If you’re looking for an epic day trip in Alberta, then we’ve put together 3 hikes near Bragg Creek that make for an amazing time in the mountains. We love maximizing our day every time we go to the mountains, since it ends up being a full day for us when we drive all the way from Red Deer where Dom’s parents live.
This time we planned our main hike to be the Jumpingpound Summit Trail. Then we added two stops along the way to make the most of the trip!
We recommend you leave early because you have a full day ahead of you packed with hiking, exploring, and even seeing a waterfall. All three of these are pretty close to each other so you don’t have to drive too far from one to the other. That’s why we added all three of them together to make one epic day of adventuring.
The hikes are in order from which one is closest to Bragg Creek. This way it makes it easier for you if you are coming from that direction. But if you’re coming from the Kananaskis area you can do them in the opposite order. The order doesn’t really matter!
Here are the three hikes we recommend near Bragg Creek:
- Elbow Falls – Easy Trail
- Forgetmenot Pond – Easy Trail
- JumpingPound Summit Trail – Moderate Hike
Other related posts
- Chester Lake Trail – Easy Day Hike Near Canmore
- Jumpingpound Summit Trail – Moderate Day Hike Near Kananaskis
- Grizzly Peak – Quick and Challenging Day Hike in Kananaskis
- Vision Quest – Adventurous Day Hike Near Nordegg
- Wasootch Ridge – Breathtaking Day Hike in Kananaskis
Why these 3 hikes near Bragg Creek make an epic day trip
We will speak about each hike individually but first we just wanted to talk about the three hikes together and why they make an epic day trip. We usually take Highway 1 West towards Canmore and find some awesome hikes on the Kananaskis Trail road such as Wasootch Ridge or Grizzly Peak.
This time we decided to go south and head towards Bragg Creek. We’ve heard so many good things about hikes in the area. We found our main hike which was Jumpingpound Summit Trail, and then by looking at Google Maps we realized there are some cool viewpoints we could stop by on the way. Both were short and sweet trails with cool views so we figured why not!?
So instead of doing just 1 hike you’ll end up being able to do 3 very different but epic hikes near Bragg Creek. In this post, you’ll find information about all three of them along with a few campsites in the area that we recommend if you’re planning on staying for the weekend hiking in Kananaskis.
#1 Elbow Falls Trail guide
Practical information about Elbow Falls
Distance: 1 km return / 0.6 miles return
Elevation: 48 m / 157 ft. elevation gain
Type: Loops trail
Length: 30 minutes including time to take pictures
Difficulty: Very easy
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail
Here’s a picture of the beginning of Elbow Falls
This is a short little loop trail near Elbow River with a waterfall. The loop trail gives you different views and angles of the falls and showcases the beauty of Alberta’s nature.
This is the first hike on the list and it’s quite close to Bragg Creek. Once you pass the little town you will follow Highway 66 to the trail. Once you get close you will most likely see tons of cars on the highway parked because it’s a touristy little trail.
But don’t make the same mistake as us and park on the highway. Instead of parking on the highway with all the other cars you can just drive into the parking lot and there should be some free spots.
The parking lot is basically the starting of Elbow Falls. It’s a very short loop trail that gives you different views and angles of the falls. You’ll get up close and above the falls to get some cool photos. We spent some time adjusting our camera and trying to get some cool shots of the water flowing down. There’s something fascinating about waterfalls and it’s actually the first time in Alberta that we’ve been on a trail with a waterfall!
Once you’re done admiring the waterfall you can go roam up and down the river and get away from the crowds a little bit. Obviously it’s a pretty big day with the 3 hikes but if you give yourself 30 minutes to 1 hour exploring Elbow Falls and the area then you should be completely fine for time.
It’s a very easy trail to find and start and because we drove from Bragg Creek this was the first of three stops for the day. It can also be done backwards coming from Canmore and this would just be the last stop instead of the first.
#2 Forgetmenot Trail guide
Practical information about Forgetmenot Pond
Distance: 1.82km return / 1.13 miles return
Elevation: 29 m / 95 ft. elevation gain
Type: Loop trail
Length: 30 minutes including time to take pictures
Difficulty: Very easy
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail
I mean how could you not stop here after seeing the name? We actually had no clue this place existed until we did some research and found this tiny lake in between Elbow Falls and Jumpingpound. So we decided to check it out and it’s actually the perfect place to stop for lunch while taking in the beautiful views.
When you come down the road you will see a big parking lot and that is where you will park to access Forgetmenot Pond. This is the same road you’ll take if you end up camping at Little Elbow Campground. We will get to this later on but we definitely recommend camping at Little Elbow if you want to stay overnight in this area.
This trail is just a short walk around the lake with views of mountains everywhere. You can literally do this trail in your flip flops if you want. It may not seem like much but we got some of our best pictures that day from this spot so definitely don’t forget this stop.
It is packed with people because it’s a great place to go with family or friends to hang out and soak up the sun in the summer months. Plenty of people were having picnics and playing in the lake which looked super fun.
We just wanted to check it out and get some shots in and also add an extra stop to our adventure filled day. As much as we love driving and summiting a beautiful hike, it is nice visiting a few different places. Sometimes it’s just nice to go for a casual walk and enjoy the great outdoors.
#3 Jumpingpound Summit Trail guide
Practical information about Jumpingpound
Distance: 6.91km return / 4.29 miles return
Elevation: 438 m / 1437 ft. elevation gain
Type: Out and back
Length: 2 – 3 hours return
Difficulty: Moderate hike with a lot of incline
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Here’s a map of the beginning of the trail
Now it’s time for the main event! You’re supposed to save the best for last aren’t you? I mean that’s why we always eat dessert last! 😉 In all honesty, all three “hikes” are amazing. It’s just the fact that Jumpingpound is the real deal on this list and an actual proper hike. We were looking at hikes near Bragg Creek and this one stood out right away.
From all the comments we read on AllTrails. The trail seemed easy to follow and not very difficult and it was exactly that. Besides the fact you have to drive on a gravel road for a while (which isn’t ideal for our Honda Odyssey) the hike is fantastic. It’s not too far of a hike from Calgary and the fact you have those two pit stops along the way to stretch your legs and take in the views makes it even more enjoyable.
Jumpingpound in itself is a great moderate hike that takes a few hours. For the time it takes to get to the summit it is a very rewarding hike with its incredible views. The trail is great and so is the distance and elevation gain.
It was a very nice peaceful hike that beautifully portrays the Rockies and just how huge they are. You’ll be able to compare the prairies on the one side to the mountains on the other and get a feel for just how big they really are. It’s one of the many perks of hikes in this area.
It does take some effort to get to the summit of Jumpingpound but it can easily be done in under 3 hours (at least that’s what we did). This is including taking pictures and enjoying the views up top. Since the views at the summit are absolutely amazing you will want to spend some time admiring them and taking some photos.
When you’re done, you can head back down the same way you came up and enjoy your last bit of exploring the mountains for the day. There’s no need to rush any of the three hikes. They are all one after another on the way to Jumpingpound and besides Jumpingpound you won’t spend too much time at each one.
It’ll make for one amazing day though. Going forward when we do hikes like this we will try and incorporate some small little trails along the way to make more of a full day trip out of it.
Camping near Bragg Creek
One of the beauties of hiking near Bragg Creek or Kananaskis is that there are plenty of gorgeous places to camp. There’s something magical about pitching a tent or a campervan somewhere remote with mountains in every direction. We find that life slows down when you’re camping and you get to enjoy living in the moment and just being somewhere beautiful.
So we always try to camp whenever we get the chance. Especially during the summer months in Alberta. We have a few options for camping near Bragg Creek and not too far from Jumpingpound. So after your hike, you will only have a short drive to camp where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Little Elbow Campground
Little Elbow Lake is short 20 km drive but because of the gravel road, it will take about 40 minutes. It’s absolutely worth it though because Little Elbow is gorgeous and it’s a wonderful place to camp.
It’s also right next to Forgetmenot Pond and about half way between Elbow Falls and Jumpingpound Summit Trail. Here are the directions from Jumpingpound to Little Elbow Campground.
A campsite at Little Elbow Campground is $29 a night and you can see the campground map here with all the sites and amenities. It’s a great place to stay for the weekend since there is so much hiking in the area.
There’s a ton of hikes even closer than Jumpingpound too so you have many different options to pick from for your next day hike. Even though this campground isn’t right next to the hike it’s definitely worth the drive to stay at Little Elbow and explore its surroundings as well.
Beaver Flat Campground
This is another campsite between Jumpingpound and Bragg Creek. It’s 50 minutes to the trailhead of Jumpingpound. It has fire pits, toilets, and water pumps. The sites are first come first serve and cost $29 a night for a trailer or tent.
If you end up camping at Beaver Flat, you’ll only be a short distance away from the famous Elbow Falls. If you end up staying here then you could maybe do Jumpingpound first, then Forgetmenot Pond, and finish at Elbow Falls.
You’ll be camping right next to the Elbow River and have the Canadian Rockies surrounding you from all sides. Basically Paradise if you ask us! If you want any more information on Beaver Flat then here is the Alberta Parks link.
How to get there
Directions from Bragg Creek
Click here to see the directions in Google Maps.
Directions from Canmore
Click here to see the directions in Google Maps.
Before you go
The very first thing you should do is check if the trails are open. It’s good to see if there are any warnings on the trails for the particular day. If you’re familiar with the area you’ll know that hikes in Kananaskis tend to have bear warnings on them all the time. It’s definitely not uncommon to see a grizzly or a black bear while hiking in Alberta.
All three are relatively safe trails since there are always people on them but we would still recommend telling someone about your plans. Especially for Jumpingpoud since you get up into the mountains. It doesn’t hurt and that way someone knows where you are. Better safe than sorry!
There is also a good chance you will not have reception. At least while you’re at Forgetmenot Pond and Jumpingpound Summit Trail – all the more reason why you should tell someone where you’re going. We had a bit of reception past Bragg Creek but after that, we had no reception until we reached the summit on Jumpingpound.
What to bring
Since you’ll be gone for most of the day exploring these hikes near Bragg Creek we recommend grabbing some food and gas before leaving town. After Bragg Creek it’s just you and the great outdoors. You’re gonna get hungry and thirsty! =)
So bring:
- Definitely bring a lot of water. You’re very exposed to the sun on these hikes and Jumpingpound hike is pretty steep so it’s absolutely necessary to bring a bunch of water!
- A camelbak is a great option too if you’re looking for something to hold a lot of water.
- Some snacks are always nice to have. Especially since there’s nowhere to buy food after Bragg Creek.
- Sunscreen if it’s sunny out! Or even if it’s just warm and cloudy, bring some. We recommend this eco-friendly sunscreen from Sun Bum.
- Bear spray! You’re in bear country! 😉
- Warm clothes if it’s cold! Remember that the weather can change quickly. When we got up in the meadow of Jumpingpound it felt like the weather did a complete 360 and got way colder!
- A music player (to keep bears and other wildlife away). Just be aware of other hikers since some people don’t like music blaring on the trail.
- Walking sticks might come in handy.
- Also, this is a great list of hiking gear that you may need on a hike!
And please, please, please, don’t leave any trash on the trail! We’re sure most people don’t but we want to keep the planet’s nature clean and beautiful so we can keep enjoying it for years to come. As long as we all do our part then we should be fine!
Other related posts
- Tombstone Campground Hike – Stunning Alpine Lake in Kananaskis
- Vision Quest – Adventurous Day Hike Near Nordegg
- Wasootch Ridge – Breathtaking Day Hike in Kananaskis
- Black Rock Mountain – Remote Day Hike Near Calgary
- Hiking Checklist
Other useful info
- Bragg Creek is the last place to buy food and gas if you take that way to Jumpingpound so just keep that in mind.
- It’s best to go on this epic day trip between June and October.
- If you’re looking for something a little bit easier in the area then definitely check out Chester Lake Trail near Kananaskis.
- If you’re going for more than one day and want to do another awesome hike, Wasootch Ridge is one of our favourite Kananaskis hikes and it’s not too far from Calgary either!
- Check the weather forecast before you head out.
We hope you enjoy this epic day trip as much as we did. Jumpingpound’s summit is 2225 meters so you’ll have an absolute blast and stunning views plus two short stops along the way that are just as beautiful. Enjoy, stay safe, and hopefully you don’t get close to any bears! And if you do, then from afar. 😉
Have fun!
Dom & Jo
Red White Adventures
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These trails all look amazing! I can’t believe that was the first time you’d hiked to a waterfall in Alberta though!? Thanks for another great post and some more hikes to add to our list 🙂
Hey Candace,
It seems growing up we’d always usually just do summits and they’d never have waterfalls along the trails. Elbow Falls wasn’t a bad place to start so I can’t complain haha! =) You’ll have a full list of hikes for when you make the move over!
-Dom