at the trail head and the South Castle River after the Table Mt hike the day before or Beaver Mines Store at 8 a.m.


July 25, McCarty Lake
Tim Grier (403-563-4644)
Experience williwaws in Alberta as the winds off the Great Divide descend on this remote lake at the head of the Carbondale.
Elevation gain: 800 ft.
Time: 8 hrs.
Meet: Beaver Mines Store at 9 a.m.


Aug 1, Suicide Creek/Syncline Pass
Tim Grier (403-563-4644) & Bree Stefanson-Korobanik (403-627-5702)
The chance to explore a beautiful and secluded valley close to Castle Mountain Resort that is off-limits to any motorized use. Good habitat for bighorn sheep and mountain goats on the surrounding ridges.
Elevation gain: 1000 ft.
Time: 8 hrs.
Meet: Beaver Mines Store at 9 a.m.


Aug 8-9, Rainy Ridge (overnight)
Bree Stefanson-Korobanik (403-627-5702)
Hike over Middle Kootenay Pass and Rainy Ridge, visit Middle Pass Lakes (3), Rainy Ridge Lake, West Castle Falls. Moderate to difficult hike.
Time: 6 hrs. each day.
Meet: Castle Mountain Resort at 9 a.m.


Aug 22, “Promised Land”
Jay Allen (403-628-3048)
The “Promised Land” is a large, high, rock plateau between Andy Good, Coultard, and Ptolemy Mountains, west of the Crowsnest Pass, outside the Castle drainage. If there is time, we may look into Gargantua Cave. This is a very strenuous hike! There are nine stream crossings, so bring river shoes.
Elevation gain: 1000 metres.
Time: Dawn to dusk.
Meet: Large parking lot off of Hwy 3 at Crowsnest Lake, 7:30 a.m.

Castle-Crown Wilderness Coalition

Moderate

All ages

Physical ability to hike in a mountain environment on and off trails. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome to participate.

June 20, 2009

June 27, 2009

July 04, 2009

July 17, 2009 - July 19, 2009

July 25, 2009

August 01, 2009

August 08, 2009 - August 09, 2009

August 22, 2009

None Provided

No cost