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Bull Creek Hills
Kananaskis, Alberta
August 22, 2020

Distance: 10.4 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 844 m

I've been up Bull Creek Hills a few times, but always in winter and never with this loop. To understand the loop I used, I need to explain the hilltops as described in Kananaskis Country Trail Guide. Running from west to east, they begin with Top 1 and end with Top 5. Top 4 is the highest point. The loop is a lollipop loop beginning with an out-and-back trail to Marston Col. From the col, it's an offtrail hike to Top 3 and on to Top 4. From 4 to 5 and back to Marston Col, it's mostly a trail.

I parked at the Kananaskis Country sign and walked 100 m up the road to the trailhead. I hiked one kilometre to the col, turned left and started up a grassy slope. After that, I followed the ridge to Top 3.

Routefinding wasn't easy as the broad ridge presents various possibilities, especially when hiking in the trees. Higher up, the ridge becomes better defined and partly open, a pleasure to hike until the last section to Top 3. Here the ridge becomes a sharp crest jammed with rocks and trees. I soon abandoned the chaotic jumble and followed the meadow on the right side.

The rest of the trip was easier. From 3, I hiked the expansive meadow to Top 4. After taking a break by the summit cairn, I started down the trail to Top 5. It's not a perfect trail. I missed hidden corners only to backtrack to get on the trail. In some places, there was no trail at all, such as the meadow covering Top 5, but I quickly found the trail at the far end.

From 5, I followed the trail as it snakes down to a valley, crosses a dry creek, and climbs Marston Col. I was soon back at the car. I enjoyed my hike up Bull Creek Hills, and that's no bull!

KML and GPX Tracks


The trailhead is 100 m west of the Kananaskis sign


The trail begins in tall grass and leads to Marston Col


Soon after starting, I passed under a towering pine


View from Marston Col: I turned left for the ascent ridge. The summit is centre and descent ridge is right.


Starting up the ridge


I had a clear view all the way back to the Kananaskis Country sign where I parked. Surprisingly, there were now eight cars parked in front of my car. But half hour later they were gone, and my Soul vehicle was the sole vehicle.

I expected to scramble or bushwhack, but after skirting the rocks on the right, I found a brief pathway in the trees


Here, the ridge drops down


Looking up the ridge after dropping down. Near the top of the hill, the slope became quite steep.


Looking back after climbing well up the slope


Looking down the slope through the trees after a steep hike


After coming out of the trees, I can see Zephyr Creek Hills on the left


Mount Mann in the centre


After entering the forest, I found a trail. It didn't last long, but I found other short trails as I ascended the ridge.


Tops 2, 3 and 4 appear ahead


The next ridge section is a mix of meadows and forest


The ridge below Top 3 is treed and, it turns out, quite rocky


Looking back along the ridge just before I hit the nasty treed section


Looking back along the ridge after reaching Top 3


Looking west at Holy Cross Mountain and Mount Head


Gunnery Mountain is nearby


Top 4, the highest hill, is a short hike away


Starting up Top 4


The summit is a bit rocky


Standing next to the summit cairn


Ahead is Top 5


The trail skirts the intervening rocky bump ahead


The trail disappears at the edge of the meadow on Top 5 but resumes at the far end


Looking back at Top 4 from the meadow on Top 5


The trail picks up left of the tree in the centre (not that you'll remember this tree!)


The trail disappears in a clearing only to resume on a slope


The trail winds down the ridge before climbing to Marston Col seen in the centre


82 J/7 Mount Head


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