Panorama from the Nihahi Ridge hike near Kananaskis and Canmore
Panorama from the Nihahi Ridge hike near Kananaskis and Canmore

Nihahi Ridge hike

Bragg Creek and Sheep River
View Photos
Beautiful valleys on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisMountain view from the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisMountain and forests on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisPeak on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisTrail upon the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisImpressive peaks on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisValley below the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisBeautiful valley view from the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisImpressive mountain from the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisGrey mountains on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisBeautiful panorama from the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisGreen valley from the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisScenery from the top of the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisSnowy peaks on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisScramblers on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisHigh peaks on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisTrail of the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, KananaskisRiver in the valley on the Nihahi Ridge Hike from Bragg Creek, Kananaskis

Nihahi Ridge hike

Distance: 7.1mi
Elevation: 2,316ft
Time: 4-5.5h

Difficulty Rating:

User Ratings:
9.9 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty

This hike has it all, starting in the forest before traversing a beautiful grassy meadow then gaining elevation in the alpine as climb the ridge. The views are spectacular throughout the hike.

Nihahi Ridge Hike Map

Getting there

Take Highway 66 until it terminates (about 40 minutes from Calgary). Be aware that this road is closed from Dec. 1 to May 15. Park at the Little Elbow Campground.

I’ve done this 34 people have done this
I want to do this 75 want to do this route

About

When to do

May 15 - October

Backcountry Campsites

Yes

Toilets

Yes

Family friendly

No

Route Signage

Average

Crowd Levels

Moderate to High

Route Type

Out and back


Nihahi Ridge
Elevation Graph


Route Description for Nihahi Ridge

From the car, take the gravel road that follows the Elbow River until you exit the campground. You should now see signage marking the trail to the right. The start of the hike will take you through beautiful forest full of spruce and fir before exposing a grassy meadow with its gorgeous wild flowers after about 45 minutes.

Looking west across the meadow we can see the ridge, follow the established trail as it loops through the trees as you begin to gain elevation. Don’t forget to look down as trail turns to the rock of the ridge, as the views down of the Little Elbow River Valley are spectacular.

As you work your way up the ridge, the trail will become more steep and more dangerous. There is a brief section of guard fencing to ensure you stay on the trail. Before long as you quickly gain altitude, you will reach a large buttress which marks the end of the official trail. At this point we recommend you take it all in, savor the views and head back using the same trail.

Insider Hints

  • For those expert hikers, there is the opportunity to summit the ridge, in which you will face two short but technical scrambles, this part of the hike is technically beyond most hikers.

  • This is a very popular hike, we recommend starting early to beat the crowds.

Comments

chloehikes 4 years ago

Gorgeous hike but I'm glad I got an early start. The way down was the busiest trail I've ever experienced. If you're going on a weekend go early and you'll be fine

9.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
zero2ultra 4 years ago

Beautiful Hike. Feels very secluded, we only saw a couple of people on our way down. Plenty of great photo opportunities as well as some steep sections to challenge your hiking skill. Easy to miss the path back on your descent, make a note when ascending of where you come from after the railing section (We missed it on the way down and found another group who had as well).

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
2h 36m Time Taken
alexjensen 4 years ago

I'd say bring your bikes to cruise through the campground faster and lock em to a tree, but my girlfriend and I had a great time out here. You can kind of choose how far along the ridge you climb. The views are awesome the whole way. She's not a big scrambler so we didn't summit the somewhat intimidating-looking buttress, but still a great one.

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
MayP 4 years ago

Sensational scenery of wildflowers and green meadows.

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
3h 30m Time Taken
PeterHopkins 4 years ago

The grassy meadow looks spectacular. It was a great experience.

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
3h 15m Time Taken
Emma Tree 4 years ago

Very scenic but heavily trafficked. Easy access to restrooms and lots of nice spots to rest and enjoy some picnic.

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
Grant Ko. 4 years ago

It's fun to do this hike, you will experience beautiful Canadian nature, adventure and endless spectacular views.

9.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
Rebekah L. 4 years ago

Great little walk along the grassy meadow. Went there a few months ago and there were very few people. Enjoyed taking pictures of the river valley.

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
Diana C. 4 years ago

The valley was gorgeous with its flowering trees, lush green meadows, and staggeringly gorgeous views.

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
LyleM 4 years ago

The trail is flat until the last 150 meters. It can be quite challenging but knowing the views at the top makes it worth it!

10.0 Overall Rating
Technical Difficulty
Physical Difficulty
33 Comments Show all

Similar hikes to the Nihahi Ridge hike

Gorge Creek Loop Map

Gorge Creek Loop

Difficulty:
13.9mi
2441ft
6-8.5h

Hiking the Gorge Creek Loop requires some route knowledge and a bit of extra effort as it is not as…

Powderface Creek Trail Map

Powderface Creek Trail

Difficulty:
7.7mi
1814ft
3.5-5h

The Powderface Creek trail in Kananaskis is a popular hiking, biking, and horseback trail, so be aware of traffic when…

Barwell Trail Map

Barwell Trail

Difficulty:
9.9mi
2457ft
5-7h

Hiking the Mount Barwell Trail is a half to full day effort that is very rewarding. With minimal crowds and…