Hiking at Castle Mountain Resort: Summer Trails

Seven trails, from easy to difficult

Since the summer of 2017, with the creation of the Castle Parks (Castle Wildland Park and Castle Provincial Park), the resort has signed and maintained summer trails. The distances below are the resort's figures, one way; the Paradise Lake and Haig Ridge trails are out-and-back.

• Village Trail: 1.0 km, 30 m elevation gain, easy.
• Haig Lake North: 3.8 km, 420 m, moderate.
• Haig Lake South: 4.4 km, 410 m, moderate.
• Paradise Lake: 4.4 km, 435 m, moderate.
• Mountainside: 4.5 km, 650 m, difficult.
• Haig Ridge: 4.6 km, 770 m, difficult.
• Gravenstafel Peak: 6.8 km, 940 m, difficult.

An easy walk: the Village Trail

Used for decades by residents and visitors, this trail runs through forest along the West Castle River and ends at Pebble Beach. A metal guardrail interrupts the trail near the footbridge, but steps help hikers get past it. It is the only trail the resort rates easy; the other six are moderate or difficult.

The Haig Lake Loop, the most popular

According to the resort, the Haig Lake Loop is its most popular hike. It recommends climbing the South trail (4.4 km, 410 m), which uses many switchbacks to take the edge off the climb and gains most of its elevation in the lower third, then coming back down the North trail (3.8 km, 420 m). The North trail is shorter, so it is harder to climb, the resort says. Its upper part crosses mostly treeless alpine meadow with views of Southfork Mountain and Barnaby Ridge. Green directional signs and orange trail markers mark both trails.

Paradise Lake

Paradise Lake is the lesser known of the resort's two alpine lakes. It sits on the south side of Haig Ridge, opposite Haig Lake. The trail starts in the village with the Haig Lake South trail, passes the resort's snowmaking reservoir, then turns sharply and steeply west at about 3.5 km. The resort calls it a moderate out-and-back hike, warns that the area can be a very active avalanche zone, and suggests going in late spring or early summer: unlike Haig Lake, Paradise Lake loses a great deal of its water in the heat of summer.

The ridges: Mountainside, Haig Ridge and Gravenstafel Peak

Haig Ridge follows the summer maintenance road from the base area to the top of the Huckleberry Chairlift, then the ridge itself, straight up for several hundred metres before it eases off. The resort describes views of Gravenstafel Peak, the West Castle Valley, Barnaby Ridge, Southfork Mountain and, far off, the prairies. Mountainside mostly follows a winter ski run on Mount Haig: it is a less direct and slightly less strenuous way to reach Haig Ridge. The resort recommends climbing it and returning via Haig Ridge to make a loop.

The resort suggests Gravenstafel Peak may be the least travelled trail at the resort: a challenging hike and scramble that starts in the base area and follows the summer maintenance road to the top of the Tamarack (Red) Chairlift. A short scramble with no marked trail leads to the summit. The resort advises sticking to the road on the way up to avoid scree and describes 360-degree views into British Columbia, the Castle Parks and the prairies.

Trailhead and directions

Most trails start in the base area, outside the main lodge and the T-Bar Pub. Parking is at the base of the mountain, close to the lifts. From the Pincher Creek roundabout, take the first exit onto AB-507 W for 18.9 km, then turn left onto AB-774 W (toward Beaver Mines and Castle Mountain Resort) and drive 26.7 km. The resort puts the drive at about 2.5 hours from Calgary and about 90 minutes from Lethbridge.

Safety: bears, rescue and cell service

The resort reminds hikers that this is bear country: black bear and, in particular, grizzly bear sightings occur regularly. Its advice: stay alert, shout or sing loudly rather than relying on bear bells, do not wear headphones, travel in groups and in daylight when possible, keep dogs on a leash or leave them at home, and carry bear spray and know how to use it. Sightings are reported to Guest Services.

The resort provides no mountain patrol outside the winter season: in an emergency, call 911 or use the SOS function of a satellite messenger. Cell service is largely unavailable; the resort advises leaving a detailed itinerary with someone you trust and carrying a map, compass or satellite messenger. There are no washrooms on the trails; the resort asks hikers to pack out used toilet paper and hygiene products.

Lifts, food and the festival

The summit trails follow the summer maintenance road. The T-Bar Pub is, according to the resort, the only food service in the park. Its hours and those of the lifts vary by season, and the resort publishes them on its hours page.

During the Huckleberry Festival, held in the fourth week of August, the Huckleberry Chairlift runs paid scenic rides: one ticket covers one ride up and one ride down.

Great Divide Trail

Castle Mountain Resort sits on the main route of the Great Divide Trail (GDT), in Section A, just before or just after La Coulotte Ridge depending on direction of travel. The resort handles resupply packages for GDT hikers: a $25 CAD handling fee plus 5% GST, waived with an accommodation booking; packages must be prepaid and contain only dry, non-perishable items.