Waterton’s Rowe
lakes/lineham
Ridge Trail
BY CaROL MIYaGaWa
The must-do for
at the crack of dawn or stay overnight in Lake. (A 200-metre side trip will get you
Waterton. Whatever your preference, to a glimpse.) Then, in just over a kilometre,
Calgary scramblers
find the Rowe Lakes trailhead parking, you’ll arrive at beautiful Rowe Meadows
you must hit the junction just north of the and the junction for upper Rowe Lake. You
and hikers
townsite and drive the Akimina Parkway may be very temped to stop here, but the
for approximately 10 kilometres. Bears can best is yet to come. You won’t want to miss
¦ LOOKING FOR A HIKE that has almost sometimes be seen along this route! the magnificent view from the ridge, and
everything you can imagine? Outstanding Before starting out on this 17-kilometre the dramatic contrast of mauve and red
views, incredible flowers, spectacular adventure, make sure you’re reasonably talus slopes against patches of pure white
glacier-fed lakes, lush greenery, and fit, and allow roughly six to seven hours snow! After the junction, the trail steepens
dramatic natural beauty? Then the Rowe to complete the hike (longer if you want and sweeps elegantly up the ridge for just
Lakes/Lineham Ridge Trail in Waterton to stop and soak up the scenery - often). over three kilometres. You’re now on the
Lakes National Park is a must-do hike for This is a photographer’s dream hike, so you Lineham Ridge Trail.
you. To get there, drive south from Calgary won’t want to leave your camera behind. With perseverance and determination,
on Hwy 2 and cut over to Pincher Creek Be sure you have sturdy footwear because, you’ll soon reach your destination, and be
along Hwy 3. Or take Hwy 22 past Chain even in mid-summer, there can be snow on blown away by the panoramic view - in
Lakes, turn east on Hwy 3, and then south the trail leading up the headwall. every direction, an endless sea of craggy
onto Hwy 6. The trip should take just under If you’ve never been to Waterton, you’ll peaks. Here’s where you might want to
three hours. You either have to leave Calgary be amazed by the prevalence of red rock. take out your map to see how many peaks
Just metres from the trailhead, you can name: Mount Rowe to the south,
you’ll encounter a streambed of Mount Blakistom to the northeast, and
glistening red argillite, as Rowe Akimina Ridge in the far distance. Below
Creek cascades noisily over it. the peaks to the south sit upper and Lower
It’s enough to take your breath Rowe Lakes, and to the north, deep blue
away! soon you’ll pass lush green Lineham Lakes.
growth along a sparsely treed If you have a mix of scramblers and hikers
slope, leading to a grand view of in your group, you can do what my group did.
the Rowe and start out together at the trailhead, then let
Cameron Creek valleys. If the scramblers split off at the first avalanche
you’re a wildflower lover, you’ll be slope to climb up Mount Lineham. The rest
in heaven. Bear grass, glacier lilies, heads to Lineham Ridge, which is directly
and Indian paintbrush — in all its connected with the summit of Mount
variety — normally line the trail for Lineham. You can all meet in the middle. On
many kilometres. (Every summer, the return trip together, be sure to make a
A
W
the Waterton Wildflower Festival lot of noise, especially in the mature forest
GA
A attracts people from around the area, as Waterton is home to more bears

MIY
globe. This year’s festival takes per square foot than other national park.
OL
C
AR place June 14-22.) Carol Miyagawa is an avid hiker who belongs
s:
T
O At kilometre 4, you’ll reach to the Calgary Outdoor Recreation Enthusiasts
P
HO
the junction for Lower Rowe (CORE)
«CO
www.CalgaryOutdoors.ca CALGARY  SUMMER 2008 37
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