Of all the paths you take, make sure a few of them are on dirt.

Pick up a Bragg Creek Trail Map – highlighting all the official ski, snowshoe, hiking, biking and equestrian trails from Bragg Creek to Moose Mountain with detailed trail descriptions. Durable & waterproof. 

Of all the paths you take, make sure a few of them are dirt.

There are a wide variety of hiking trails in the Bragg Creek area, offering anything from a short stroll to long, steep and arduous challenges.  Trails can be found in nearby Bragg Creek Provincial Park, in the Elbow Valley by heading west on Highway 66 or in West Bragg Creek.

The West Bragg Creek Trailhead is about 9 kilometres west of Bragg Creek and offers 141 kilometres of trails.  It has a new paved parking lot, trailhead information, washrooms and a warming hut.  In the summer, watch out for mountain bikers and horseback riders on the trails. 

Our most popular hikes are listed below, and rated for difficulty.

Easy Hikes

Alder Trail

  • Level: Easy
  • Distance: 1.6 km
  • Elevation Gain: 50 meters
  • Time Required: < 1 hour

About this Hike: Alder Trail is a short interpretive walk. There are several signs describing the development of the area and its vegetation. The trail goes up a shallow ridge and then crosses Highway 758, then there is a loop on the west side of the Highway approximately 1 kilometre in length.

Directions to Trailhead: At the 4-way stop, where Highway 22 enters Bragg Creek, take White Avenue, which turns into Highway 758. Turn right into Bragg Creek Provincial Park about 2.4 kilometres from the 4-way intersection. Look for the trailhead sign at the east side of the parking lot.

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Elbow Falls

  • Level: Easy
  • Distance: 1 km
  • Elevation Gain: 25 meters
  • Time Required: < 1

About this Hike: This is a scenic, gentle stroll by the Elbow River and up to the falls, which are the largest accessible falls in K-Country. The trail is paved and most of it is wheelchair accessible. Picnic tables and firepits can be found dotted along the trail.

Directions to Trailhead: This trail is 19 kilometres west of the junction with Highway 22 on Highway 66, and is well signposted. The trail starts at either end of the parking lot

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Sulphur Springs Trail

  • Level: Easy
  • Distance: 12.3 km
  • Elevation Gain: 215 meters
  • Time Required: 2 – 4 hours

About this Hike: These trails, along with the Diamond T Loop, which starts at the same point, are very popular for mountain biking, with rolling countryside and wildflowers in the springtime. Within about 20 metres of the trailhead is the first intersection. Keep to the left and parallel to the Highway for 1.3 kilometres. At the first intersection of the Elbow Valley Trail and the Sulphur Springs Trail you will see a sign for the Sulphur Springs Trail that gradually climbs away from Highway 66. You will also see a bridge to your left (west). This bridge is part of the Elbow Trail and you will cross it as you return. Turn right here.

As you climb the trail you will cross Moose Mountain approximately 5.6 kilometres from the trailhead. The trail opens after you cross Moose Mountain Road and you will see Prairie Mountain to the west and Moose Mountain to the northwest.

Once you have crossed Moose Mountain Road continue to climb for a short distance before descending to the intersection of the Sulphur Springs Trail and the Elbow Valley Trail. Head to the left on the Elbow Valley Trail to return home. It’s about 5.8 kilometres from the second intersection of the Sulphur Springs/Elbow trails back to the parking lot. Along the way you will cross Moose Mountain Road again. Ensure that you stay on Elbow Trail the entire way back up to where it joins Riverview Trail, about 2 kilometres from the parking lot where the hike began.

Directions to Trailhead: From the intersection of Highways 22 and 66 go about 11 kilometres west; the parking lot is signposted.

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Moderate Hikes

Bluerock Creek

  • Level: ModerateSummer
  • Distance: 9 km
  • Elevation Gain: 265 meters
  • Time Required:

About this Hike: Bluerock is rugged and smaller than Little Elbow, but accesses similar mountainous terrain in the Sheep River Valley.

Directions to Trailhead: Bluerock Campground is found in Sheep River Provincial Park, 35 km west of Turner Valley on Hwy. 546.

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Fullerton Loop

  • Level: Moderate
  • Distance: 6.5 km
  • Elevation Gain: 364 meters
  • Time Required: 1 – 2 hours

About this Hike: The Elbow Trail takes off from the Allen Bill parking lot and will take you to the intersection with the Fullerton Loop. At the first intersection on the trail keep to the left on Fullerton Loop. The second intersection is the start of the loop and at this junction there is a set of rough stairs cut into the hill. Keep to the right here and enjoy a long gradual ascent through the forest to the half-way point of the loop where you can view Moose Mountain and the group of mountains surrounding Banded Peak. The return trip skirts the edge of the ridge overlooking the Ranger Station and the Elbow Valley.

Directions to Trailhead: Travel 9.7 kilometres west of the junction of Highways 22 and 66. Turn at the sign for Allen Bill. The trailhead is in the parking area. Access is located across from the Allen Bill Day Use access road.

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Prairie Creek and Powderface Creek Trail Loop

  • Level: Moderate
  • Distance: 12.3 km
  • Elevation Gain: 252 meters
  • Time Required: 3 – 4 hours

About this Hike: There are three stages to the hike. The first 6 kilometres is the Prairie Creek trail, which carries on through the valley, but for this trail you will turn left at the intersection with the Prairie Link trail. From here, follow the Prairie Link trail 3.2 kilometres to the Powderface Creek Trail, which ends about 500 metres west of the starting point for the Prairie Creek trail at the Powderface Creek Trailhead. At 252 metres, the elevation gain sounds moderate, however there is a bit of climbing up and down the side of the ridge above Prairie Creek.

Directions to Trailhead: This hike, along with Prairie Mountain, starts at the Elbow Falls parking lot on Highway 66 approximately 19 kilometres west of the intersection of Highways 22 and 66. Walk back to the Highway, turn left and walk past the winter gate. The trailhead is on the north side of the Highway next to Prairie Creek, which you will see when you reach the end of the guard rail along Highway 66. The other option is to continue approximately 500 metres further down the Highway and park at the Powderface Creek Trailhead.

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Prairie Mountain

  • Level: Moderate
  • Distance: 7.6 km
  • Elevation Gain: 726 meters
  • Time Required: 2 – 3 hours

About this Hike: This hike is approximately 3.8 kilometres one way with significant gain in altitude. Depending on conditions it takes between 1.5 and 2.5 hours but this can vary greatly depending on whether you’re used to steep inclines. For the most part the unmarked path is easy to follow. From the Highway the incline is steep before it eases for a short period and finishes with switchbacks to the top of the mountain. The final section leads you to a summit with excellent views of the surrounding mountain region.

Directions to Trailhead: The trailhead is located on Highway 66, just south of the Elbow Falls winter gates and on the northeast side of Prairie Creek Bridge. The parking lot is about 200 metres to the west. There are several paths that climb the ridge above the Highway and they all end up at the same place where the trail continues to the top.

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Difficult Hikes

Moose Mountain

  • Level: Difficult
  • Distance: 15.2 km
  • Elevation Gain: 525 meters
  • Time Required: 4 – 7 hours

About this Hike: The hike traverses the ridge from the right side, up and over the first rise, and ends at the top of the second rise. At the top is Alberta’s highest fire lookout. Note: there are signs warning of lighting during storms and loss of footing during the ascent to the peak.

Directions to Trailhead: From the junction of Highways 22 and 66 drive about 14 kilometres. Go past the sign for Paddy’s Flat campground. At about 800 metres there is an unmarked turn to the right. This is the road to Moose Mountain. Take this turn and drive about 7.5 kilometres up this fairly bumpy gravel road to the parking area. The trailhead is both in the parking lot and immediately across the road from the signs to “Parallel Park” on the road.

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Nihahi Ridge Trail

  • Level: Difficult
  • Distance: 8.8 km
  • Elevation Gain: 380 meters
  • Time Required: 3 – 5 hours

About this Hike: Note that this hike has some hazardous sections, including one with a handrail. From the parking lot, follow the Little Elbow Trail along the bank of the river. The trail meets up with the campground road, which you will follow through the gate onto a fire road. This is part of the Little Elbow Trail. After about 550 metres join the Nihahi Ridge Trail (the second trail to the right). The first section is narrow and after 250 metres meets up with another trail. Turn left here and right at the next, which is only a few metres away. The trail continues along the ridge and onto the scree slopes with fabulous views of the mountains. It is possible to continue to the ridge summit however be cautious if you do. Return the way you came.

Directions to Trailhead: Drive 30 kilometres from the junction of Highways 22 and 66 and turn at the sign for Little Elbow Recreation Area. Park near the “Trailhead parking” sign.

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