Copyright © 2021 by Andrew Nugara
First Edition
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Cataloguing data available from Library and Archives Canada
ISBN 9781771605137 (paperback)
ISBN 9781771605144 (electronic)
All photographs are by Andrew Nugara unless otherwise noted.
Interior design by Colin Parks
Cover photo by Matthew Clay.
Printed and bound in Canada
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Disclaimer
The actions described in this book may be considered inherently dangerous activities. Individuals undertake these activities at their own risk. The information put forth in this guide has been collected from a variety of sources and is not guaranteed to be completely accurate or reliable. Many conditions and some information may change owing to weather and numerous other factors beyond the control of the authors and publishers. Individuals or groups must determine the risks, use their own judgment, and take full responsibility for their actions. Do not depend on any information found in this book for your own personal safety. Your safety depends on your own good judgment based on your skills, education, and experience.
It is up to the users of this guidebook to acquire the necessary skills for safe experiences and to exercise caution in potentially hazardous areas. The authors and publishers of this guide accept no responsibility for your actions or the results that occur from another’s actions, choices, or judgments. If you have any doubt as to your safety or your ability to attempt anything described in this guidebook, do not attempt it.
Contents
Area Maps
Introduction
The Castle East
1.Yarrow Creek
2.Spionkop Creek
3.Bovin Lake
4.North Drywood Falls
5.Victoria Ridge
6.Prairie Bluff
The Castle West
7.Mount Albert Loop
8.Table Mountain
9.Whistler Mountain Fire Lookout
10.Carbondale Hill
11.North Kootenay Pass
12.Southfork Lakes
13.Gravenstafel Peak
14.Haig Lake North
15.Haig Ridge
16.Paradise Lake
17.Middlepass Lakes
Crowsnest
18.Hillcrest Mountain
19.Poker Peak
20.Hastings Ridge South (Clubs Peak)
21.Spades Peak
22.Frank Slide Trail
23.Livingstone Ridge (South Peak)
24.Livingstone Chert Quarries (“The Dog”)
25.Livingstone Raptor Migration Viewpoint — Piitaistakis
26.Turtle Mountain (North Peak)
27.Saskatoon Mountain
28.Miner’s Path
29.Ironstone Lookout (Willoughby Ridge)
30.North York Creek
31.Star Creek Falls
32.Wedge Mountain
33.Chinook Lake
34.Window Mountain Lake
35.“Sentry Hill” and Sentry Mountain
36.Andy Good Basin (Ptolemy Creek)
37.The Promised Land
Contact Information
Acknowledgements
Area Maps
The Castle East
The Castle West
Introduction
About Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park
Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park sit immediately north of southern Alberta’s stunning Waterton Lakes National Park. The two parks combined presently encompass 1050 square kilometres of land. In comparison, Waterton Lakes National Park is 505 square kilometres and Banff National Park is 6641 square kilometres. The Castle area has quite recently (2017) gained the status of a provincial park and therefore is now afforded a welcome measure of environmental protection. Note that in this guidebook, for the sake of simplicity, Castle Provincial Park and Castle Wildland Provincial Park are used interchangeably, as they encompass one large and contiguous area; the term “The Castle” is often used to describe the entire area.
Like Waterton, for many, The Castle’s primary attraction is the colourful rock, far-reaching views and stunning lakes. Although an excellent system of trails has been developed throughout the park, The Castle still enjoys a remote and wild feeling. Those choosing to leave the beaten path and seek a mountain summit will likely have that mountain all to themselves.
Pincher Creek is the closest town to The Castle. There you can find all amenities, including food, hotels and motels. Numerous campgrounds throughout the park allow for more rustic accommodation.
About Crowsnest
Crowsnest Pass lies northwest of Castle Provincial Park. At present (2020) the Crowsnest has the singular distinction of being the only area in the Canadian Rockies from Waterton to Jasper that does not have a park or reserve designation. This is primarily due to the area’s historical significance as a coal mining community and therefore home to many private mining companies. Privatization of land in the Crowsnest still occurs. It is up to the hiker to be cognizant of private lands and stay off them, even if they used to be public. Also note that signage can change or be noticeably lacking for some hikes.
The topography and geology of the Crowsnest area are strikingly different from its southeasterly neighbour. The colourful argillites, shales and dolostones of The Castle are replaced with relatively uniform grey limestone. Mountains in the Crowsnest tend to stand in relative isolation from one another, and although there are groups of peaks connected by ridges, very few of those ridges are traversable. Note that some of the far northwest end of the Crowsnest area is now a part of Castle Wildland Provincial Park. However, again for the sake of simplicity, trips in that area are described in the Crowsnest section, as they are accessed through Crowsnest Pass.
Crowsnest is also home to several geological marvels: Turtle Mountain, Crowsnest Mountain and The Promised Land. These destinations are not to be missed by hikers and scramblers looking for an adventurous and challenging day out. Note that Crowsnest Mountain is not included in this book. It is a serious scramble that should not be taken lightly. Refer to Alan Kane’s Scrambles in the Canadian Rockies, 3rd Edition for details.
Crowsnest Pass is comprised of five communities: Hillcrest, Bellevue, Frank, Blairmore and Coleman.
Getting there
For The Castle see Area Maps 1 and 2 on pages 5 and 6. Both areas of The Castle are accessed from Pincher Creek: Highway 6 south gets you to the east section of the park, while Highways 507 and 774 go to the west section.
For Crowsnest Pass see Area Map 3, also at page 6. Highway 3 provides access to all areas of Crowsnest Pass.
The Castle and Crowsnest are both about 2.5–3 hours from Calgary and 1.5 hours from Lethbridge. Car is the best mode of transportation to get to either destination. Note that neither area presently (2021) requires a park pass.
Facilities
Pincher Creek provides the bulk of amenities for The Castle, offering a variety of hotels and motels. There are many restaurants, from casual to fine dining. At present The Castle does not have a visitor centre, but information is available by calling 403627-1165 or toll free from anywhere in Alberta by dialling 310-0000 followed by the 10-digit phone number.
Amenities can be found in all five communities of Crowsnest Pass, although Coleman and Blairmore are the most significantly developed.
Weather
In general, the summer months in The Castle and Crowsnest are beautifully sunny and very warm (up to the mid-30s). However, both areas are subject to very high winds. Check the forecast, with special attention to wind speeds, before you plan a trip.
The fall can be exceptionally pleasant, with more moderate temperatures, and extended periods of stable weather. The larches change colour in the latter part of September and first part of October, making it an ideal time to visit The Castle (larches are less common in Crowsnest).
Hiking opportunities are limited during the winter, as both areas usually get a significant amount of snow. Ski touring and snowshoeing are great ways to explore The Castle and Crowsnest from December to May.
Drinking-water
To be safe, it is best to bring your own water or that from hotels, campgrounds etc. Natural sources may be contaminated with Giardia lamblia, a parasite that can cause severe gastrointestinal problems. At higher elevations it is generally safer to drink from streams without treating the water. Filtering the water is also an option.
Wildlife concerns
Wildlife is abundant in The Castle and Crowsnest. Deer, elk, moose, bears and many others make their homes here and have more right to the land than humans do. Stay away the animals and do not feed any form of wildlife. When hiking, make lots of noise to warn bears and other wildlife of your presence. Moose and elk can be aggressive in the fall, during mating season — steer well clear if you encounter them.
Unfortunately the other form of wildlife prevalent in The Castle and Crowsnest is ticks. From March to the end of June ticks ravenously feed on any mammal they can sink their mouthparts into, humans included. Check yourself carefully after any early season hike.
Safety tips
•If you are hiking alone, let someone know where you are going. Make lots of noise while you are hiking. Most bear attacks involve solo hikers.
•Don’t be lulled into a false sense of security because you are in a larger group. You still must make noise to warn bears and other wildlife of your presence.
•Carry bear spray and know how to use it.
•Consider using a personal locator device, such as spot, in case of an emergency.
•Stay on designated trails unless you are experienced and/or familiar with the challenges of off-trail hiking/scrambling.
•Check the weather forecast in advance. Also, check the internet and the visitor centre for trail conditions and trail and area closures.
•Afternoon thunderstorms are common in the summer. Start early to avoid them.
Campgrounds
THE CASTLE:
•Beauvais Lake. Call 403-627-1165 or reserve online through Alberta Parks Reservation, reserve.albertaparks.ca.
•Beaver Mines Lake. Call 403-627-1165.
•Castle Falls. Call 403-627-1165.
•Castle River Bridge. Call 403-627-1165.
•Lynx Creek. Call 403-627-1165.
•Southfork Lakes. Primitive backcountry campground.
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