Summitting East End of Rundle (also known as EEOR) near Canmore makes for an incredibly rewarding, though challenging adventure in Canadian Rockies.
While it’s less than 5 km long, it is one of those trails that makes you question your decisions while you’re making your way up through a steep scree and exposed slopes. EEOR has hardly any flatter parts, but we can promise you that once you get those superb views of Ha Ling Peak, Whitemans Pond, Spray Valley and Canmore from the top, you’ll quickly forget about the struggle you’ve experienced on the way up.
In short – if you’re looking for a half day trail that is going to test your mettle, then East End of Rundle is a perfect option in a close proximity of Canmore. Now let’s get into all details!
EAST END OF RUNDLE: KEY HIKE STATS
Lenght: 4.8 km out-and-back
Elevation gain: 838 meters
Duration: 4-6 hours
Difficulty: Hard
Mount Rundle is an iconic mountain that stretches all the way from Banff to Canmore. It has 7 distinct peaks that are connected by Mount Rundle Traverse (which is a mountaineering route) and as the name suggests, sumitting EEOR means that you’ll conquer its easternmost peak.
The trail to the East End of Rundle summit is generally considered a challenging hike as you’ll have to gain 838 meters in just about 2.4 km. That basically means that it’s steep from start to finish and there is no sugar coating to be done around that. Once you get above the treeline, there are few scree sections as well as some class 2 to class 3 scrambling in the final stretch. And while that is a pretty easy scramble as per Canadian Rockies standards, the last part of the trail certainly isn’t for beginner hikers.
There is no official trail signage and to be honest, it is one of those trails that has “make your own way up” parts, so we highly recommend having an offline map that you can check in case you feel like you’ve gone off the trail. Mapy.cz is an amazing offline map service that we use on most of our hikes and it has never disappointed us.
Despite its difficulty, EEOR is a very popular trail, so expect to meet other hikers around, especially in the peak summer months. This is one of the best hikes in Kananaskis Country, after all.
CANADIAN ROCKIES HIKING ESSENTIALS
BEST TIME TO HIKE EAST END OF RUNDLE (EEOR)
Best time to hike East End of Rundle is typically between May to early October, when the trail is dry and snow free. That being said, every year is a bit different with amount of snow we receive prior to and at the end of hiking season.
Generally, EEOR can often be a good early season objective as it receives a lot of sunlight that helps the snow to melt away faster, but we’d still recommend packing microspikes if you decide to attemp it in early or late season. We hiked East End of Rundle in mid May 2023 as the spring came early that year and there was only little bit of snow left near the summit. If you’re not sure, comment section on AllTrails can be very helpful to find out how the recent conditions look like!
While it’s doable year round, avalanche hazard exists on the mountain during the winter months and it’s not a good idea to attempt it if you cannot assess the risks. Avalanche Canada issues daily avalanche forecasts for much of the mountainous regions of western Canada.
IMPORTANT: KANANASKIS CONSERVATION PASS REQUIRED
- The East End of Rundle (EEOR) hike is located in Bow Valley Provincial Wildland Park which is a part of Kananaskis Country, meaning that a valid park pass is required. Day passes can only be purchased online and are per day per vehicle, but if you’re staying six days or longer, it’s more cost-effective to just buy an annual pass that registers two vehicles.
- Note that this is a separate pass from national passes that are required for visiting Banff or other national parks.
GETTING TO EAST END OF RUNDLE TRAILHEAD
The East End of Rundle trailhead is located along the Highway 742 (also known as the Smith Dorrien Trail) which is a bumpy gravel road, but it’s a quick 20 min drive from downtown Canmore. Note, that there is no public transport going to East End of Rundle trailhead, so you’ll need to rent a car if you don’t have one.
There are two parking areas that you can use. The actual parking lot for EEOR is right by the Whitemans Pond, but this one is very limited, so most people continue down to the newly paved Goat Creek Parking Lot which is much bigger as it serves for multiple trailheads in the area. Both parking lots are less than 5 min walk from the trailhead.
To find the trailhead itself, look for the ribbon attached to the tree on the west side of the highway across from Whitemans Pond
EAST END OF RUNDLE (EEOR) HIKE DESCRIPTION
The trail up to the EEOR summit wastes no time to gain the elevation. It’s steep from the start to finish with hardly any flatter parts, but if it’s within your physical capabilities, chances are that you’ll love it!
The first part of the trail is pretty well defined ascend through a couple of switchbacks in the dense forest. You’ll be gaining the elevation quickly, but there isn’t anything overly difficult about this part of the trail.
Now, the “fun part” begins once you get above the first section of the treeline as this is where you’ll need to use your hands for the first time to come up over few boulders and rock slabs so make sure to always keep to the left of the exposed cliff edge. From here, there are lots of unmarked trails, but they’re all leading to the same small ridge so there is generally no right or wrong – if you feel unsure, check your offline map often, so you don’t end up far from the route.
There is a small open “flatter” area at the ridge from where you can see the paths to the summit. This can be a good resting point or – if you don’t feel like doing the scree sections or scrambling – a good turn around spot.
The trail really begins to climb and turns into a “not so fun” scree slope that eventually takes you to a beautiful little meadow. Now it’s time for the final push! There are two paths leading up to the summit, but most of the people choose the one through the scree veering left (which is what we did too). Once you get to the rock band below the summit, the real scrambling begins as you traverse along a narrow ledge system. If you’re going on a busy day, we’d recommend taking a helmet and put in on for this final section to be protected in case there are any falling rocks caused by other hikers.
And that’s it! You’ve reached the summit of East End of Rundle and now it’s time to enjoy the spectacular views!
CAN I BRING MY DOG ON EEOR TRAIL?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on East End of Rundle trail, but must be kept on leash. We personally wouldn’t recommend it though unless you’re sure that your dog can handle extremely steep terrain and scrambling sections.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR EAST END OF RUNDLE TRAIL
Canmore is located just about 20 min drive from EEOR trailhead and has plenty of accommodation options. In fact, staying in Canmore while visiting Canadian Rockies can save you some bucks as hotels are typically more affordable than in Banff. Here’s a few options you can consider:
- Best budget stay: The Georgetown Inn
This small boutique hotel has been opened since 1993 and offers prices that are hard to beat in both off season and peak season. The rooms look cozy, the location is great and the feedback from guests is amazing. The Georgetown Inn is a great value! - Best mid-range stay: Basecamp Lodge Canmore
Basecamp Lodge provides comfortable mid-range accommodation with spacious rooms and convenient location just 15 min walk from the downtown Canmore. Free ‘grab and go’ breakfast is included in the stay. There are multiple properties by Basecamp in Canmore and if you’re travelling in larger group, then Basecamp Resorts or Basecamp Suites might be a better option. - Best luxurious stay: The Malcolm Hotel
If you don’t mind to splurge and want to treat yourself with a luxurious stay, then The Malcolm Hotel located just a short walk from downtown Canmore is a great option with modern rooms and amenities. And the rooftop deck with heated pool and hot tubs is like from a dream! - Best unique stay: Mount Engadine Lodge
While it’s a bit further from EEOR trailhead, we have to mention Mount Engadine Lodge as it has easily become one of our favourite unique stays here in Rockies. To be honest, it is on a pricier side, but all stays include amazing all-inclusive dining and with its remote location, it feels like staying in a backcountry hut. We stayed in one of their glamping tents during the winter, but the lodge operates year round and it’s a perfect base for exploring Kananaskis Country.
WHERE TO EAT NEAR EAST END OF RUNDLE TRAIL
Canmore is the closest place to grab something to eat after hiking East End of Rundle. Here are some options you can consider after a day in the mountains:
» The Grizzly Paw Brewing Co
Local breweries are always fun. Especially after a day in the mountains! The Grizzly Paw Brewing Co offers some tasty cold beers and pub style eats in the heart of Canmore.
» Rocket Pie Inc
We don’t know how about you, but we’ll never say no to pizza after a hike! Rocket Pie Canmore serves delicious wood-fires pizzas in Neapolitan style.
» Communitea Café
If you’re looking for some fresh snacks and healthier options, Communitea Café in Canmore is the place to go.
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU HIT EEOR TRAIL
Things you should keep in mind before hitting East End of Rundle trail:
» Kananaskis Conservation Pass is required to park your vehicle in Kananaskis Country and the Bow Valley Corridor. It can be purchased online and is tied to your license plate.
» Kananaskis Country is a prime grizzly territory, always carry a bear spray, know how to use it and keep it easily accessible at all times! If possible, hike in a group of 4 and more people.
» Most of the trails in Kananaskis Country have poor or no cell service. Have an offline map downloaded in your phone and make sure your battery will last. We recommend using offline maps from AllTrails offline or Mapy.cz. Consider carrying satellite communicator such as Garmin inReach (Amazon Canada or Amazon US).
» Weather – we’d recommend picking a nice day as any trail that involves scree or scrambling sections gets much more dangerous in wet conditions.
» Mosquitos can be really bad during the summer months, make sure to pack mosquito repellent.
» You’ll be exposed once you get above the treeline, so cover your head, wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen if going during the hot summer day. On the other hand, you should also always pack some layers that you can put on top of the mountain.
» Proper hiking shoes are neccessary and hiking poles can be very helpful.
FINAL THOUGHTS
We hope this blog post helped to answer questions you might have before hiking East End of Rundle (EEOR) near Canmore, but in case we forgot anything – let us know in the comments below! Looking for more hiking inspiration? Check out our hiking guides category!
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