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Ole Buck Mountain
Kananaskis, Alberta
September 24, 2026
Distance: 8.6 km (5.3 mi)
Cumulative Elevation Gain: 414 m (1358 ft)
When Dinah and I hiked Ole Buck Mountain a decade ago, we went up an ole cutline. The cutline, mostly overgrown, was a bushwhacking ordeal. But recently, loggers invaded the area, leaving logging roads and extensive clearings that allow a new approach that, while off-trail at times, dodges bushwhacking.
We parked at a trailhead a kilometre west of where we started last time and started up a grassy road. A few minutes in, we crossed Bateman Creek and proceeded to an open gate. After the gate, we turned right, hiked up a slope to a rough logging road. We followed it until it veered left. We continued straight up an open slope to a smoother logging road that headed towards the South Summit. When the road turned left, we went straight ahead through a sparse forest. After ascending a ridge, the terrain flattened, and we found a trail. We soon left the trail to find the cairn.
We walked 60 m west to the strangely misplaced cairn, 200 m south of the South Summit. Afterwards, we returned to the trail, passed the uninspiring summit, and continued to the cutline. Apart from four dips, the cutline runs straight as an arrow before rising to the North Summit. Cutblocks along the cutline allow far-ranging views on the left, as does the summit meadow. Through a haze of wildfire smoke, we could see the distant Rocky Mountains.
After relaxing on top, we retraced our steps along the cutline and descended to the smooth logging road. We bypassed the unpleasant rough road and instead followed a low ridge on the left, partly covered in aspens beautifully dressed in bright autumn yellow, back to the gate and to our car.
Starting up the trail
Crossing Bateman Creek
After the gates, we turned right and hiked up the slope to a rough logging road
We followed the road
The road turns left, but we continued straight ahead, up the open slope
Looking back, the ridge on the left looked like a nicer ascent
We walked up the road toward the South Summit
When the road bent left, we continued straight ahead
We hiked easily through a sparse forest
We continued up a ridge
A cairn sits 200 metres south of the South Summit
We passed through a natural portal on the trail
We passed the unremarkable South Summit
Starting along the cutline
Some unusual mushrooms
Looking back after the first dip
Almost at the North Summit
Looking back
Dinah and Christine on the North Summit
The girls are barely visible as we headed back to the South Summit
Dinah gazed across the cutblock
We left the road and headed to the low ridge ahead
Approaching the ridge
We followed a faint trail on the ridge
We dropped down the right side of the ridge and headed to the gate. Dawson Hill appears left.
Cows gathered at the gate to welcome us back. How nice.
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