Prairie Mountain Trailhead — Attraction in Alberta

We had planned a multi-day wilderness camping trip travelling counterclockwise on Prairie Mountain Trail. As the temperature was predicted to fall to about -25°C we had extra gear and were pulling toboggans. Some of the hills were quite steep, at times requiring 2 or 3 people to get the toboggans over rocks and roots or to stabilize the toboggans so they wouldn't fall off the trail. We found a great place to camp approximately 5 km along the trail. A barbwire fence intersects the trail (the gate was open) at this location. We set up 2 tents on the NW side of the fence and had our kitchen/hung our food on the E side of the fence. Unfortunately one of our party started feeling ill so we abandoned the trip and decided to use the frozen creek for egress. Much of the time it was easy going but there were sections with heavy deadfall requiring us to find a path around. That frequently required lifting the toboggans...

The new trail is great! The elevation gain is more even throughout, and better drainage means much less mud. There's also clear trail signage along the path now, starting from the highway just east of the creek. The new summit flag feels a little anticlimactic though. As of May 18, you might still want poles or micro spikes for one short section (50-100m), but the rest of the trail was bare of snow except for the top. You can do this as an "out and back" or a loop, returning along the creek. Check All Trails or Strava for GPS maps. This trail is easy if you're used to scrambling up mountains, but may be hard if you're used to paved pathways. It's very well travelled, so one of the few where I'm not too worried if I forget my bear spray. But bring it...

I would consider this an intermediate hike because of the steepness. It takes about 1.5-2 hours to hike up depending on your speed, and much shorter on the way down. The end of the winter season makes it difficult because of the wet mud and some ice in higher and steeper parts of the mountain. Majority of the hike is sheltered within the forest, but once you’re up at the top it’s completely out in the open and it’s very windy.

Once you’re at the top, you’re rewarded with a breath taking 360 degree view. It’s worth spending some time to take in the views with a drink or a snack before heading back down the trail. I also highly recommend hiking poles for the way down to alleviate stress on your knees from the...