If you enjoy exploring canyons, but prefer not to share the experience with crowds of people, then the McGillivray Creek Trail might be the hike for you. It’s just as stunning as many of the more popular canyons in Alberta, but for some reason, it hasn’t garnered the same attention. Their loss and our gain I suppose! The trail is fun as there are plenty of boulders to clamber over; plus the trail culminates at a magnificent chockstone perched between the two canyon walls.
Keep reading this blog post for all the essentials you’ll need to explore the McGillivray Creek Trail near Canmore, including key details of the hike, plenty of photos, and an FAQ section that answers commonly asked questions, including our failed attempt to hike through the lower canyon.
If you are interested in exploring some other similar hikes in the area, check out the following:
THE MCGILLIVRAY CREEK TRAIL OVERVIEW
To jump ahead to a certain section, click the links below:
MCGILLIVRAY CREEK AND CANYON - KEY INFORMATION
Here is the key hike information:
How Long is the Trail?
The trail is officially 4.5km out and back (we took a little detour into the lower part of the canyon, but had to return after reaching a section that was inaccessible). That detour and scrambling up the side of the canyon to climb on top of the chockstone put us at just under 6km total on our tracker.
How Difficult is the Trail?
Moderately challenging. When hiking around the inaccessible part of the canyon, there are some steep parts, as well as some sections with some exposure, so you wouldn't want to fall. In the winter, be sure to wear spikes as the trail will be icy. Once in the upper canyon, its easy.
What is the Elevation Gain on the Trail?
201m according to All Trails.
How Long did it Take us to do the Hike?
It took us around 2 hours 30 minutes, but we spent at least 30 minutes at the chockstone.
When is the Best Time to do the Hike?
The hike can be done all year round, but I would highly recommend wearing proper hiking boots with spikes on during the winter as the trail gets icy.
Do I need a Permit or Park Pass?
A reminder that this hike is in Kananaskis country and you need to purchase a Kananaskis Conservation Pass. This can either be purchased online or at designated kiosks in the area.
FINDING THE MCGILLIVRAY CREEK TRAILHEAD
If you're traveling east on Highway 1, the parking lot for the trailhead is located just off the highway and comes up quickly as there is no clear signage.
Be cautious if you’re using Google Maps for directions from Calgary; it will suggest parking on the 1A and crossing the Bow River and Highway 1 on foot! While that could be an 'adventure'…. instead continue driving to Deadman’s Flats and then head back east along Highway 1. This way, you can safely turn off the highway to access the parking lot.
There is a designated parking lot with plenty of parking spots (there was only one other car parked there when we arrived).
McGillivray Creek Trail Map:
The map as shown on AllTrails - you can see that the trail veers away from the canyon just before the yellow '1' marker.
The first section of the hike is fairly flat and the path is easy to follow. You will eventually turn right at a T-junction in the trail - you can't miss it.
A short distance after the T-junction, you will come to a yellow sign, which is your cue to turn left and head into the denser forest.
Continue along the trail through the forest for around 700 meters, navigating some fallen trees, until you reach the canyon. At this point you can choose to explore the canyon, or continue along the trail that bypasses the lower canyon (which we’ll get to later).
EXPLORING THE LOWER SECTION OF THE CANYON
I'll start by saying that, prior to 2021, the lower section of the canyon used to have a number of ladders, ropes and chains that could be used by adventurous hikers to navigate the canyon. Unfortunately (or at least we think so), Alberta Parks removed this equipment as they deemed it too unsafe, so the canyon is now largely inaccessible, unless you bring your own equipment.
Despite this, we wanted to see how far up we could get, and figured it would be a bit of fun anyway, so we dropped down into the canyon and started making our way up.
Once inside the canyon, there are some fun, narrow, sections to navigate and it's impressive to see the steep canyon walls so close on either side of you.
However, after around 200m, we arrived at the impasse! Now, we could have tried to wade through the knee high murky water, but we didn't fancy that too much on a brisk October morning, so decided to backtrack to join the bypass trail (i.e the AllTrails route).
We are going to return in the winter when the lower canyon will be frozen to see how far we can get.... we will report back!
THE BYPASS TRAIL TO THE CHOCKSTONE
If you want to skip the lower canyon and head straight to the chockstone, take the bypass trail around the canyon. When you reach the fork, take the left path and continue uphill, keeping the canyon to your right. The trail starts off fairly steep, but overall, it’s not too challenging.
There are some small sections that require a bit of scrambling that the kids enjoyed.
Once you reach the top, the trail flattens out and narrows. Be cautious of exposed sections where the cliff edge is close to the path, especially since it’s narrow. In winter, make sure to bring spikes, as a fall could be dangerous.
After around 1km of hiking through the forest, you come to a steep section where you quickly descend into the upper section of the canyon.
Once in the canyon, you'll navigate various obstacles, including small to medium-sized boulders and fallen trees. Continue along the canyon bed towards the chockstone.
As you progress, the canyon narrows, revealing stunning steep walls formed by erosion from glacial runoff.
Eventually, after around 800m of hiking through the canyon, you will reach the chockstone.
THE CHOCKSTONE
The chockstone is an incredible sight! Even though it has likely been in the same place for millions of years, it still feels a bit unnerving to walk beneath it.
Naturally, the first question from the kids was whether we could climb on top of it. Susie reluctantly agreed to let us give it a try. I decided to test the route first to gauge its difficulty before bringing the kids along.
I didn’t take any photos at that moment since I was focused on the kids, but to reach the top of the chockstone, you need to scramble up the right side of the canyon, which is a mix of rocks and mud. Once you climb to the top, you’ll need to descend a few small rock faces. In terms of difficulty, I’d say Jess (nearly 10 years old) could probably manage it on her own, but Evelyn (7 years old) would need some assistance, mainly due to her size.
Once at the top, it’s just a matter of stepping out onto the chockstone! I’d estimate it’s about 6 feet wide, so it feels relatively stable, but you definitely wouldn’t want to fall. I made the kids sit down while we took our photo to ensure they stayed safe.
And here it is, the famous photo on top of the rock!
MCGILLIVRAY CREEK TRAIL - FAQ
Is the McGillivray Creek Trail Suitable for Children?
The trail is definitely possible for active children with hiking experience, but I'd be less inclined to attempt the hike in the winter due to the risk of slipping on the bypass trail.
Is the Hike Dog Friendly?
It's definitely possible (and we came across some climbers that had their dogs with them), but I'd be nervous bringing any large dog that pulls, as some of the exposed sections would make me nervous with Ellie.
How exposed is the McGillivray Creek Trail?
There are a few short sections that requires extra concentration while on the bypass trail around the canyon. The cliff edges are steep and a fall would not end well. If you decide to climb on top of the chockstone, it's a pretty big drop, but is of course optional based on your risk tolerance.
What Wildlife Might I Encounter on the Trail?
As with all of Kananaskis, this is bear country, so carry bear spray and know how to use it. We didn't see any wildlife on the trail.
WHAT TO TAKE WITH YOU
Good Hiking boots – This is definitely not a flip flop type of hike! Make sure the whole family has some good hiking boots (with spikes in the winter).
Phone – it’s always worth carrying one for emergencies, plus you’ll probably want to take a photo or two…..
Food and Water – Bring lots of water! We recently bought both of our kids Camelbaks so that they can drink on the go and it has been a game changer! Bring plenty of snacks and gummy treats!
First Aid Kit – I always recommend bringing a basic first aid kit in your bag as a precaution.
Walking Poles – you may feel more comfortable walking through the rocky canyon floor by using poles.
Bear spray – This hike is in bear country. Make lots of noise (I’m pretty sure no bears would want anything to do with our noisy kids though!)
ENJOY THE MCGILLIVRAY CANYON
The McGillivray canyon is a great ‘under the radar’ canyon walk in Canmore. It’s a fun and challenging for the kids, with the chockstone at the end being a real highlight!
As always, if you have any questions about the hike feel free to ask away in the comments section!
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