Tiptoe through the townsendia: A guide to the Rockies’ best wildflower hikes
by Michele Tipman Stott
The towering mountain peaks that set an ambience of grandeur in the Bow Valley are balanced by a much smaller yet equally impressive wonder. Alpine meadows ablaze with brilliant, fragrant wildflowers send a call to butterflies and nature lovers of all ages. The best time to view wildflowers is between mid-July and mid-August, when high numbers of species are in bloom. This can vary, however, depending on the onset of summer. It can also be put to a sharp close by an unpredictable mountain frost.
The “Indian paintbrush” is just one of the many flower species that can be found along hiking trails like Healy Pass.
It's all about being in the right place at the right time. For example, delicate glacier lilies bloom just after the snow recedes in May or June, but can on occasion be found in abundance in July at Sunshine Meadows. A little luck and a little pre-planning and hikers can find themselves privy to one of nature's most spectacular palettes. A quick phone call or stop into a local visitors centre can help direct your outing. Pick up a wildflower guidebook at any local bookstore to help identify the flora you find and photograph. Mike Potter’s Central Rockies Wildflowers is small and lightweight and offers color-coded edging to make it easier to find what you see. Something soft-covered and not too heavy saves space in your pack for lunch and extra film.
Another guide book that is a must-have in your backpack is Canadian Rockies Trail Guide by Brian Patton and Bart Robinson. Purchase the latest version so you don't get caught unawares by recent changes or trail closures. Grassi Lakes’ hiking trail is short, well-travelled and easily accessible from Canmore. It is just less than two kilometres each way with an elevation gain of 250 metres. There are two routes up, the old fire road and the trail. The trail is more scenic but feels steeper.
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Healy Pass is one of many beautiful day hikes in the Rockies offering great flower photo ops.
Allow two hours return, longer if you intend to linger – and you may well. Wildflowers abound along the edge of the trail and other rewards include a waterfall and a panoramic view of the Canmore area. The trail is rated easy, but hikers should still be prepared with water bottles, snacks or lunch and well-fitted hiking boots or sturdy sneakers.
Muleshoe is a favorite hike for wildflower viewing and also offers a great view of Castle Mountain. You'll find the trailhead about 5.5 kilometres west on the Bow Valley Parkway, reached in about 15 minutes from the Town of Banff. The elevation is about 150 metres and the trail to the meadows is 1.4 kilometres each way. Five minutes south of the TransCanada Highway along Highway 40 in Kananaskis Country, Barrier Lookout is a hike involving a long walk before the elevation gain begins. That long walk takes hikers past glorious meadows of lilies, Indian paintbrush, fireweed and many other wildflower species.
But top of the list for spectacular mountain meadows are the Sunshine Meadows, located ten minutes west of Banff. The meadows straddle the Continental Divide, which is also the Alberta-British Columbia border. The views are incomparable and opportunities for wildlife and flower viewing unparalleled. Best of all, you can enjoy the meadows as a full-on day hike or with as little effort as a bus ride up and a stroll through the area. Trails are suited to all abilities and ages, and are well-kept and well-marked. Canmore-based White Mountain Adventures offers one or two-way shuttle bus service at 9 a.m. and noon, daily. Reservations are recommended. In summer, the only other option to get to where the trails begin from Sunshine Village ski area’s parking lot is to walk two hours up a steep, six-kilometre road. No private vehicles are permitted.
Take you own full-day hike to Healy Pass or just ramble in the mountains for an hour or two. Guided hikes are also available to make the most of your sightseeing. Most importantly, take the time to stop and smell the wild orchids, listen to the birds sing, admire the butterflies and soak up that Rocky Mountain High. It's on your doorstep.
Michele Tipman Stott is a Canmore-based freelance writer and mom who has learned that having two small children along on your hikes reminds you to slow down and smell the wildflowers.
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