Kananaskis Country Public Land Use Zone Essentials

This collection features essential outdoor destinations within the Kananaskis Country Public Land Use Zone. It includes the turquoise reservoir at Barrier Dam, the accessible cascades of Elbow Falls, and the technical scrambling routes of Mount Baldy. Geologic features are represented by the Canyon Creek Ice Caves, while the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Memorial provides historical context regarding a 1943 aviation accident. These locations offer varied activities including hiking, trout fishing at Sibbald Lake, and panoramic valley views from elevated lookouts.

Barrier Dam Day Use Area

Access point for the Prairie View and Jewell Pass trails. The area features a large turquoise reservoir used for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and shore-side picnicking at the edge of Bow Valley Provincial Park.

Elbow Falls

A six-meter drop on the Elbow River accessible via a short, paved interpretive trail. The site includes multiple fenced viewing platforms and picnic tables located near the Highway 66 terminus.

Mount Baldy

A 2,192-meter peak featuring three distinct summits. The standard scramble route ascends the West Ridge, providing steep rocky sections and views overlooking Barrier Lake and the Kananaskis Valley.

Ice Caves

Also known as Canyon Creek Ice Caves, these limestone caverns contain ice formations that persist into the summer. Access involves a flat approach along a gated road followed by a steep climb to the cave entrance.

Lookout

Elevated viewpoint overlooking the Elbow River valley and surrounding front-range peaks. Located near the Powderface Trail, it offers clear sightlines of the rugged foothills landscape.

Sibbald Lake

A small, sheltered lake frequently stocked with rainbow trout for fishing. The area includes a campground and serves as a trailhead for several multi-use paths suitable for hiking and mountain biking.

Kananaskis British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Memorial

Commemorative site honoring the crew of a British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Avro Anson that crashed nearby in 1943. The memorial consists of a plaque and stone cairn located near the Powderface Trail.