Canmore - Grassi Lakes Trail and Success with Wildlife Viewing

Canmore

 Grassi Lakes Trail and Success with Wildlife Viewing

September 13th, 2019

Today, we had decided to stay local - though, in the end, it didn't turn out that way!  When Mark was planning out this journey, he was researching things to see and do in this area and came upon a YouTube video about the Grassi Lakes Trail, just outside of Canmore. We were mesmerized by what we saw, and added it to our itinerary. 

We knew, in advance, that the trail was split into 'difficult' and 'easy'. The guy in the video advised to go on the difficult trail as the views were more spectacular. We could always choose to come down via the easy trail, which is what we ended up doing. 

The ascent started off fairly easily, and we began to wonder why it had been labeled as difficult. 

When we reached the waterfall, it was a splendid sight!

Not long after we had reached the bottom of the waterfall did we understand why it has been so designated. There were times when we were climbing some pretty ragged spots, high 'natural' steps, and also walking across rocks that were submerged in water. 

Steps were steeper than they look in this photo

You can't see it very clearly, but there is water trickling down through the rocks. 

Another set of steep steps which we had just ascended

Mark had mentioned that he had read about wearing suitable footwear, and we were glad we had changed into our hiking boots before we left the car. 

Although we had to stop several times to catch our breath, the hike was totally worthwhile - not only for the two amazing lakes at the top of the trail, but for the views of the Bow Valley which were fabulous. 

Bow Valley, with Canmore in the distance

Thankfully, there were some flat rocks along the way to sit on, as well as a couple of benches, like this one. 

A welcome rest area!

The colours of the lakes were just as we had seen on the documentary. Differing from Emerald Lake, which we had visited yesterday, the super clear water showed a variety of blues and greens which added to its beauty. 

The Lower Grassi Lake

The Upper Grassi Lake

Once we reached the top of the trail, we noticed that there was an option to climb up even higher. Although this was usually a trail for experienced rock climbers, we both agreed to attempt part of it, but I had to stop at one point because the altitude and steepness of the climb was beginning to take its toll. Fellow hikers had told us of some pictographs a little further on, and Mark decided to go just that extra few metres, while I sat and drank in the view, deciding that I knew my limit and was going to stick within it. 

Mark went further up on this path to view some pictographs

Mark took this pic from the highest level he went, showing the two lakes below

I sat and enjoyed the view while Mark went up a little higher

When Mark returned, he said that the extra metres were not that difficult, but he had been disappointed by what he had seen. A French couple had already said that you would need to use your imagination - and this was borne out by Mark's experience. All in all, he was only gone for about 8 minutes, so it wasn't too far to have gone. 

From here, we made our way to the easier trail which would return us to the parking lot.

Little falls connecting the upper and lower lakes

Several signs dotted the trail, warning of possible landslides

During the descent, we discussed an idea about going for a drive on a loop trail that was supposed to be really good for viewing wildlife. It was mainly a dirt/gravel road with several ridges and potholes, so we couldn't move very fast - and we didn't want to. Why would we want to speed through the route, anyway? It would be too easy to miss any animals that might be viewed on either side of the road. So, we kept our speed between 30-40 km/h, thus saving our suspension, and increasing our chances of sightings that might present themselves. Also, we felt that, by taking things more slowly, we'd still be on the trail when dusk descended - one of the times when wildlife becomes more active. 

The route takes you southward around the back of the Three Sisters, which dominate the town of Canmore, and then into Spray Valley Provincial Park alongside Spray Lake Reservoir, where we stopped for our evening picnic. 

Our view during our evening picnic

From there, it continues until it meets Hwy 42, which turns northward to meet up with the Trans-Canada Hwy, then westward back to Canmore. In all, it's a distance of 150 km. The map shows that the duration of the loop is about 2 hours and 40 minutes. However, it took us nearly four and a half hours as we were going under speed and kept stopping to look at the splendid views and the dark tree stumps that successfully convinced us that we had seen a bear! 

Once again, we remarked on how each turn in the road opened up a new vista. 

That being said, we were thrilled because, not long after we recommenced our drive after our picnic, two grey wolves crossed the road ahead of us, just a few metres in front of our car. We were so startled that, even though we both had our cameras at the ready, they were gone into the bush before we could even focus upon them. Wolves happen to be my favourite wild animal - and sightings are rare, indeed. So far, we had seen about 9 wolves in Northern Ontario, during our travels since 2013, and one in this area, back in 2014. To see these two so close up gave us a charge, and we knew we were going to see more wildlife. 

Sure enough, about half an hour later, we observed a car a few metres ahead of us, which had stopped, but still had its rear-lights on. We slowed down, trying to see what they were stopping for, and drew up quietly beside them. They told us that they had been watching a bull-moose behind the trees. We stopped the car to give them a chance to move forward, and within minutes, the bull moose emerged onto the grassy shoulder. 

We inched forward, but didn't want to disturb it, or ruin the close up view fellow spotters were enjoying. 

Just a moment later, the moose started to cross the road and, from our perspective, it seemed to heading, slowly, towards the car. We knew enough that we should stay put so as not to startle it, as it could have easily charged that car, or even us! 

Watching, breathlessly, we saw it move in front of the car, and then make its way onto the opposite shoulder, and eventually into the bush. It was truly a magnificent sighting, and we were over the moon about it! The pics above, and the video clips below are a little blurred because we were taking them through the windshield and, to be honest, we were shaking a little from the excitement of it all! 

As dusk turned into nightfall, we finally made it to the end of the trail and back onto the highway, ready for the return to Canmore. 

We were rewarded by a spectacularly striking full moon and Mark was able to get some great shots of the moonshine and the surrounding clouds, and a really good close up of the moon, itself. 

Arriving back at the condo, we were really tired, but so full of appreciation of the views we had seen, and of actually encountering wildlife, at last!

In fact, we've decided to redo (a much shorter) part of the trail again, tomorrow evening, just before dusk, as we'll be leaving the area on Sunday morning, to travel to our first house-sit, in Blind Bay, B.C.