Powderface Ridge from north via Three Trail Pass Trail hike on 24-Jun
Participants: Leslie, Jeannette, David
Trip report for Powderface Ridge via Powderface Creek trail
Powderface Ridge, located in the Elbow Valley, is a deservedly popular hike because it is a short drive from Calgary, has well marked trails, and features great views of the surrounding mountains from all directions. The ridge is broad and expansive, lending itself to relaxed exploration. Since it is one of my favorite trips, I usually like to hike Powderface Ridge at least once a year, and I had planned to start the trip from the southern trailhead, which is found at the junction of Highway 66 and Powderface Road. However, since Alberta Parks was doing some construction along Powderface Road, both the north and south parking lots were closed from June 22 to June 30th.
Not wanting to risk a parking ticket, or the possibility of having my vehicle towed, I decided to avoid the north and south parking lots along Powderface Road, and start from Powderface Creek, which is located about 150 m past Elbow Falls. Dave and Jeannette decided to join me on this trip, and we all arrived at the trailhead around 9:30 a.m. We were greeted by a herd of cows, who protested our presence with long, drawn out moooos. Once we started along the trail, we encountered yet another herd of cows, some with calves, and accompanied by a bull, who looked at us with an unwavering gaze. There were so many cows and calves spread over the trail that we decided to wait until another group of hikers reached us, thinking it would be safer to approach the herd in a large group. Much to our relief, we were able to persuade the herd to leave the trail and disperse into the forest.
As the name suggests, the Powderface Creek trail follows a little creek, which had swollen its banks as a result of the recent, copious rains, followed by a bit of sun. The foliage along the creek was lush. Shrubs such as buffaloberry were spread out along the ground and wildflowers such as Alpine Forget-me-not and Alpine Arnica poked out here and there from the luxuriant foliage. Moss carpeted the rocks beside the creek, and an abundance of ferns was reminiscent of the trails along the West Coast.
The first junction, about 3 km along the way, marked the Prairie Link Trail. By turning north here, hikers can access the Prairie Creek trail and make a loop back to the Powderface Creek parking lot. Since we were heading up to Powderface Ridge, however, we continued west along the Powderface Creek trail. The trail itself was pleasant to hike: a wide, earthen trail, pleasantly shaded, and with a gradual incline.
As we ascended, the creek dropped below us, only visible from time to time with openings in the dense undercover. After about six km, the trail left the forest to emerge upon a wide, open area—Powderface Pass. The Pass has another, more descriptive name—Three Trails Pass—because trails from the east, west, and north converge here.
After taking a brief break, and enjoying the wildflowers found here, we started to plod up the trail to the north, which leads to Powderface Ridge. This section of trail winds upwards through dense forest, before emerging at another clearing, with views of Nihahi Ridge to the west. Although the ground here is quite rocky, numerous wildflowers call this windswept area home.
We were now on the last stage of our journey—a short hike up to the windswept Nihahi Ridge which loomed before us. It was enticing to think of a long, leisurely walk along the ridge crest, drinking in the magnificent mountains around us but—there were storm clouds gathering to the south. The risk of a thunderstorm meant that our visit to the ridge would be short.
It didn’t take long to reach the top of the ridge—a broad, open area, carpeted with wildflowers, and occasional outcrops of bedrock. From here, there are panoramic views to the west, and the whole stretch of Nihahi Ridge—a large, imposing mass of limestone about 7 km long—can be seen clearly. Mountains such as Banded Peak, named for its distinct, dark band of shale around its upper cliffs, and Mount Glasgow, with its pyramid-like upper block, poke out to the south.
Not wanting to tarry at the ridge with threatening thunderclouds overhead, we quickly ate our lunches and then re-traced our steps down the trail to the north. From this vantage point, Compression Ridge, a difficult, unstable crest of rock, which marks the northerly end of Nihahi Ridge, can be seen.
We made it back down to Powderface Pass in short order and then turned east to hike out along the Powderface Creek trail. From time to time, we heard thunder booming around us but felt quite safe as we were off the high point of the ridge and sheltered in the forest. From time to time, we experienced a smattering of rain, and we put on an extra layer, only to take it off a short while later.
Hiking back down the valley gave me the opportunity to enjoy Powderface Creek from another perspective and to see the lush greenery around it. Prickly rose, Alberta’s provincial flower, found room to grow along the edge of the forest, and Common Juniper, a prickly shrub, spread out along the rocky ground. In addition, delicate flowers such as Jacob’s Ladder, grew in sunny spots along the trail. Indian Paintbrush, varying in color from a lightish pink to a vibrant red, flourished in the many open areas.
Although the hike up to Powderface Ridge using the Powderface Creek approach was longer than the traditional south or east approaches, it gave me an opportunity to explore a less well-travelled trail, and it encouraged me to come back this way again.