Fall color road tripping in Kananaskis

Written by: Tanya Koob

The weekend’s here, it’s a beautiful day, and the mountains are calling! Round up the family and head out for a scenic drive, perhaps stopping for a picnic along the way, trying out a new coffee shop or bakery, or even venturing out for a short hike to a waterfall or viewpoint.

Below are my top suggestions for a Kananaskis fall road trip:

Highway 40 Day Trip to Kananaskis Village (and beyond)

Highway 40 is gorgeous in autumn with oranges and yellows coloring the hillsides as you head south towards Kananaskis Village. Once you reach the Village (and vicinity), there are several options for how to spend a few hours:

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• Visit the Kananaskis Village playground, walk the paved Village Rim Trail, and warm up inside the lodge, where there’s a coffee shop with tasty baked goods and grab-and-go lunch items.
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• Take an easy hike to Troll Falls (approximately 3km round trip) or continue beyond to the Upper Falls (a 5km return trip) for the chance to walk behind a waterfall.
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• Have a picnic at Mt. Lorette Ponds nearby where there are several day-use sites, (some with fire pits) and each area is surrounded by trees and private from the other sites. There's a flat, paved pathway that circles the ponds and fishing is popular here as well. Of special note, the entire pond area is wheelchair accessible (including the fishing platforms). 
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• Either continue your sightseeing drive further south to the Kananaskis Lakes, or return the way you came.
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For a longer full-day drive, continue along Highway 40 over Highwood Pass (the highest paved pass in Canada) returning via Longview and Diamond Valley for a big 300km loop.

The drive over the pass is incredibly scenic in late September and early October, when golden larch trees cover the ridges. At the top of the pass, you can stop to take a short hike on the Ptarmigan Cirque Trail, one of the most popular family hikes in Kananaskis. The trail is 4.5km return with 250m of elevation gain. Note that this trail is very busy in the larch season, and you’ll have to arrive early in the morning or later in the afternoon to find parking.

If you don’t stop for a hike at Highwood Pass, I recommend hopping out of the car for a short walk to the Cat Creek waterfall (2.5km round trip) 20 minutes south after driving over the pass. Park at the Cat Creek Day-Use Area, cross the highway, and follow the short trail along the creek to the little waterfall.

Highway 40 ends five minutes south of the Cat Creek trailhead at Highwood Junction. Continue straight on Highway 541 heading northeast for the village of Longview. It should take about 30 minutes to reach the village.

Return to Calgary via Longview, Diamond Valley, and Bragg Creek (see number two below). 

Finally, don’t forget to purchase your Kananaskis Conservation Pass at alberta.ca/kananaskis-conservation-pass before you get on the road. You must pay and register your license plate if you want to stop at any of the parking lots in Kananaskis, including the Village.

Also, don’t forget your bear spray if planning to stop for a hike along your route. 

South Cowboy Trail Tour to Bragg Creek, Diamond Valley, and Longview

This is a classic weekend road trip with fun options for the whole family. And while you can take this drive anytime of the year, I always like it best on a crisp fall day when cozy coffee shops beckon, the trees are showing off their best colors, and you don’t need to crank the AC.

Below are some highlights along the route from north to south:

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• Stop in Bragg Creek to visit the Frontier Candy & Ice-Cream shop. Take a stroll around the village and make sure to stop at one of the coffee shops. I love the pizza and baked goods at the Bragg Creek Bakery. Mabel and Marie’s is another great family-run bakery we like to support, and you can’t go wrong with the Heart of Bragg Creek for healthy vegetarian and gluten-free menu features.
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• Alternately, if coming from south Calgary, head south to Okotoks and stop in at the Saskatoon Farm before heading west to Diamond Valley, where you can continue south or return north to make a loop with Highway 22. Brown-Lowery Provincial Park is a nice stop for an afternoon hike on the way back to the city if you’ve had lunch and need to burn off a few calories afterwards. If planning to visit the Saskatoon Farm, check their website for information on their September Harvest Markets.
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• Continuing south to Diamond Valley, the Chuckwagon Cafe is a well-known stop along the Cowboy Trail with classic diner favorites for breakfast and lunch, open until 3:30pm on weekends. Afterwards, I recommend stopping in at the Eau Claire Craft Distillery to sample their locally produced spirits. They serve great food on a family-friendly patio with mocktail options for the kids.
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• If you continue driving further south on Highway 22, no trip would be complete without stopping at the Longview Jerky shop. We also like visiting the Sugar Shack for ice cream.
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Extension from Diamond Valley into the Sheep River Valley

As a side trip from Diamond Valley, I highly recommend taking Highway 546 west into Kananaskis, following the Sheep River. This area of Southern Kananaskis is a hidden gem, and in September it’s one of the most beautiful places in all of K-Country for a fall drive.

In late September, the rolling hills are a kaleidoscope of oranges and yellows, and you’ll see endless fields of cows (if they aren’t on the road itself). 

Recommended places to stop along Highway 546:

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• Sandy McNabb Campground. Drive down to the river and park near the group campgrounds to take a short hike on the Sandy McNabb Interpretive Trail (a 1.7km loop) which offers great views over the Sheep River.
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• Bighorn Day-Use Area. A short drive further brings you to a short walking trail ending at wooden benches overlooking the valley. It’s a flat five-minute walk, but the viewpoint is worth the stop.
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• Tiger Jaw Falls. Park at the Indian Oils Day-Use Area and walk down to the river. You’ll find a large bridge with a waterfall cascading underneath. For a longer day hike this is the starting point for the popular Dyson Falls trail (8.5km return).
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• Sheep River Falls. The Sheep Falls Day-Use Area is a great destination for a family picnic, with tables and fire pits on site. The waterfall is a short walk from the day-use area and is much bigger than Elbow Falls.
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Happy Exploring!

Tanya is a freelance writer and mom to a spunky boy. She loves hiking, camping, skiing, and all things mountain-related. She is the author of the blog Family Adventures in the Canadian Rockies, rockiesfamilyadventures.com. You can find her on Instagram @MountainMomYYC.

See our related articles:

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• 10 Family Favorite Day Trips in Kananaskis and Banff
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• The best family bike trails to ride around Kananaskis and Canmore
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• 5 spring hikes to enjoy with your family in Kananaskis
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