Rocky Mountain Hikes: Ha Ling Peak
Ha Ling Peak
Trail Length: 6 km return (1-2hrs up, 45-90mins down)
Elevation Gain: 819 m
Ages: Kids with serious skills and determination (10+)
Ha Ling Peak is a part of Mount Lawrence Grassi hovering next to the Three Sisters overlooking Canmore. Until 1997 it was known as Chinaman Peak, when the name was changed due to the unsavoury nature of the original title.
To get to the base of Ha Ling Peak, head past the Canmore Nordic Centre, and the base of Grassi Lakes Trail. Continue for a few kilometres on the gravel road (Smith-Dorrien-Spray Lake Trail) and park in the Goat Creek day use parking lot. The trailhead is across the road and the reservoir next to the green hut.
This was awesome. A straight up 90 minute march from the Spray Lakes Reservoir to the top of the Rocky Mountains. It’s a hike very similar to the Grouse Grind, or Stawamus Chief in Vancouver, but this one is a little more technical.
Just a 60 minute drive from the edge of Calgary, Ha Ling Peak looks over Canmore and is a popular place for hikers, and workout junkies alike.
While I saw a few people just in shorts and tshirts, many more took the hike more seriously with bear spray, and hiking poles. Because 1/3 of the hike is in the steep scree of scattered rocks above the tree line, the hiking poles are a very good idea. They were vital in bracing me back down the very steep slope.
If you’re not into the 3k trail up the back side of Ha Ling Peak, go up the front. There are rock climbing anchors all the way up, and a couple just summitted as I arrived.
This is the highest I’ve ever climbed from sea level before, it’s not quite Mt Everest, but being above the trees, and seeing the expanse of the Rockies from the top of one of the peaks had me marveling at the wonder that is Calgary’s backyard.
Buzz Bishop
[...] Climb Ha Ling Peak Hike Above Peyto Lake Visit Bar U Ranch Camp at Waterton National Park Hike to the Lake Agnes Tea House Have ice cream at Mackay’s in Cochrance Camp at Cypress Hills Visit Drumheller Ride the bobsleigh Eat some prairie oysters Climb the trail under the Banff Gondola Ride a mechanical bull Own a cowboy hat Mountain bike in K Country Take a picture at Picture Butte Visit Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump Paddle at canoe at Lake Louise Eat Taber corn Walk on the Columbia Icefield Hike above the tree line in the Rockies Take the Highwood Pass Cycle to Bragg Creek Buy a share of a cow Hike and camp in the backcountry Golf at Kananaskis Visit Spray Lakes Camp at Dinosaur Provincial Park Watch the Chuckwagons at the Stampede Have some shooters at Cowboys Wander West Edmonton Mall Water ski at Sylvan Lake See Lake Minnewanka Ride a horse Golf at Banff Springs Two-Step at the Stampede Visit Jasper Watch show jumping at Spruce Meadows Raft the Bow River Go to the top of the Calgary Tower visit Vulcan Meet Jarome Iginla Go to a Roughnecks game Go to a Stamps game Go to the Battle of Alberta [hockey] [football] Skate on an outdoor rink Have tea at Chateau Lake Louise [...]