Montane Trails

Difficulty: Easy  
Distance: 16.4 km  
Elevation Gain: 487 m  
Parking: Cougar Creek Trailhead
Trail Report: Montane Traverse
Combine With: Mount Lady MacDonald, Horseshoe
Download GPX File

Extend your Run

As with other zones within the Canmore area, there is a dense network of trails which provide endless combinations of distance and elevation gain.

Local Tips

  • This loop connects some of the best trails on the sunnyside of the Bow Valley and features a couple of punchy climbs followed by long sections of flowy, traverse trail. There are plenty of openings in the forest that provide expansive views of the valley, from Cascade Mountain in Banff to Pigeon Mountain near Dead Man’s Flats.

  • In 2024, large sections of this loop were cleared to create a fire break. From a runner’s perspective, the resulting views give an entirely different perspective of the valley to what existed before. By early summer, these trails can now get quite hot and dusty as they are receive direct sunlight for most of the day. This makes them a great option for mid-winter when there is limited sunlight in the valley bottom.

  • At the far north end of this loop (above Harvie Heights), the trail dips down to a creek that is dry most times of the year. Typically for a few weeks in late spring and early summer, this creek fills with water, creating multiple small waterfalls and pools that make for an excellent place for lunch and a dip.

  • Cougar Creek provides the easiest parking for this loop, but there are multiple other access points to reach this loop including Harvie Heights Trailhead and Silvertip. Not that there is limited parking available in the hamlet of Harvie Heights, and if you do choose to park here, you will probably return to find a note on your windshield from disgruntled residents.