Cox Hill Hike - Kananaskis Powder Face Trail
Entrance to Dawson Equestrian Campground just off
Powderface Trail. The trail for Cox Hill is near the entrance to the
campground as indicated by the yellow arrow. Bit of route finding just to
get out of the parking area :)
Looking from where you would park out towards the
exit
Once you get on the correct trail out of the parking
area this is the first trail sign you encounter
Bridge over the creek, only a couple of minutes from
the parking area
Second sign just after the bridge, head right here
Typical early trail
And more trail
First overlook area with a bit of a view
I believe the open area way in the distance is Cox
Hill
Another open area just minutes before the final open
slope to Cox Hill overlook
Adeem at the above mentioned open area
Last bit of trail in the trees before open slope up
to the Cox Hill overlook
Finally open slopes, early in the season there is
lots of wildflowers here but we hiked in late August so the bloom was off
Switchbacking part up to the open ridge
More switchbacking
Temporary stop on the ridge before heading to the
overlook which is just past the trees
Exiting the trees to the fairly expansive overlook
Moose Mountain to the east
Looking south towards Jumping Pound Ridge
Looking southwest
On our way back
With such a rainy summer many different types of
mushrooms were popping up along the trail
Cox Hill Hike - Kananaskis Powder Face
Trail
Strenuous Hike:
Class 1
Altitude:
2,217 m (7,272 ft)
Ascent Time:
2-2 1/2 hours, 4-5 hours
return, approx 6.3km one way,
12.7km return, longer trip time if in winter
Elevation Gain:
approx. 730 m (2,394 ft)
Best Season to Scramble:
June to September, can be hiked year round but be
prepared for cold windy weather, might need snow shoes or microspikes, open
slope could be prone to avalanche, be careful!
Hikers should be "bear aware" as there
are berry patches in the lower trail area, and once in a while the area will
have a bear warning and temporary closures. Consider carrying bear spray and
keep informed as to any closures.
http://www.albertaparks.ca/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/
Highlights
The overlook has quite good views
east, west and south. A worthy hike even if it is 85 percent in the trees
until the last slope up onto the ridge
Getting There
Head west out of Calgary on
Transcanada # 1 and approx 35km from Canada Olympic Park take the Highway 68
Sibbald Creek Trail turnoff and head south on Highway 68. After 23.2km
take a left onto the Powderface Trail. From here it is 3 kilometres to the
Dawson Equestrian Campground (left hand turn off the Powderface Trail). The
Cox Hill trail is located near the entrance into the campground.
Route Description
Find the start of the trail near the
entrance into the Dawson Equestrian campground, follow the directions on the
first trail sign, shortly thereafter you will cross the bridge across the
creek, then at the second trail sign head right and you are on the Cox Hill
ridge trail. Long time in the trees on a good trail all the way to the open
slope below Cox Ridge. As you gain the ridge there is a significant cairn to
the left but head right or south on a trail that goes through a fairly big
patch of trees to the overlook.
