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July 11, 2020 In Outdoor Edventures

Rummel Lake and Pass Hike

Where:

  • Rummel Lake and Pass

 

When:

  • July 11, 2020

 

Who:

  • Ed, Jace, Ian, Joey, Geoff, Lynn, Bailey, Dave, Craig, Janet, Paige, Keri, Monique, Tomonori

 

Trailhead:

  • a half-hour drive south (36 km) from Canmore on the Spray Lakes Road, but it can also be accessed from Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
  • park on the road across from the intersection of the road to Mt. Engadine Lodge/Mt. Shark

 

 

Degree of difficulty:

  • 600 meters elevation to the Pass (400 meters to the lake)
  • 17 km round trip to the pass and back (11 km to the lake and back)
  • 4.5 hours total time on the trail
  • moderate climb most of the way with no extreme elevation
  • need to follow the signage as the trail intersects with the High Rockies biking trail where you turn left and follow the biking trail for about five minutes until the Rummel trail breaks off to the right up the valley
  • around 4.5 km the trail comes to a bridge where I recommend the trail to the right as it provides a scenic walk along Rummel Creek however there is one steep ledge that less sure-footed people may want to avoid
  • at Rummel Lake take the trail along the left side of the lake and near the end of the lake the trail cuts left up a steep gulley into the upper valley that leads to Rummel Pass
  • in the valley follow the tarns straight ahead to get to the Pass, where you cross some wide-open meadows, a few rock fields, and on this day we had a few snow patches including one precipitous drop

 

 

Interesting notes:

  • a nice mid-level hike that does not burn out your lungs
  • beautiful views up and down the Spray Valley on the front end of the hike as you exit the first set of trees into a cut block
  • we just missed seeing a black bear on the trail after we passed the first High Rockies intersection (the couple hiking a few minutes behind us saw it)
  • at this time of year, the wildflowers were in full bloom, which is always a special treat
  • Rummel Lake is very picturesque with Mt. Galatea as a backdrop
  • we ate lunch at Rummel Pass which overlooks Lost Lake, Mount Kidd, and the Kananaskis Valley
  • around the start of Rummel Lake, and in the upper valley, there are fields of hummocks, which are round mounds of grass that have heaved out of the ground (Chester Lake is the other trail we see these on)
  • Rummel Lake is the only trail in Kananaskis Country that allows winter camping
  • the trail is named after Lizzie Rummel, who was known as the Baroness of the Canadian Rockies (I read her book several years ago and highly recommend it)

 

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