Kananaskis Alpine Hiking into Paradise

Sitting here in a small cafe looking out at rock mountains and blue skies in the town of Canmore, Alberta in Kananaskis Country. I have not been ignoring you. No No. I been in the back country for 3-4 days researching and camping out totally out of cell and internet range. It has been an eyeful of scenery! So I am playing catch up on our blog.

First we shall digress. From Black Diamond I packed up the travel pod and headed for Kananaskis Country. I set up roots in Canyon Campground in the park. Good spot – close to lots of adventure. I immediately noticed people are very active here.. I loved it. Everyone was on bikes or else walking the trails and some I met were backpacking deep into the wilderness. How I wanted to go with them.. but duty calls.

Waterfall on Galatea Trail

Once  settled into my campsite, I set out for a half day of visiting the day use lakes nearby. The following day I explored some of the hiking trails in the region. Now I was getting excited as hiking and backpacking are my loves. The trails provided me everything I was looking for. There were rivers, creeks, high alpine lakes, fresh air, nice people and mountain peaks.

I wanted to tackle a big day hike in the region so I set my sights on the Galatea Trail. It is a 12.8 Km return trail leading to a high alpine lakes named Lillian and Galatea Lakes.

The map said 6 hours return and moderately tough. I had a hard time believing that.. as I have never taken 6 hours to hike 12 km. So I set out with my day pack loaded with photo gear, a good lunch, water and some clothing for layering.  The trail read up as mostly follows a creek, crossing over (I think) 11 bridges.

It was a great hike. Sometimes the trail followed a high ridge, sometimes in explored under a forest cover, a couple times you cross a rock slide but most of the time it was, side by side, with the creek crossing bridges.  Once nearing the top I hit the snow line (picture attached). Snow and sun.. how lucky was I.  The trail was an awesome adventure hiking in the middle of nowhere, a peaceful time for me to enjoy and appreciate life.  Nature does that. I even got caught signing a few times while hiking on the trail by other hikers.

The overall trail was mostly uphill hiking.  And nearing the end of the trail near Lillian lake, the last kilometre is really, really, really uphill. I like to call these uphill climbs “leg burners”.  Once at the top of the last big hill it was easy hiking to Lillian Lake. The lake was glistening on this day – shimmering in an aqua color with mountain reflections dancing on the surface.

Lillian Lake on Galatea Trail

The trail continues around the lake to a wilderness campground.  It was rigged to the nines with food caches, a group fire pit, picnic tables and ropes for hanging packs and food. Behind the site was a huge pile of firewood. Chatted with some guys and they said they caught a fish at the next lake named Galatea Lake (1.5 km away).  All around Lillian Lake people were fishing, picnicking and just enjoying the views.

I found a wooden bench on the shore of the lake. Well, I did not find one really.. I waited in hiding till the people on the bench left then I swooped in for the seat. It had the best views of the rock mountain and the lake. With a big smile, a good burn running through my body I proceeded to chow down on my lunch. What a setting. What a day. Anything would taste good on this day. I ate, took more pictures and then rumbled down the trail back to my parking lot. Clocked time was 3.5 hours. Yahooo..