Chester Lake Hike

Where:

• Chester Lake

 

When:

• March 28, 2026

 

Who:

• Ed, Craig, Neil, Rod, Dally, Roger, Lisa, Peter, Kellie, Erin

 

Trailhead:

• a 60-minute drive (45 km) up the Smith Dorrien (Spray Lakes) road from Canmore
• turn left (east) into the parking lot, which is directly across from the Burstall Pass parking lot
• you can also access it from the Kananaskis Lakes Road, which is slightly shorter if you are coming from Calgary
• the trail is at the far end of the parking lot

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

• 450 meters elevation to the Elephant Rocks
• 11 km
• the hike took three hours
• the route up the snowshoe trail is a steady climb that always catches us off guard with its gradual steepness
• at the lake, the first trail (there are two of them that end up at the same place) on the left-hand side of the lake up to the Elephant Rocks and then beyond to Three Lakes Valley

 

 

Interesting notes:

• the initial part of the trail is quite forested, but once you break out of the trees, the 360 views are amazing
• the views include Mount Chester, Fortress Mountain, Mount Galatea, Mount Burstall, and Commonwealth Peak
• most people are not aware of these Elephant Rocks, and it is one of the most unique and majestic sites in the Bow Valley
• as well most people don’t know about the Three Lakes Valley, which is like being on the moon with rocks blanketing the entire valley
• the other unique feature on this trail is the fields of small ‘hummock’ mounds, which can be found as you break out of the trees on the ascent to the lake, near Chester Lake, and near the Elephant Rocks