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Galatea Lakes
Kananaskis, Alberta
September 8, 2021
Distance: 16.5 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 758 m
Dinah and I used Galatea Creek trail to access and scramble up Mount Kidd and Mount Kidd South, but now we turned our attention to hiking up the trail to Lillian Lake and Galatea Lakes. A huge parking lot serves the popular trail. We weren't surprised to see a couple of dozen vehicles parked there, including cars belonging to backpackers staying at Lillian Lake campground.
We started down the trail, down, because the trail loses 20 m to cross the suspension bridge over Kananaskis River. We would cross nine more footbridges before reaching Lillian Lake, the first lake. It's a long trail, mostly cloaked in forest, but the bridges, burbling Galatea Creek and a few clearings helped stave off monotony. The trail climbs steadily but steepens slightly after the last bridge.
After hiking for two hours, we reached Lillian Lake. The west end offers the best view of the lake, along with benches to relax. But the lake is ringed with trees and can't compete with the two higher alpine lakes. We continued up the trail as it quickly climbs above Lillian Lake, exits the forest and reaches Lower Galatea Lake. We relaxed for a time and watched pikas foraging for the winter. Then Dinah stayed behind while I paid a visit to the upper Galatea Lake. I reached it in 15 minutes and took several photos before rejoining Dinah.
As we returned down the trail, we noticed wildfire smoke obscured the views of mountains. Given that scenery would have been disappointing had we climbed a peak, Galatea Lakes proved to be a satisfying alternative in the mountains.
A few minutes after starting, we crossed the first bridge
We soon crossed two more bridges
Picturesque scene from the third bridge
Tree by the trail appeared ready to topple
Most of the hike is in the trees
A few robust wildflowers remained
But fall colours were also kicking in
The trail passes a canyon
At the eighth bridge, the trail forks: left for Lost Lake, right for Lillian Lake
Crossing the ninth bridge
Looking at Lillian Lake from the east end
The west end of the lake
Continuing to Galatea Lakes
The trail quickly climbs above Lillian Lake. Smoke obscured the background.
The trail climbs out of the trees
Looking back
The trail to Galatea Lakes goes left, while Guinn's Pass trail cuts into the slope on the right
Looking down at Lower Galatea Lake
Wasp nest next to the trail
A few pikas scampered around
The trail follows the north shore and runs to the notch on the far left
The lower lake is the largest of the two
Looking back from the far end of the lake. Dinah watched me from the other end (centre, mouse over).
Upper Galatea Lake
Dinah snapped this photo as I took the panorama (top) of both lakes from a bump
I found some wee bones on the bump
I returned the same way, but a trail runs back on the south side of the lower lake. In the centre are Guinn's Peak and Mount Kidd South.
Heading back to Lillian Lake. Left are Mount Kidd South and Mount Kidd.
Curious D-shaped tree
82 J/14 Kananaskis Lakes
