This trail is a great option for those looking at getting started with winter hiking.
Tershishner icefall makes for a great introduction to hiking in winter. This relatively short hike up a creek ends in a small icefall at the mouth of Tershishner Canyon. With little elevation gain, easy navigation and low commitment of time, this trail is a superb option for families. If there is lots of fresh snow, this trail can become much more difficult. The snow collects on the creek bed and can be notoriously deep; bring snowshoes just in case!
At a Glance
Distance: 3.2 km return
Elevation gain: ~85 m
Challenge Level: Easy | Family Friendly
Trail type: There and back
Congestion: Minimal
Management: Kiska / Wilson PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: None
Trailhead: Approximately 26km west of Nordegg and 64km east of Banff National Park boundary.
One of the most popular hike in the area and for good reasons, taking you right to the edge of the canyon and up close for great views of Siffleur Falls.
This hike is located within the Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve which encompasses approximately 34 square kilometres of the North Saskatchewan River valley south of Abraham Lake. The area is intersected by the Siffleur and North Saskatchewan rivers with open plains dominated by grasses, forbs and stands of aspen and limber pine trees. White spruce and lodgepole pines cover most of the surrounding slopes.
The area is influenced by the surrounding mountains, the wide shape of the valley and the consistent winds. As a result, the climate is relatively dry and warm creating favourable conditions for a wide diversity of wildlife and plant species.
At a Glance
Distance: 7 km return
Elevation gain: ~80 m
Challenge Level: Easy | Family Friendly
Trail type: There and back
Congestion: Busy
Management: Alberta Parks Ecological Reserve
Other Trail Uses: None
Trailhead: Approximately 62 km west of Nordegg and 21 km east of the Banff National Park boundary. The trail starts at the Siffleur Falls Staging Area which provides ample parking space and dry washrooms.
This snowshoe gives you a sense of wilderness and great views on an adventure that can be done in half a day.
This hike takes you behind Mount Stelfox to a great viewpoint looking down into Coral Canyon and up the massive valley of Coral Creek.
With a large, easy trail to follow, this adventure takes you quickly into the backcountry giving you a feeling of remoteness. There are also impressive open views up the Cline River valley and towards Sentinel Mountain. This is one of the better options for snowshoeing in the area when there is snow.
At a Glance
Distance: 7.5 km return
Elevation gain: ~190 m
Challenge Level: Moderate | Family Friendly
Trail type: There and back
Congestion: Minimal
Management: Kiska/Wilson & Job/Cline PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: Horses and OHV (trapline use only)
Trailhead: The trail starts at the Coral Creek White Goat Staging Area, approximately 48 km west of Nordegg and 42 km east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. Toilets are available at the trailhead.
On this adventure, you will walk through the forest, climb up and down old glacier moraines, experience amazing views over the canyon and stand below a stunning icefall along the Cline River. There is a little bit of everything on this hike that will be sure to satisfy a multitude of tastes. The parking lot fills on weekends and there is almost always at least one group on the trail on weekdays. With this trail becoming more popular every year, please tread lightly, pack out your garbage and pick up your dog’s poop!
We’ve been offering this as a guided hike for almost a decade at Nordegg Adventures. Until the pandemic we only saw the occasional hiker or ice climber, now it is becoming a popular trail. Keep in mind that what we find busy would be considered a quiet trail in Banff or Jasper.
At a Glance
Distance: 3.4 km return
Elevation gain: ~75 m
Challenge Level: Moderate | Family Friendly
Trail type: There and back
Congestion: Moderate
Management: Kiska/Wilson PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: None
Trailhead: This trail starts at the Pinto Lake Staging Area, located approximately 50 km west of Nordegg and 42 km east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. Toilets are available at the trailhead.
Head Out On Your Own
Distances
0.6 km | Short but steep hill
0.9 km | Trail narrows
1.0 km | Abraham Lake views
1.1 km | Short but steep hill
1.2 km | Narrow canyon
1.3 km | Icefalls viewpoint
1.4 km | Canyon viewpoint
1.5 km | Canyon acess
1.7 km | Icefalls
The Trailhead
The Pinto Lake Staging Area where this trail starts is easy to miss as you drive down the highway. There is a small parking area near the road, the only place to park in a snowy winter, with a larger parking area a little further down the driveway in an abandoned gravel pit. Alberta Environment and Parks has plans to improve this parking lot and a toilet has already been added in recent years.
This trailhead serves a few different trails and there are no clear signs for most of them. The Cline River Canyon trail starts on the right-hand side as you enter the gravel pit. Going up the old access road you quickly gain a view of Mount William Booth and the Whiterabbit Valley on the other side of Abraham Lake. The trail goes through an area often used as a campsite before entering the pine forest. The next section is on a fairly flat plateau with the Cline River at the bottom of the valley on your right.
The Forest Walk
The walk through the forest is a pleasant one with glimpses of the White Goat Wilderness Area and the Cline River Valley whenever the trees open up. There is one short but steep hill in this section as you make your way from one plateau to the next. It can get quite icy but a pair of ice cleats makes it easily manageable.
Soon the trail narrows and drops down to your right. There are two openings in the forest ahead affording distant views of Windy Point Ridge and Mount Abraham. These openings in the forest are caused by water seeping out of the ground, causing the area to slowly slump toward the river below. Continue on the trail ahead, making your way down another short but somewhat steeper hill. The trail from here changes slightly from year to year, making its way through the forest to the first view of the Cline River Canyon. Be careful here: the edge of the canyon is unmarked and slopes toward the cliff. Make sure to stay at least at body length away from the edge.
This is one of the skinniest and most dramatic sections of the canyon, making it hard to see the river at the bottom. You can see multiple icefalls plunging over the cliffs on the other side of the canyon.
The Canyon
Follow the trail to the left to another viewpoint with a natural railing made of rock. This is your first view of the icefalls where you’re going. There are a number of great viewpoints ahead on the trail, looking straight at the canyon and the peaks framing the valley ahead.
To access the canyon, continue on the trail until you reach an opening in the forest that looks like the end of the trail. Access the small stream on your right and make your way down the drainage. This section is a mix of snow, ice and rocks depending on how much snow the winter has brought. In most years ice cleats work best while snowshoes are great in years where heavy snow fills in the bottom of the gully.
IN THE CANYON
Once at the river, take a left and head towards the icefalls, passing over river rocks and a small water source coming out of the rocks. This source isn’t particularly warm but runs all winter long, even on the coldest days.
An extra jacket will help you enjoy your time here since it’s often much colder in the canyon. Take your time to enjoy the peacefulness of the place, the ice covering the canyon walls and the river running through it. The ice on the walls comes from water seeping above the canyon walls, not from a creek or a stream. On some days you can see the water slowly dripping down the icicles and they get bigger as the season goes on.
A few things to keep in mind to ensure a safe experience include:
Stay on the ice that is sitting on rocks at the base of the icefalls. The river in the canyon freezes from time to time but we don’t recommend going up the canyon since the river is deep in sections, the ice is unstable and there is a risk of falling rocks or ice.
Ice climbers break off a lot of ice chunks, some quite large, while climbing. Stay a good distance back to avoid getting hit.
The ice does break off the wall and falls down below from time to time. This mostly happens when we have large temperature fluctuations and we see this often when the temperatures suddenly drop to -30C. Enjoy the views without getting too close to the canyon walls and stay aware of your surroundings.
THE RETURN
Retrace your footsteps to return to the trailhead.
A fun little canyon hike filled with rock features and a frozen waterfall.
Allstones creek is a great hike for most abilities and families. You enter a deep canyon with lots of interesting, exposed rock that ends at a frozen waterfall.
It’s not too long that you get tired and not too short that you barely stretch your legs or have time to explore. It is not often there is a fun-filled route this close to the highway and of this length. What are you waiting for!
At a Glance
Distance: 3.2 km return
Elevation gain: ~80 m
Challenge Level: Easy | Family Friendly
Trail type: There and back
Congestion: Moderate
Management: Kiska/Wilson PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: None
Trailhead: The trail starts at the Allstones Lake Staging Area, approximately 31 km west of Nordegg and 52 km east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. Toilets are available at the trailhead.
The trail guide
Distances
1.2 km | Frozen waterfalls
2.4 km | Trailhead
The Journey
There are two options to park for this hike, one on the north side of Allstones Creek and one on the south. Both have toilets available but no garbage cans. The north lot fills up quickly when it is accessible and is often filled with snow during the winter months. The parking lot on the south side is usually accessible all season long.
Cross the highway and enter the creek from the left side (south) or if you want to start with an adventure, you can take the culvert from the parking lot side to cross under the highway. Immediately, you will find yourself surrounded by beautiful, vertically exposed rock ribs. Start heading up the frozen creek bed past the vibrant coloured rock as the canyon starts to constrict around you.
Follow the creek for multiple twists and turns, snaking your way past water-carved cliffs and overhangs. Be sure to take the time to appreciate the artwork created over many years of erosion by the persistent creek. Most years the creek freezes and covers the rocks in the creek bed, creating an easy pathway to follow.
In a mostly flat 1.6 km you will reach an intimate waterfall, frozen in time, as it cascades over a headwall. See if you can hear and see the water moving behind the ice!
A pretty frozen waterfall that’s well worth the short hike through the forest.
These falls may not be as dramatic in the winter as others nearby like Siffleur Falls, the Cline River Canyon or Crescent Falls but they’re still worth the effort. They are not as busy as the better-known frozen waterfalls meaning that you often have the place to yourself and the ability to walk right to the base of the falls allows you to really appreciate their scale.
The best times to visit are first thing in the morning and shortly before sunset when the light on the falls is at its best. Snowshoes are best after a snowfall but this trail is usually well packed enough to use ice cleats only on most days.
At a Glance
Distance: 3.6 km return
Elevation gain: ~120 m
Challenge Level: Easy | Family Friendly
Trail type: There and back
Congestion: Minimal
Management: Kiska / Wilson PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: Snowmobiles are allowed on a section of the trail
Trailhead: Approximately 45 km west of Nordegg and 45 km east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. During the winter months the road to the Cline River Waste Transfer Station is not maintained. Park at the highway and walk up the access road.
One of our kids favourite trail, the Whitegoat Falls trail takes you to a double punch bowl set of waterfalls on a pretty creek.
It seems that most of the times I’ve been to Whitegoat Falls the area was filled with smoke from wildfires in British Columbia. It might just be that the wildflowers along the trail, the close-up views of the falls and the low elevation gain make up for the hazy skies, putting it at the top of our list on those types of days.
The Bighorn Backcountry might be close to the national parks and urban centres but it still has a remote feel to it. This includes the naming of creeks and natural features where informal names often prevail. You won’t find names on the map for places like Hoodoo Creek and others like Whitegoat Creek (official name) is signed as Cline Creek at the highway, an unofficial name (the official Cline Creek is a tributary of the Brazeau River). Historically, the Cline River was named White Goat River, further confusing places along the David Thompson Highway.
At a Glance
Distance: 3.4 km return
Elevation gain: ~155 m
Challenge Level: Easy | Family Friendly (no strollers)
Trail type: There and back (loop option)
Congestion: Moderate
Management: Kiska / Wilson PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: Horses
Trailhead: Approximately 45 km west of Nordegg and 45 km east of Saskatchewan River Crossing. The trail starts at the Cline River Waste Transfer Station. Parking available, no washrooms.
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Head Out On Your Own
Sometimes you just want to head out on your own to explore the area. We get it. Here’s the guide for the Whitegoat Falls trail.
The Map
The Journey
The Distances
0.1 km | Whitegoat Creek Trail
0.9 km | Whitegoat Falls Trail Junction
1.2 km | Junction
1.3 km | Junction
1.3 km | Stream Crossing
1.5 km | Stream Crossing
1.5 km | Whitegoat Falls
The Waste Transfer Station
The trail starts at the Cline Waste Transfer Station. This might not sound like the best spot to start a hike but you’ll soon forget about it as you make your way up to the falls.
Follow the trail on the left heading around the fenced-in area to make your way across to the other side of the transfer station. At this point, a sign marks the Whitegoat Creek Trail. Follow the wide trail up the gentle hill through the forest.
The Whitegoat Falls Trail
After 900 metres there is a well-marked junction on the left. This is the trail to Whitegoat Falls. Follow the narrower path into the forest, making your way down the hill toward the creek.
The Canyon
At the next junction make your way 30 metres past the sign indicating Whitegoat Falls to some nice views of the V-shaped gorge. Return to the junction and follow the sign.
Crossing the Creek
A few metres past the junction there is another junction. The trail on the right is the one described in David Thompson Highway Hiking Guide but we recommend taking the trail on the left at this point. It leads to a somewhat steep hill down to the creek but it is a much easier option than the hill at the end of the trail on the right. At the bottom of the hill, cross the stream on the log and make your way up along the stream bed.
The Falls
Approximately 200 metres later you come to another stream crossing with multiple logs set up across the creek. As soon as you cross the creek you find out that you are standing at the bottom of the falls, hidden until that point by the rock wall. This makes for a great lunch spot, relaxing below the falls.
The Return Trail
There are a couple of options for the return to the trailhead. The easiest option is to retrace your footsteps back to the waste transfer station. Another option is to make it up the steeper hill mentioned earlier. It’s easier to go up than down and this will take you up along the bench overlooking the creek and with views of the waterfalls from above.
To go this way, look along the trees at the bottom of the hill for signs of a trail or follow the obvious trail at the base of the falls going up. Make your way up the hill to a junction and head right. Looking back at the waterfalls makes for great views with Mount Stelfox in the background. Follow the trail to the junction from earlier and retrace your footsteps from there back to the trailhead.
At the junction overlooking the canyon, you can either follow your tracks back to the trailhead or follow the trail along the creek. This trail is less obvious in sections but provides a nice option to return to the trailhead.
Amazing views of the North Saskatchewan River Valley
The easy Siffleur Benches hike starts at a busy trailhead but quickly gets away from the crowds where you’ll enjoy amazing views of the North Saskatchewan River valley and the surrounding mountains.
This trail is sometimes referred by Alberta Parks as Survey Hill given the great vantage point that is your destination. This often leads to confusion given that there is a place called Survey Hill a little further down the trail.
Take your time as you explore the area, stop to take in the views along the ridge overlooking the Siffleur River and enjoy what Mary Schaffer Warren referred to as the golden plains of the Saskatchewan.
Your adventure might start at one of the busiest trailhead in the area, a short drive away from the popular Icefields Parkway, but you’ll feel a world away as you explore the benches.
At a Glance
Distance: 6.9 km return
Elevation gain: ~145 m
Challenge Level: Easy
Trail type: Partial Loop
Congestion: Moderate (busy trailhead)
Management: Kootenay Plains Ecological Reserve
Other Trail Uses: None
Trailhead: Approximately 62 km west of Nordegg and 21 km east of the Banff National Park boundary. The trail starts at the Siffleur Falls Staging Area which provides ample parking space and dry toilets.
HEAD OUT ON YOUR OWN
DISTANCES
0.6 km | Suspension Bridge
1.2 km | Glacier Trail
1.8 km | Siffleur River
1.9 km | Junction
2.2 km | Junction
2.4 km | Junction
2.6 km | Junction
3.2 km | Junction
3.3 km | Junction
3.8 km | Viewpoint
4.3 km | Junction
4.4 km | Junction
5.0 km | Junction
5.1 km | Siffleur River
5.7 km | Junction
6.3 km | Suspension Bridge
6.9 km | Trailhead
THE JOURNEY
From the trailhead, follow the well established trail to Siffleur Falls. The first section takes you through a meadow with great views of Mount Peskett before reaching the suspension bridge over the North Saskatchewan River. This is Alberta’s longest suspension bridge.
On the other side of the bridge follow the boardwalk through the fragile ecosystem and make your way to Glacier Trail. Follow the old road toward Siffleur Falls, going straight at the junction at the end of the boardwalk. After crossing the Siffleur River you come to a 3 way junction. Go straight following the old road. At first the trail is overgrown with silverberry bushes but soon it opens back up as you start to make your way up the hill.
Part way up the hill there is a small trail to the left. This is a shortcut but you are better off continuing straight ahead on the main trail. As the trail levels off there is an obvious trail to the left, just before a sign for the Adpot-A-Trail program. Follow this trail as it makes it’s way along the edge of the benches overlooking the Siffleur River. At the next junction on a hill, head to the right up the hill. At the top, take the trail on the left to access the viewpoint.
The viewpoint is an open area overlooking the valley below and at the top of the rills and gullies you can see from the trailhead. Take some time to enjoy the view before making your way back to the trailhead.
THE RETURN
Make your way back on the trail until you reach the junction on the hill. At this point, go straight to make your way down to the Siffleur River and follow the trail back to the 3 way junction near the bridge over the Siffleur River. Retrace your steps from there back to the trailhead.
A great option for a short hike along Abraham Lake, taking you close to the edge of the Cline River Canyon and to dramatic views along the way.
This trail is similar to the first section of the Coral and Cline Canyons hike (you’ll see the trail across the canyon on many occasions) with the option of reaching the bottom of the canyon in an area popular in the winter with ice climbers.
This makes for a great family hike but keep in mind that this is an unofficial trail without any railing or guards along the edge of the canyon.
The Cline River has gone by many names over the years. A.P. Coleman, the geologist and explorer, named it the Cataract River in 1893. Mary Schaffer refers to it by that name in her book when she made the journey from Pinto Lake to the Kootenay Plains in 1907.
It was later called the Whitegoat River before getting its current name from Michel Klyne, the Hudson Bay Company postmaster for Jasper House from 1824 to 1834.
At a Glance
Distance: 3.3 km return
Elevation gain: ~115 m
Challenge Level: Easy
Trail type: Partial Loop
Congestion: Moderate
Management: Kiska / Wilson PLUZ
Other Trail Uses: None
Trailhead: The Pinto Lake Recreation Trail Staging Area is a short distance south west of the Cline River bridge, approximately 48 km west of Nordegg and 41 east of Saskatchewan River Crossing on Highway 11.
The Trail Guide
THE ACCESS
0.1 km | Random campsite
0.5 km | Junction – keep left
0.9 km | Junction – keep right
1.1 km | Junction – keep left
1.2 km | Viewpoint – keep left
1.4 km | Junction – river access along the creek
1.6 km | Cline River
THE RETURN
0.2 km | Junction – keep left to retrace your steps
0.4 km | Viewpoint – go straight along the canyon
0.7 km | Great view of the Cline River
0.8 km | River access at the end of the canyon
1.2 km | Junction – keep left
1.7 km | Trailhead
THE ACCESS TRAIL
Follow the old road heading up the edge of the gravel pit, ignore a footpath on the left at the top of the hill (this trail connects with the Pinto Lake Recreation Trail) and walk through a random campsite, staying on the well defined path.
The trail is broad and takes you into the forest. The next junction at 0.5 km is the trail you will be on when you come back. Continue straight ahead.
This section of trail is pleasant but without any great views. Soon you come upon a short hill with a trail merging from the left. Continue on the main trail to the right. From here the trail gets narrower and more interesting.
Crossing a couple of sometimes muddy section you get great views of Abraham Lake in the distance.
At 1.1 km a shortcut on the right heads directly to a narrow section of the canyon where you may come across groups crossing on a Tyrolean traverse. Continue on the trail to the left for now as you are only a short distance away from the viewpoint.
The views as you come across a 90-degree bend in the river are great on their own and would make for a great lunch spot. If you don’t mind a short but steep section along a small stream, continue on to make your way to the bottom of the canyon.
Going left from the viewpoint follow the trail to a gully and follow the path along the mostly dry stream bed down to the river. This section of the canyon, often referred to as the Clive River Galleria, is a popular ice climbing destination. Throughout the winter this is an easy snowshoe walk and in the spring you can see ice left on the walls well after the snow has melted.
THE RETURN TRAIL
Retrace your footsteps back up to the viewpoint. From there, follow the trail straight ahead along the canyon. The trail makes its way down where the rivers comes out of the canyon, making another 90-degree change of course. This spot makes another great viewpoint and access to the river.
The trail soon heads uphill and away from the river. The junction at the top is the one from earlier, keep left to make your way back to the trailhead.
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