Tent Ridge is a moderately challenging hike in Kananaskis Country that has easily became one of our favourite hikes in Canadian Rockies! Even though it’s surrounded by taller peaks, it offers tremendous views of Spray Valley that are simply hard to beat.
It is a popular day hike that makes for a great adventure. However, it shouldn’t be underestimated, so let’s go through everything you should know before you go!
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PLANNING A TRIP TO CANADIAN ROCKIES?
Checkout these helpful links to plan your trip from start to finish:
- Flights: Calgary Airport is the best starting point for a trip to Canadian Rockies. For getting the best possible rate, we recommend browsing and comparing the prices on multiple flight aggregator websites like Expedia or Kiwi. We personally also subscribe to Thrifty Traveler Premium that delivers amazing flight deals from our home airport right into our inbox.
- Accommodation: Booking.com is our go-to platform for finding best accommodation deals. Check out some of our favourite stays in these blog posts: Unique Stays in Canadian Rockies, Best Places to Stay in Banff for Couples
- Getting Around: You’ll need to rent a car to get around Canadian Rockies easily. Check out affordable car rental deals on Discover Cars.
- Travel Insurance & eSIM: Travelling to Canada from abroad? Check travel insurance from Heymondo and get 5% off through our link and make sure to set up an eSIM from Airalo to stay connected.
KEY HIKE STATS
Lenght: 10.1 km loop
Elevation gain: 810 meters
Duration: 4-6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
Tent Ridge (also known as Tent Ridge Horseshoe) is a loop hike, which means that you have an option to hike the trail clockwise or counterclockwise. While it is possible to go both directions and it is completely up to you which one you choose, it is generally recommended to do this trail clockwise. The reason why is because there are scrambling sections on the way to the eastern part of the ridge and you’ll want to go through these on the way up rather than down.
While the scramble up to Tent Ridge is only slightly exposed and fairly easy (if going clockwise), there is quite lots of elevation added to it. Therefore we’d rate this trail as moderate to hard as per Canadian Rockies standards.
PRO TIP:
We know we said that it is recommended to do this trail clockwise. And that is absolutely true if you’re planning to do the whole loop. But what if we tell you there is a way to still get great views, avoid the scramble and make the whole hike shorter? Does it sound like a bit of cheating? Well, in a way yes. But it can be a great option if you’re limited on time or just looking for a quick sunrise/sunset adventure.
You can start hiking counter clockwise, only go up to the western part of the ridge (from where you’ll have amazing views of Spray Valley) and come back the same way. This will cut it down to less than 6.5 km round-trip with around 500 meters of elevation gain depending on where you’ll decide to turn back.
Now, if you’ve never hiked the Tent Ridge before and you have the time, we highly recommend you to do the whole loop and go clockwise. We promise it’ll be an amazing adventurous day spent in the mountains.
BEST TIME TO HIKE TENT RIDGE TRAIL
Best time to hike Smutwood Peak trail is typically from mid June to early October. That being said, every year is a bit different with amount of snow we receive prior to hiking season and the time when the first snowfall comes at the end of it.
While the ridge itself is exposed and receives lots of sunlight, it may take much longer for the snow to melt in the forests. Two years ago, we attempted to hike Tent Ridge in late June and we had to turn back because of how deep the snow was in the forest. If you’re not sure what to expect when going in early/late season, comment section on AllTrails can be helpful to find out how recent conditions look like. Besides, it is always a good idea to check the trail conditions on Alberta Parks website.
Tent Ridge is also a wonderful larch season hike and the beautiful yellow colors typically appear in the second half of September through the first week of October. The hiking season often closes shortly after that, as the first snowfall arrives to Canadian Rockies. Note that the trail crosses areas with significant avalanche danger, so hiking in winter months should only be attempted by those who have proper avalanche training and equipment.
Trail is occasionally subject to wildlife closures as Kananaskis Country is a heavy bear territory.
IMPORTANT: KANANASKIS CONSERVATION PASS
- 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 TENT RIDGE TRAIL
Tent Ridge trail is located along the Highway 742, also known as the Smith Dorrien Trail, and even though it’s just under 40 km from Canmore, you’ll need to count around 1 hour of driving. That is because this is a gravel road, which is however very scenic, so getting to the trail becomes a part of experience!
Quite suprisingly, the road is often better in the winter as the snow fills up the potholes and bumps. But it is absolutely doable in any kind of vehicle in any season, you will just have to adjust the speed. And be prepared that the road gets extremely dusty, so your car will most likely need a (big) wash afterwards.
Alternatively, you may be driving 35 km from the intersection with Highway 40. Either way, you’ll need to turn to Mount Shark Road, pass Mount Engadine Lodge on your left and once you cross the bridge, you’ll turn right on the Y shaped intersection. There is a small unofficial parking soon after that. The exact location can be found on Google Maps. If you’d turn left instead of right on the Y shaped intersection, you’ll end up at the Smutwood Peak trailhead, which is another great hike in the area!
Head south from the parking lot if you’re taking the recommended clockwise route.
TENT RIDGE HIKE DESCRIPTION
If taking the recommended clockwise route, you’ll want to take the trail that is south from the parking lot.
You’ll start with a gradual steady uphill through the forest that should take about 45 minutes. After that, the trail starts to flatten (enjoy it while it lasts) and eventually opens up to a beautiful meadow surrounded by the ridge you’re just about to climb. From there, the trail continues to the left through the forest and towards the eastern side of the ridge and transitions into a straightforward climb up to the ridge. This is the most challenging part as you’ll have to go through scree and scrambling parts that are slightly exposed, but absolutely doable for most.
After more ascent, you’ll reach a weather station which is a perfect spot to layer up and recharge. You can easily see the whole ridge and the path you’ll be following next. Yes, there is more ascent and scrambling in front of you, but it’ll be all worth it.
From weather station, you’ll first descent down a bit before the second steep climb up to the highest peak of Tent Ridge. This section involves some scrambling again, but once you reach the final ridge, the landscape around you is just jaw dropping. You’ll definitely want to sit down and soak it all in at the end of the ridgewalk where the views of Spray Valley truly open up.
The descent down goes through couple of scree switchbacks that are steep, but not as technical as the eastern side of the ridge, and eventually turns right towards the forest the trails continues through. It is still quite steep at times until you finally reach the last flatter part of the trail that eventually meets the old logging road that’ll take you back to Mount Shark Road and the parking lot.
The trail is pretty easy to navigate the whole time, but we always recommend having an offline map downloaded in your phone.
WHERE TO STAY NEAR TENT RIDGE TRAIL
» Mount Engadine Lodge
Mount Engadine Lodge (on the photos) is located just about 2 km from Tent Ridge trail and 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.
Mount Engadine Lodge is the only accommodation option nearby the trail (besides the campground), otherwise there is plenty of options in Canmore which is just 1 hour away. Here’s a few suggestions in different price points:
» 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!
» 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.
» 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!
WHERE TO EAT NEAR TENT RIDGE TRAIL
As you probably know by now, Tent Ridge trail is in a pretty remote area and there aren’t many services around. We highly recommend you to pack some snacks and water for the hike itself, but here are some options you can consider after a day in the mountains:
» Afternoon tea at Mount Engadine Lodge
As we mentioned before, Mount Engadine Lodge is located just about 2 km from the trailhead, and what’s also good to know is that their afternoon tea service is open to public from 2-4 pm daily. Think locally sourced charcuterie board, homemade dessert and hot drink of your choice. All of that with amazing views of Tent Ridge trail from the windows or patio! Perfect way to wrap up the adventure. Reservations recommended.
» 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 GO
Things you should keep in mind before you hit the Tent Ridge trail:
» There aren’t many services around the trailhead, so make sure to fill up your tank and bring plenty of water as well as snacks.
» 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 bear spray, know how to use it and keep it easily accessible at all times!
» Tent Ridge trail is located in a remote area with 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 pass the treeline and get to the ridge, 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, because the ridge can be extremely windy.
» Proper hiking shoes are neccessary and hiking poles are recommended.
TENT RIDGE TRAIL: FINAL THOUGHTS
We’re so glad you chose Tent Ridge for your next Kananskis adventure. We hope this blog post helped to answer your questions, but in case we forgot anything – let us know in the comments below! Looking for more hiking inspiration in Canadian Rockies? Check out our hiking guides category!
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