The Elbow Valley has a variety of trails that wind through the foothills and into the mountains. Some are self-contained loops, some are tentacles that extend from a network of interconnected trails. The trail length indicated here may be one way or return depending on whether there are alternate return routes or not.
Some of the trails in the Elbow Valley are restricted for hiking, cycling and equestrian use. These are good day hikes. There are also longer trails for overnight trips in the area. West Bragg Creek trails are recommended for cross-country sking. They are not maintained for summer use, although they are popular. Just watch out for the cow paddies.
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Elbow Valley Trails
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Trail |
Road Access |
Length/Height |
Diamond "T" Loop
  
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Station Flats
Trailhead is on the far side of the circular road |
4 km loop
125 m/400 ft elevation gain/loss
1.5 - 2 hrs |
Sulphur Springs
This trail runs parallel to the Elbow Valley Trail. It begins and ends on the Elbow Valley Trail. You can access the trail from Station Flats, by continuing past the 2 Diamond "T" Loop junctions on the Elbow Valley Trail about 2 km about 2 km from the parking lot.
It makes a nice 9 km loop when you park on the Moose Mountain road loop back on the Elbow Trail.
It can also be combined with the Riverview and Elbow Valley trails to make a loop |
1. The parking area at Station Flats. Trailhead is on the far side of the circular road.
2. Up Moose Mountain Rd. 2.3 km. Park in the pull-out on the left just past the second trail crossing. The first trail crossing is the Elbow Valley Trail. |
4.5 km one way, plus 2 km on the Elbow Valley Trail if you park at Station Flats.
215 m/705 ft elevation gain/loss
3 - 4 hrs |
Elbow Valley
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Station Flats, Paddy's Flat, Elbow River Boat Launch, Elbow Falls and Powderface Day Use Area |
10 km one way
365 m/1200 ft elevation gain/loss |
Riverview
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Paddy's Flat, 3/4 km east of Ing's Mine trailhead (on Canyon Creek Rd.) on Elbow Valley Trail, Connect from Elbow Valley Trail to Paddy's Flat |
4 km one way
102 m/300 ft elevation gain/loss |
Moose Mountain
Click this link for details
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Moose Mountain Road. Turn right 1 km past Paddy's Flats |
14.6 km return
470 m/1540 ft elevation gain/loss Summit 2437 m/7995 ft |
Beaver Flat Interpretive
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Beaver Lodge Interpretive parking (on left, just past Elbow Falls) or Beaver Flat Campground |
3 km return
no elevation gain/loss |
Elbow Falls Interpretive
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Elbow Falls Day Use Area |
1 km return
little elevation gain/loss |
Fullerton Loop
This trail starts about 1.5 km along the Elbow Trail, from the parking area at Allen Bill Pond. A short way along the loop trail is a Y junction. Taking the trail to the right leads to 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 a steep hillside overlooking the Ranger Station and the Elbow Valley. |
1.2 km north on Elbow Trail from the Allen Bill Pond Parking (east end). Go under the highway overpass and through the fence gate. |
7 km return
213 m/692 ft elevation gain/loss
1.5 - 2.5 hrs |
Little Elbow Interpretive
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Forgetmenot Pond Day Use Area or Little Elbow Parking |
5 km return
no elevation gain/loss |
McLean Creek Interpretive
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MacLean Creek Parking |
1.2 km return
no elevation gain/loss |
Nihahi Ridge
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Forgetmenot Pond Day Use Area or Little Elbow Parking. 2 km west of campground on Little Elbow Trail |
5 km return
390m/1280 ft elevation gain/loss
3 - 4 hrs |
Paddy's Flat Interpretive
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Paddy's Flat Campground |
2.2 km return
no elevation gain/loss |
Tombstone Lakes
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19 km south on Big Elbow Trail from Little Elbow Parking |
3 km one way
180 m/590 ft elevation gain/loss |
Big Elbow
|
Little Elbow Parking |
21 km one way (part of the 44 km Elbow Loop)
350 m/1150 ft elevation gain/loss |
Little Elbow
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Little Elbow Parking |
23 km one way (part of the 44 km Elbow Loop)
400 m/1310 ft elevation gain/loss |
Ford Creek
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Little Elbow Parking |
18 km one way
590m/1935 ft elevation gain/loss |
Ford Knoll
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Forgetmenot Pond Day Use Area |
4 km return
235 m/770 ft elevation gain/loss
1.5 - 2 hrs |
Nihahi Creek
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4 km west of Little Elbow Campground on Little Elbow Trail |
4.8 km return
240 m/790 ft elevation gain/loss
3 - 4 hrs |
Powderface Creek
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Poderface Parking |
6.2 km one way
510 m/1673 ft elevation gain/loss |
Powderface Ridge
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End of Hwy 66 at the dirt road or 7 km north on that road at the 3-trail pass. |
7 km one way
640 m/2100 ft elevation gain/loss |
Prairie Creek
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9.2 km one way
180 m/590 ft elevation gain/loss |
Prairie Link
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3 km one way
85 m/280 ft elevation gain/loss |
Prairie Mountain |
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3.8 km one way
716 m/2350 ft elevation gain/loss Summit 2210 m/7250 ft |
Threepoint Mountain
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10 km one way
460 m/1510 ft elevation gain/loss |
Tom Snow
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30 km one way
210 m/700 ft elevation gain/loss |
Trail Creek
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2.5 km one way
275 m/900 ft elevation gain/loss |
Wildhorse
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16 km one way
357 m/1170 ft elevation gain/loss |
West Bragg Creek Trails |
Hostel Loop Trail
See a video |
All West Bragg Creek Trails are accessible from the parking lot at the end of the West Bragg Creek road about 10 km west of the hamlet. |
3.8 km loop located a few hundred metres north of the parking lot.
45 m/148 ft elevation gain/loss
High point 1509 m/4950 ft |
Elbow Trail |
Take Hwy 22 to Bragg Creek. Drive down Balsam Ave. and cross the bridge over the Elbow River. Turn left and drive to the end. |
6.9 km one way (includes part of Sun Dog)
120 m/413 ft elevation gain/loss
High point 1550 m/5085 ft |
Iron Springs |
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4.6 km, 7.4 km from Allen Bill to West Bragg
120 m/394 ft elevation gain/loss
High point 1550 m/5085 ft |
Telephone Loop |
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16.5 km return
230 m/754 ft elevation gain/loss |
Sundog Loop |
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4.7 km return |
Moose Loop
See a video |
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5.5 km return plus 5.5 km return to the loop
60 m/197 ft elevation gain/loss
High point 1490 m/4888 ft |
Crystal Line |
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3.4 km one way, 6.7 km loop including part of Sun Dog |
Upper Bragg Creek |
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5 km one way to watershed meadow from Moose Loop
61 m/200 ft elevation gain/loss
High point 1743 m/5718 ft |
Bragg Creek Provincial Park |
Alder Trail
A short pleasant stroll through a forest of lodgepole pine and white spruce trees. |
Parking area just past and opposite the park entrance on Highway 758 about a kilometre past the Hamlet of Bragg Creek |
1.5 km loop has interpretive displays. There is a trail that crosses the highway and links to the park day use area. |
