3 Beautiful Hikes Near Bragg Creek That Make an Epic Day Trip

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 planning fun epic day trips to the mountains where we make the best of the day. Especially when we’re staying with my (Dom’s) parents in Red Deer and have a few hour drive to get to the rockies.

We had our eyes set on Jumpingpound Summit Trail for a while because of a recommendation from a friend who went mountain up it and said it was amazing.

We did a bit of research and realized that we could add a few more stops on the way. So one awesome hike turned into three which made for an awesome day trip.

If you’re coming from Calgary then lucky you because you can sleep in a little bit longer.

We do still recommend heading out early because all the hikes near Bragg Creek have really started to become popular in the past few years. Probably because of its proximity to Calgary and because the hikes in this area are amazing.

I hope you’re ready to do some hiking, exploring, and best of all checking out a waterfall. All three of these hikes are past Bragg Creek and pretty close to each other.

You don’t have to drive too far from one to the other which is nice and you actually don’t even need a 4×4 vehicle even though on the last stretch to the JumpingPound Summit trailhead would be nice.

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 you can start with JumpingPoung and finish with Elbow Falls.

Since we came from Bragg Creek and most people will. We will keep it in this order just for simplicity’s sake!

Hiking Tip: Look up the trail on AllTrails before starting your hike 🗺️. You can find important trail information such as recent wildlife sights and trail closures. Check out the free version here or get a 7-day free trial of AllTrails+ here.

Here are the three hikes we recommend near Bragg Creek:

1. Elbow Falls – Easy Trail 
2. Forgetmenot Pond – Easy Trail 
3. JumpingPound Summit Trail – Moderate Hike

Why these 3 hikes near Bragg Creek make an epic day trip

So lets just say this made for one of the best days we’ve ever had in the Canadian mountains. We’ve never actually been out this way before and didn’t even think about all the awesome hikes near Bragg Creek.

We usually take Highway 1 West towards Canmore and find some awesome hikes to do in the Kananaskis area such as Wasootch Ridge or Grizzly Peak.

This time we decided to go south and head towards Bragg Creek to spice things up and try something new. I mean we do it whenever we’re travelling the world so why not try it in our home country too, right?

We’ve heard so many good things about hikes past Bragg Creek and then when my friend Riley talked me into JumpingPound so it must have been a sign.

Once we knew we were heading to Jumpingpound Summit Trail, we checked Google Maps and realised 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 doing 3! Pretty sweet, eh?

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

Click here to see a map for Elbow Falls.

Here’s a picture of the beginning of Elbow Falls

This is a short little loop trail near Elbow River where you get to see a…..wait for it….WATERFALL. It’s just a little one but this area with the river flowing and the mountains surrounding you is absolutely bliss. 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 is the closest one to Bragg Creek. Once you pass Bragg you will follow Highway 66 until you get to the turnoff for Elbow Falls.

Once you get close to the turnoff 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.

Or if you’re a true warrior you can get up bright and early and get there before everyone. It’s a super busy spot because people don’t have to hike too far to get to the falls.

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 where you can get some awesome pictures.

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. Hopefully, more to come though! =)

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 to head to the Forgetmenot Pond.

#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

Click here to see a map for Forgetmenot Pond.

I mean how could you not stop here after reading the name? It was fun doing a bit of research and looking for spots to explore near Bragg Creek.

We had no idea this pond existed until we did some digging and found this tiny lake in between Elbow Falls and JumpingPound. So we added it to the day trip and it’s actually the perfect place to stop for lunch while before heading on the big hike for the day.

When you come down the road towards Forgetmenot you will see a big parking lot and that is where you will park to access the lake/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.

On a sunny day, you can see plenty of families having picnics and playing in the lake which always makes for a good time.

One thing we want to mention though is if you do go swimming please use eco-friendly sunscreen to keep the water in these lakes fresh and clean.

#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

Click here to find the map for the JumpingPound Summit trailhead.

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, right? 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.

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 wasn’t ideal for our Honda Odyssey) the hike was fantastic.

It’s not too far of a hike from Calgary and the fact you have those two other 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/hard hike that takes a few hours. For the time it takes to get to the summit it is a very rewarding hike with great views of the rockies and the prairies. 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 really 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 are.

It does take some effort to get to the summit of JumpingPound but it can easily be done in under 3 hours. This includes taking pictures and enjoying the view up top.

Since the view at the summit is absolutely amazing you will want to spend some time admiring it and taking pictures. Maybe even planning some future hikes in the area.

When you’re done, you can head back down the same way you came up and enjoy your last bit of mountain fresh air for the day.

The trail is really nice but we still recommend to take some ankle supporting hiking shoes like these Columbias. You don’t want to roll your ankle half way down the hike.

All in all it makes for one amazing day. I think from now on 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 we recommend for camping near Bragg Creek. They also aren’t 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 from Bragg Creek to JumpinPound Summit Trail.

Directions from Canmore

Click here to see the directions in Google Maps from Canmore to JumpingPound Summit Trail.

Before you go

The very first thing you should do is check if the trails are open on Alberta Parks website. 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 and cell phone reception isn’t great.

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.

Leave no trace

When you go hiking (and do other outdoor adventure activities), always remember to follow the 7 principles of leaving no trace.

This means:

1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of others.

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. We love our reusable water bottles. They come everywhere with us.
• 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 useful information about hiking near Bragg Creek

• 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 for JumpingPound 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 these hikes and stay safe!

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