Chester Lake Trail

Where:

• Chester Lake

 

When:

• November 17, 2018

 

Who:

• Ed, Jace, Geoff, Lynn, Craig, Janet, Bob, Ian, Susie

Trailhead:

• a 60-minute drive (45 km) up the Smith Dorrien (Spray Lakes) road from Canmore
• you can also access it from the Kananaskis Lakes Road
• the trail is at the far end of the parking lot, and it is best to take the new trail that is on the left (not behind the big trail signage)

Degree of difficulty:

• 310 meters elevation to Chester Lake
• 10 km round trip although the Elephant Rocks adds another km to the trip
• 3-4 hours total time on the trail
• out and back on the same snowshoe trail although you can take the main ski/hiking path down, but you will likely run into some backcountry skiers flying down the trail
• moderate climb most of the way with a slightly steeper section about 10 minutes along the trail that lasts for about a half hour
• the snow was initially fairly well packed down, so all of us except Ian (he wore snowshoes) had boots with gaiters and crampons
• this did not work as well when we broke out of the trees into the meadow before the lake as the snow was soft and knee deep so we had a tricky time managing thru that section
• at the lake, we took the 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

Interesting notes:

• we had a bluebird day as seen by the pictures I have posted
• this hike offers some of the most panoramic 360 degree views of any hike we go on
• we ran into a moose at Chester Lake which was quite majestic to see the big fella enjoying his lunch of shrubbery beside the lake
• from the lake, we head up to the Elephant Rocks which are comprised of two groups of massive boulders where we enjoyed our lunch amidst the spectacular scenery
• to me, the trip is not complete without going up to enjoy the unique Elephant Rocks