Iron Ridge

Iron Ridge
Crowsnest Pass, Alberta
March 18, 2022
Distance: 5.8 km
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 280 m

Dinah and I first noticed Iron Ridge when we hiked Wedge Mountain several years ago. I've kept it in mind, and now, with snow still blanketing tall peaks, it seemed like a good time to climb this low ridge. We settled on a loop beginning at the west end of Coleman. Like Sonny Bou's trip, we traversed the ridge and returned on a gravel road.

We had some trepidation on parking on a gravel patch amidst homes, but it didn't appear attached to any property and our car was undisturbed for the duration of our trip. But trespassing signs dissuaded us from walking up a road directly to the end of the ridge, so we skirted properties and started up a gentle, wooded slope. Just before the ridge crest, the slope grew steep, and compounded with ice, rocks and a snow cornice, we encountered some difficulties. But eventually we found a way up. Once on the ridge, we found smooth sailing, with trees giving way to meadows and far-ranging views.

Being rather blustery, we spent little time on the summit and continued down the north end of the ridge. On the lower slope, we encountered knee-deep snow in places, but we were only a couple of hundred metres from the gravel road. After prolonged postholing, we gratefully walked back along the road.

KML and GPX Tracks

Iron Ridge seen from Tim Horton's