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Memorial Lakes Hike

Where:

  • Memorial Lakes

 

When:

  • October 26, 2024

 

Who:

  • Ed, Craig, Oak, Rod, Neil, Erin, Kellie, Chris, Winnie, Roger, Colleen, Lisa, Kim, Kuma

 

Trailhead:

  • from the Trans Canada heading west towards Canmore, take Highway 40 south for 25 km
  • take the right-hand turn for Nakiska Mountain Resort, take the first left at Centennial Drive, and  then a quick right onto Ribbon Creek Road
  • the trail starts out of the far end of the parking area at the sign that says Ribbon Creek Trail

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

  • 500 meters of elevation gain to the first lake, 600 meters to the second lake, and 825 meters to the upper lake
  • 19 km return to the first lake, 21 km to the second lake, and 23 km to the third lake
  • at 3.7 km, there is a sign that points straight ahead to Memorial Lakes
  • after several km and two bridges, when you reach a gorge, take the steep climb up the right (north) edge of the gorge
  • at the top of the gorge, the trail flattens out and you are soon at the first lake
  • to get to the second lake go to the end of the first lake and look for flagging tape in the thick willows
  • make your way through the willows, cross an inlet stream, and turn right then steeply up the rocks to the left of the inlet stream
  • from here you cross a rockslide at the base of Bogart Tower and follow the cairns to the second lake
  • the hike to the third lake involves a scramble or a walk along a narrow ridge
  • the hike took us 5 hours

 

 

Interesting notes:

  • the lakes are named for the three separate plane crashes in 1986 that killed 13 people, including two search and rescue planes
  • there is a memorial cairn at the third lake
  • the area is surrounded by Mount Kidd, Mount Bogart, Centennial Ridge, and Wind Mountain
  • the parking lot was once the site of a logging and coal mining town called Kovach
  • we were the only people on the Memorial Lakes portion of the trail
  • you can ride your bike for the first 3.7 km until you reach the turn for Memorial Lakes