French Creek

Day Hike

Very Unofficial trail & route

Distance: 7.2

Height Gain: 853m

High Point: 2758m

Time: 6-7 hours

Difficulty: Hard

Access: Take Smith-Dorrien--Spray Trail (hwy 742) and turn where the Burstall sign tells you to. You will park right at Mud Lake.

Experience: 

In one word this hike was HARD! We found our way around but it was way harder than I ever thought it was going to be. It wasn't too too steep but there was a lot of flood damage. It also didn't help that this hike isnt a maintained trail. The elk, moose, and bears are the ones that made the hike even hikeable. There was a lot of dead fall. We went over and under so many trees! By the end of the hike I was sick of trees and nature in general! The only thing that kept us going forward was the ribbons some wonderful person tied to the trees to show the path. Some one could get really lost in those woods so I don't recommend just anybody to hike this trail. We had our trusty handy dandy trail book from the 1990's to tell us where to go! It seemed like it took us forever to get to the waterfalls BUT we did find them! AND we just didn't find just 3 we found 4! Woo! Bonus!

We had a late start so by the time we reached the 4th waterfall we decided that it would be a good time to turn around so we didn't get stuck in the dark. It was still worth the trip. I had a bit of troubles coming back because not only were my muscles killing me but I twisted my ankle on my right, and I got a big cut on my left leg! I was hurting for sure. I still did it though. Honestly I would not do it again. Hahaha

Mud Lake

A little dam to the left and French creek to the right

What the trail kinda looks like

This way!

Our guide

This is so we wouldnt get lost3e

Deer Jaw

First Waterfall!

See the face?

The water is really muddy

2nd Waterfall!!

and the 3rd waterfall!

Look at me!

Look at mom and dad!

Look at US!

Funny looking tree

4th Waterfall!

There was a lot of little streams!

What we went through

Watch out! Bear poop! and its fresh

This is what happens when you take a picture of the sun

Crandell Lake

Short Hike

Distance: 2.4km (total)

Height gain: 100m

Time: 2 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Access:

Go to Waterton and get a day pass. Then take Township Rd 13A up to the sign that I took a picture of!

Experience:

We left Friday night and stayed with my aunt Linda in Cardston so we didn’t have to wake up super early. Saturday morning we met up with everyone and made our way to Waterton! It is like a 45min drive to Waterton from Cardston so we got to the trailhead around 10:30am. We hiked our way in and there was so many wild flowers! I was stopping a lot just to take pictures of them all! I now have lots of wallpapers for my computer screen! It was a bit of a challenge for Jesse but that is just because he had to push the stroller in and there was a lot of big rocks! It just made the adventure a bit more difficult. There was lots of signs that were confusing, and we found the lake but was on the wrong shore line. So we went back out on the trail and hiked around. We then found a nicer beach area right next to the campground. So I recommend to follow the sign to the campground and not the sign for the lake.

The boys went fishing and mom claimed the hut because the wind was crazy! It was a nice place to get a bit out of the wind. Devon, Kaitlyn, and I decided to ditch the family. Devon and I then decided to dip our feet in the water. It wasn’t that cold surprisingly for a mountain lake. After that Devon thought it to be a good idea to take a full body dip into the water. It was funny.  Jacob also caught a fish but I didn’t get a picture because I was in the outhouse. That was the exciting stuff that happened there.

We left and we split up so most of the boys could go fishing and the others could water around Waterton. I decided to walk around. We window shopped and Mom got some yummy chocolates. We then ate at the Trappers. It was mediocre in my opinion. Nothing to great. After dinner we came home! And that is my weekend.  

Trailhead! 

On the trail!

Some view

Crazy flower

A sign

Another Sign!

Crandell Lake

Dipping our feet 

The Hut

Baby Freya is SOOO CUTE!

The PARTY!

Waterton Lake

Rawson Lake

Day Hike
Official Trail
Distance: 4km (to lake)
Height gain: 305m
High Point: 2025m
Time: 3.5hours
Difficulty: Easy

Access:
From Trans Canada Highway take Kananaskis Trail (hwy 40). Follow that for a while and then turn left onto Kananaskis  Lakes Trail. Turn left after the sign Upper Lake. Drive in and take a right and then a left and park in the parking lot right in front of the Upper Kananaskis Lake. The trail is to the left.

Experience:
First I have to say that this is one of my favorite hikes of all times! We got there early and there was lots of parking which was nice, and just so you know there was a out house there as well which is always nice!
Anyways, we started our hike and the smell of pine filled our lungs! It was so strong that you taste it! The hike was a bit hilly at first but mostly flat so we had a really good start. We then started to hear water and just around the corner there was a beautiful WATERFALL! I love waterfalls. The bridge was broken but still passable.

We walked for a bit longer and there was a sign to Rawson Lake! (its a left turn). That's when it got a bit steep. It was steep enough to make you sweat. After the steep part there was a log path so we didnt have to walk in the mud which was nice. Just after that it was a short walk to the lake! The Lake was wonderful! It was so peaceful and quiet. There were some people fishing which I thought would be so much fun to do if I was to ever go up there again.

We ate some food and then made our way down. There was tons of people going up while we were going down! We were so glad we went earlier so we had a more peaceful experience. People of all shapes, sizes, and ages were heading up to the lake. It was wonderful to see so many families going out for a lovely hike on such a beautiful day.

We got to our van and the parking lot was packed! There was so many people playing on the lake having a wonderful time. We left and on the way back there was a First Nations man looking for a ride so we gave him one. And that is our adventure!

Upper Kananaskis Lake

We passed little creeks every so often and they were very pretty

A different view of Upper Kananaskis Lake 

Sarrail Creek Waterfall

Crossing the bridge

Follow this sign

The wood path so our shoes wouldn't get dirty

Lake Rawson

Selfie!

The pretty wild flowers