Visitors looking for alternatives to Ha Ling Peak can call the Kananaskis Information Line at 1- 403-678-0760 or via a Kananaskis Information Centre such as Barrier Lake, Bow Valley or Peter Lougheed. In Hiking by Kirsten Alexis July 5, 2018 Leave a Comment. It is always well packed down, and there’s little chance of getting lost. Grab your favourite hiking boots and get ready! There are also a few sets of wooden stairs as well that are easier to climb. It was the subject of a 2018 CBC Documentary titled 'Ha Ling Peak' that follows the controversy and … The hike to Ha Ling Peak is fairly strenuous and is rated as a difficult hike. One of the Canomre area’s most popular hiking trails is set to open this weekend after a year-long closure to improve the trail conditions. Alberta Parks will begin with closures in early April for tree removal and occasionally schedule closures during the main trail construction from July to October. The single-track up-and-down hiking trail is often very busy from snow melt until snow fall. Steep Hiking Altitude: 2,408m (7,898 ft)Elevation Gain: 700m (2,296 ft)Ascent Time: 2 HoursBest Season to Scramble: Mid-May to October Directions: From the parking lot head straight across the road, up the hill and cross over the canal. However, with the trail reopening in August 2019 I finally got to hike up to its summit! Of course, it’s entirely possible to spend longer on the trail while anything shorter requires some serious trail running. For further information about this Project, please see the Frequently Asked Questions and Project Map. We saw people with dogs and children, so it’s certainly not “extreme”. The trail head is about 10 minutes drive from downtown Canmore but can be made more challenging by mountain biking to the parking lot. Article content. Even in the winter with light crampons, hikers reach the summit daily. HIKING HA LING TRAIL AND MINERS PEAK REVIEW: You need to know right off the bat that this is a very popular hike easily accessible from Calgary and Canmore. To get to Ha Ling Peak, from the saddle go left and head up towards the daunting Ha Ling Peak. Ha Ling Peak trail near Canmore, Alta., has reopened after a year-long closure. One of the Canomre area’s most popular hiking trails is set to open this weekend after a year-long closure to improve the trail conditions. Now, some controversy is that Lee Poon actually did the ascent and won the $10 bet. To support construction of the new hiking trail alignment, rock blasting and tree removal are required. © 2019 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc. 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Supposedly, Ha Ling, a railroad worker won a bet by making a round trip from Bow Valley in 5 1/2 hours. I'd recommend it for children 5+ who can hike up approximately 700m over about 6km return. Environment and Parks780-427-8636AEP.Mediainquiries@gov.ab.ca, Notification of Ha Ling Peak Trail Realignment, https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/advisories-public-safety/advisories/, https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/canmore-and-area/. Ha Ling Peak is a classic “first summit” that many people tackle when they visit the Canadian Rockies. Hiking Ha Ling Peak. Climb over 700 m (2,296 ft) to take in the incredible views of Bow River Valley from Ha Ling Peak. Subscribe. Ha Ling Peak Trail Realignment Project, located in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, can be accessed via the Spray Lakes Road (Hwy 742) above Canmore. The trail up isn't too difficult. 15 minutes later I make it to the top. “Creating new trails will cause the trail to widen again, erode, and pull at the understory of vegetation and soil,” the government said. The peak takes its name from a cook working for the Canadian Pacific Railway who, in 1896, climbed to the summit in record time. Visitors are being advised to stay on the trail, wear appropriate clothes and footwear and care for the trees along the trail. This hike is definitely for everyone, just make sure you bring a lot of water and snacks. It was our first time climbing Ha Ling Peak and we were recommended to climb this mountain from a friend in Banff. Otherwise the 737 metre (2,417 feet) elevation gain would have knocked the stuffing out of me. I’m happy I’ve been doing sets of stairs through the winter. High Rockies Trail. Kananaskis Country’s popular Ha Ling hiking trail reopens with improvements. It really does offer a gorgeous 360′ view that includes Canmore, Kananaskis, and beyond. Ha Ling Trail to Ha Ling Peak is a 4.5 mile heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Kananaskis Improvement, Alberta, Canada that features a river and is rated as difficult. All reviews tough hike great hike take your time bow valley bring water parking lot surrounding mountains in great shape summit saddle treeline climb trail hikers snow switchbacks footing ascent rocks elevation shoes lookout. Like the look of the crescent from peak to peak. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/canada/alberta/east-end-of-rundle-eeor To prevent further trail degradation, Alberta Parks will realign the trail this summer. Jack continues to Miners Peak and I continue my struggle up Ha Ling Peak. Ha Ling Peak: View is worth the uphill hike - See 316 traveler reviews, 211 candid photos, and great deals for Canmore, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Hikers who take to the new and improved trail on Aug. 10 will see a reshaped and lengthened trail with several additions, including: BELOW: A look at the new Ha Ling trail (blue) and viewpoints. It’s going to be busy. Take care on the edge, as it is a long fall down … Weird, one website says $50, that would have been a lot in those days. Ha Ling Peak hiking trail is one of the most popular trails in Kananaskis Country and over the years, the hiking trail has degraded substantially due to erosion from very high use. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Ha Ling Peak is not difficult to hike in the sense that there are no fancy mountaineering moves required. Want to discuss? One of the steeper trails in the Rockies, Ha Ling Peak is a half-day hike that will you breathless with its elevation and viewpoints. Ha Ling Peak Trail is an eight-kilometre journey that takes you on a wicked staircase to see some once-in-a-lifetime mountaintop views. Finally, at the top, there are some rock windbreaks to the far left. Updated information on Ha Ling Peak closures is available at https://www.albertaparks.ca/albertaparksca/advisories-public-safety/advisories/. After a year-long closure, the trail opened back up in August 2019; it underwent a facelift during its break. Follow the most well-defined trail, making sure to not get too close to the edge. You will come up to the parking lot on the right. With a trailhead seemingly on every doorstep, sweeping vistas and crystal-clear rivers are just a hike away. Ha Ling Peak Trail Realignment Project, located in Bow Valley Wildland Provincial Park, can be accessed via the Spray Lakes Road (Hwy 742) above Canmore. We give each other a kiss – just in case. In addition, the trail report for the Canmore and Area is available at https://www.albertaparks.ca/parks/kananaskis/kananaskis-country/advisories-public-safety/trail-reports/canmore-and-area/. To ensure the safety of hikers and climbers on Ha Ling Peak, Alberta Parks will implement occasional full mountain closures. Its proximity to Canmore make it a popular destination and a good training hike. You travel about 10 kilometers until the Whiteman’s Pond near the Goats Creek Trail. Open views at the top. In my opinion, it’s not really difficult but it is uphill the entire time, so it’s definitely hard on the legs. Beautiful hiking on the way to Miner's Peak: The hike over the Three Humps is more challenging and I wouldn't recommend it for children under the age of 6. One of the famous peaks of the Canmore Triple Crown (alongside East End of Rundle and Mt. Ha Ling Peak Kananaskis. Is Ha Ling Peak a difficult hike? Subscribe to Calgary for all the latest and greatest stories. It’s also a hike that has been closed for trail redesign, and through the spring of 2020 was closed due to trail conditions. Why This Hike Made The List. If you have been to Canmore, chances are you’ve seen Ha Ling Peak. It’s a popular trail with pent up demand. Rick McCharles Flickr cc by 2.0. Alberta Parks will not permit access to hiking and climbing routes on Ha Ling Peak during the closures. This makes it ideal for visitors tot he area who don’t want to spend their whole day on the trail. The surrounding peaks start lighting up and I know it won’t be long before the sun is out. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until October. Please read our Commenting Policy first. Ha Ling Peak hiking trail is one of the most popular trails in Kananaskis Country and over the years, the hiking trail has degraded … It is a local favorite as well, and many people hike or run this trail regularly year-round. That’s all changed and we happened to be visiting Canmore just days after the Ha Ling Peak trail re-opened after over a year’s closure for trail maintenance. We saw some people slip here. On average, there are over 200 people who reach the summit on weekends. The wind is typically much stronger here than it is in the trees. Get a roundup of the most important and intriguing national stories delivered to your inbox every weekday. The popular Ha Ling Trail near Canmore has re-opened to the public following an extended 16-month closure. There is a gradual uphill climb and a lot of rock stairs. I quickly snap few photos of myself and descend 50 meters down to find a composition for my shot. The trail is maintained for the 3.5 km to the saddle, with the final 400 m of distance and 103 m of elevation to the peak on an unmaintained trail, which traverses through loose, rocky terrain. The hike up Miner's Peak is actually easier than the hike up Ha Ling Peak with no scrambling and no loose scree or rocks. READ MORE: A popular mountain trail that has been closed for almost a year is just a few weeks away from reopening to hikers and officials say the work was required to allow it … Safety crews offer reminders to visitors after busy weekend in Kananaskis. Ha Ling Peak is one of the most-hiked and climbed mountains in the Canadian Rockies. Ha Ling Peak is actually named after a young gentleman that made a 50$ bet in 1886 that he could climb the then unnamed peak and return within 10hrs. This Peak offers a mutitude of ways to the summit, it is easily scrambled in an afternoon and is a fine 1/2 to full day rock climb. Ha Ling Peak appeals to hikers and climbers by providing a number of routes on the south and north sides of the peak. As part of our ongoing commitment to provide quality recreational opportunities and to keep Albertans informed, Alberta Parks is providing notice of hiking trail upgrades on Ha Ling Peak. The peak was renamed in perhaps a revisionistic PC sort of way. Now the tales of narrow ledges and death defying scrambles have been replaced with a steep, but certainly safer hike following the introduction of new ladders and widened paths. The reconstructed Ha Ling/Miners Peak trail is finally open after an almost two season closure. iloveleavingedmonton wrote a review Oct 2020. According to the ministry, the previous trail wasn’t designated and had developed and evolved over time. Ha Ling Peak was closed last year to allow for extensive upgrades that not only make the trail safer and easier for hikers, but will protect the environment around it, Alberta Environment and Parks said in a news release. This hike has been on my list for years but due to weather, my schedule and then renovations to the trial in 2018-2019 I never had the chance to get out on the trail. It’s a new style of trail for Kananaskis Country trail with some interesting features. The government said the trail overhaul was spurred by four main things: Alberta Environment and Parks had a few important messages for those planning to hit the new and improved trail, citing that some of the previous damage to the trail was caused by people who weren’t prepared, especially in winter when it was too slippery or icy. The Ha Ling upgrade project took four more days than the previously-estimated 115 construction days to complete and was done at a cost of about $850,000, according to Alberta Environment and Parks. But you may be sucking wind, especially if it’s the first hike of the season. Book your tickets online for Ha Ling Peak, Canmore: See 316 reviews, articles, and 211 photos of Ha Ling Peak, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 47 attractions in Canmore. How to get to Ha Ling Peak: To get to Ha Ling Peak all you have to do is head out of Canmore and take the Three Sisters Parkway towards Spray lakes. Ha Ling Peak is a peak at the northwestern end of Mount Lawrence Grassi — a mountain located immediately south of the town of Canmore just east of the Spray Lakes road in Alberta's Canadian Rockies.It was previously named Chinaman's Peak but the name was changed to be less offensive. The only moderately difficult part is the last 20-minutes, which is mostly loose rock. Average times on the hike are between three and five hours. Here are 10 of our favourite Canmore-area hiking trails to add to your Alberta summer bucket list: 1. Ha Ling Peak: View is worth the uphill hike - See 315 traveler reviews, 211 candid photos, and great deals for Canmore, Canada, at Tripadvisor. Edmonton, Canada 10 contributions 1 helpful vote. The government said it was never intended for the large number of visitors it saw on a regular basis. It may be a difficult hike but it's worth it in the end. 1hr 45min hike to Ha Ling Peak. 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