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Hunchback Hill 3
aka Lusk Ridge
Kananaskis, Alberta
June 5, 2025
Distance: 8.4 km (5.2 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 600 m (1968 ft)
In 2022, following exploration roads and bushwhacking, I climbed Hunchback Hill 3 with friends using the northwest ridge. Unfortunately, it began snowing, and it became an uninspiring, viewless trip. So when Gillean Daffern, author of Kananaskis Country Trail Guide, suggested I hike Hunchback Hill 3 up a trail on the north ridge in the summer, I was keen.
Since my last visit, mountain bike trails have appeared on Hunchback Hill 3. Gill mapped most of these and wanted to know what I thought of them. She particularly liked one: a pleasant trail that ascends an exploration road before continuing up switchbacks. Like the other trails, it joins the single path going up the north ridge to the summit. But unlike the others which are steep, the exploration road and switchbacks are gentle. On my first trip, I went up one of the steep trails and descended Gill’s trail.
From Sibbald Meadows Pond Provincial Recreation Area, I crossed Highway 68 to the trailhead. Confusingly, the trail soon hits junctions close together, but I proceeded straight ahead. Once on the trail, there are no more junctions as it runs to the north ridge trail. The ridge trail runs through a large cutblock and re-enters the forest. For mountain bikers, brief trails bypass steep sections on the right.
The trail emerges onto a vast meadow bearing a cairn, a substitute summit as the true summit, less than 200 m away, lacks views. I crossed the meadow and hiked to the treed summit. After a brief stop, I continued to a clearing where I gazed south at the highest hill in the Hunchback Hills. Then I turned around and headed back.
I came down the north ridge and, keeping left, started down the switchbacks. At a four-way junction, I continued ahead on the exploration road. I could’ve gone to the end of the road and taken a short trail back to the trailhead, but 700 m after the junction, I turned left onto a trail. I soon came to a T-intersection, turned right and popped onto Highway 68. Instead of walking back along the road, I went left and walked up the road a short distance to a glade. There was no sign of a trail at first, but after crossing the glade, I found a faint trail at the base of a steep slope. The trail grew distinct as I followed it around Sibbald Meadows Pond to the parking lot.
I returned twice more to Hunchback Hill 3, exploring trails that Gill had done and a couple that she hadn’t but was interested in. I won’t go into them; I’m sure they’ll be included in the next edition of her guidebook. But I think trails west of the exploration road, except for the bottom trail I used, include fragile terrain and should be avoided. Apparently, riders are able to stick to trails, but some paths were too steep and slick to hike, and I was forced to carefully step on moss loosely fixed on either side. It wouldn’t take much foot traffic to destroy large areas. I didn't encounter any mountain bikers, but hikers should be aware and share the trail.
Hunchback Hill 3 seen from Sibbald Meadows Pond
From the parking lot access road, the trailhead is the other side of Sibbald Creek Trail
Starting up the trail
Dozens of trees have been cleared from the trail
I saw a lot of burls on trees
Trail-building tools
Continuing up the trail
American Three-toed Woodpecker
The trail runs through a clearcut
Looking northwest. Horton Ridge in the centre.
Trail goes over little ridges which can be bypassed on short trails on the right
But the ridges are more interesting
Helicopter cargo door (mouse over to view backside)
The summit is less than 200 m from the meadow. The point in the centre is Yates Mountain (mouse over).
Hard to tell where the exact summit is as it's flat. I built a little cairn.
I continued past the summit and found a clearing looking west at Hunchback Hill 1
Heading down, now on a trail leading to the exploration road
Looking back at the four-way junction where the switchback runs into the exploration road. Arrows indicate steep mountain bike trails.
Looking back at the exploration road
The trail ends next to a culvert. I crossed the road and went to the meadow on the left and looked for a trail.
In the meadow, I spotted this but it didn't mark the trail
Further in, I found a vague trail alongside a steep slope
Honeysuckle
The trail follows the north shore of Sibbald Meadows Pond
American emerald dragonfly on the trail
Common blue damselfly
Butterflies mud-puddling, i.e. seeking out nutrients in certain moist substances such as rotting plant matter and mud (mouse over for a close-up of two butterflies)
Back at the parking lot, a swallow feeds fledglings in a nest on the outhouse
82 O/2 Jumpingpound